Syncretism

Syncretism is a new word that I learned recently, though the purpose of its use is as old as Satan himself. In short, it is an effort to create a new “buffet style” religion that could be used to make a one world all inclusive religion. This man made creation, could include all the elements from any and all religions that could give man the “one religion” that all could practice, and thus eliminate any differences that could possibly cause controversy or division. Diversity of any kind would then be disallowed, and eventually freedom of religion would not only be a thing of the past, but even illegal. The “new Christianity” would be characterized by a Jesus that was no longer the one and only way to God, His death on the cross would be meaningless, and He would be reduced to the position of a good man, maybe even a respected prophet, but no longer God the Son.

As one denomination has already asserted, the Biblical Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit might possibly be replaced with concepts of the “new Trinity” consisting of Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child, and Life-Giving Womb. I would like to direct your attention to a web site and article that you may find very enlightening and eye opening as to what is going on even within some of our evangelical churches. Please feel free to do your own homework, and don’t take my word alone. The website is: Jesus-Is-Savior.com/Bible/ Per-Version. The title of the article is, “The Bible Per-Version” by Mike Becerra. Read it and make your own decision.

Syncretism is a “feel good” religion that truly fits the description given by the Scriptures: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. And they shall turn away from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (II Timothy 4: 3, 4)
I call this a “buffet religion” because a person can approach the buffet and pick and choose to believe in accordance with his own opinion and what is easy and comfortable. At this buffet, one is not restricted by minor details about what is really truth, for everything is relative and there is no absolute right and wrong. There is no longer a need for commitment to one God who requires faith and trust in Him and in His Word. This is a religion that gives the appearance of religion with its traditions, but no longer has any transforming and eternal power.

“Having a form of godliness, but lacking the power thereof: from such turn away.”(II Tim 3:5) Like a child, selecting his food and choosing all the sweets and neglecting all of the vegetables, this ‘believer’ can choose a dab of Hinduism, a pinch of Buddhism, a smattering of Christianity, perhaps a dollop of Islam (Chrislamism), and an extra large portion of ‘Me-ism.’

I heard a statement recently that I thought was oh so true. I don’t remember it word for word, but I think the following gives the gist of it: People want a Savior to save them, but they don’t want a Savior to tell them how to live. That’s kind of like children who want all the protection and benefits of love and security that their parents have to offer them, but when it comes to obedience to their authority, they will have none of it.

There in lies the predicament. That’s how we are so often with God. We want large portions of His love and blessings, but we want to shove the portions of obedience aside. Refusing to recognize my sins, repent, and ask His forgiveness can only leave me subject to judgment. That means I brought the curses upon myself. He provided the payment; I’m the one who rejected what He did for me. Yet, when the consequences of that rejection are manifested in my life, my first reaction may be to respond with these very questions: “Who do you think you are to tell me what to do? Why should I even listen to you, much less obey you?” Then, after having made the choice to do things my own way, something drastic happens and I have the nerve to blame God and demand to know, “Why me Lord? Why did you let this happen to me?”

God is a loving God, but He is also a just God. All too often we wish to do our own thing and dine at the altar of strange gods. Then when we suffer the consequences of doing so, instead of taking responsibility for our own sinful actions, we place the blame on God. God says that we are to have no other gods before Him. Why; because He knows that these ‘strange gods’ can only lead to spiritual corruption and even eternal death and damnation. Syncretism, pulling a bit from here and there and then still trying to call it Christianity, is the same as going after strange gods in the eyes of God. Do not be deceived, God will not be mocked! If we are going to choose to make up our own religion, we will also have to invent our own heaven. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I could manage to do the latter even if I accomplished the former. There is but one Gospel and that is salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

“But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
(James 1:22)