The Bridge of Compromise called Syncretism

So what is “syncretism”?

In terms of faith, Wikipedia defines the word thus, “Syncretism is the combining (amalgamation) of different beliefs, while blending practices of various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thus asserting an underlying unity and allowing for an inclusive approach to other faiths.”

In essence, syncretism involves the watering down, adding to and/or deleting from in order to merge with popular or traditional norms.

Point: Christianity is inclusive in that God the Father, who created all of mankind, loves all of His creation, desires and invites ALL into fellowship with Him and expressed that love through His Son Jesus Christ. Those who declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead enter into exclusive relationship with the exclusive True and Living God.

In a sense, syncretism of any faith effectively defeats it for what it is or any absolute truths inherent.

To the extent that they find themselves around non-believers, Christians experience pressure to syncretize at work, in social settings and at home. When the truth of the Bible encounters the world there is an immediate enmity and a struggle to maintain the purity of that truth against pressure to dilute, neutralize and eventually dissipate that truth to nothing. The world seeks to compromise the truths of Christian faith.

One must remember that the regenerated Christian is a sojourner in this world. No longer of this world he/she brings the Good News of the Gospel to the unregenerate. But he/she will always be met with pressure to dissipate the power and authenticity of that faith. It’s the essence of the angelic conflict through history and the reason why it is necessary that there be “Revivals” from time to time.

Throughout history Jewish and then Christian faith has fallen to the assault of worldly vs. Godly wisdom and influence - syncretism. The battle is about influence over our hearts and minds for the eternal destiny of our soul and the souls of others we might expose to the Truth.

In the battle our heart is at stake and we need to fortify ourselves to protect our heart.

Because of our Adam nature, we are all born as "world-pleasers". We tend to go passive.

Oh, if only Adam had rejected passivity in the Garden of Eden and spoken up when Eve was tempted with the deceit of the serpent. We are people pleasers. And so the battle for influence is easily lost once we begin to give in to the influence of the world and its systems of belief.

Question: Do you influence others for your faith or do they influence you?

Question: Do you go along to get along or are you willing to take a stand from time to time about some Biblical absolute and take some blow-back for it?

It is not easy and it is not for the faint of heart. That is why we band together and encourage one another, take in the Word of God and submit to the power and help of the Holy Spirit to walk our walk.    

Bridges span gaps. We build bridges to connect physically, emotionally, experientally and figuratively. But bridges are two-way thoroughfares – unless we make them carefully guarded drawbridges that check the dark influence of undermining dilution but allow the truth to sally forth into the darkness that surrounds. That dpen't mean we are always right in our own minds and that we walk around pointing fingers of judgement. That is God's domain. However, we can be listeners, sympathetic and servants of our fellow man without agreeing with their theology. Call it Clear-minded vs. Closed-minded. 

I’ve been reading R.C. Sproul’s book titled Willing To Believe (© 1997, Baker Books, Grand Rapids , MI). In his introduction (page 18) Sproul warns of what Robert Godfrey (the then President of Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, California) called “the myth of influence”. That myth is this; we believe/assume that as we interact with others that the only influencing force is us and that we can control the influence of others on us. This is hard if not impossible. The narrow walk is not popular. Wide is the way that leads to destruction and everyone is on that river of current. It’s so easy to get swept up and off into it. Our firm stand in the midst of that torrent takes deep roots of faith to hold.

Must we then isolate ourselves? Of course not. Such a statement is an accusation and an echo of our former unregenerate man calling us back. The world will certainly accuse us of asceticism and isolationism and even cult practice to lure us back. But a certain amount of isolation is in order.

Fellowship and separation in preparation and emersion in the Word are necessary. What army trains for battle in actively hostile enemy territory? We should surely guard our hearts with discernment and the slyness of a fox (Proverbs 4:23) for out of our hearts spring all the issues of life.

When we lower the drawbridge and sortie out to interact we should be suited up in our spiritual armor and also be mindful that it is us who are supposed to be doing the influencing (by our actions and by our words) and not the other way around. The fiery darts will abound every time we step out of the light into the present darkness of the earth.

The existential world system wants to count Jesus Christ as simply a good man, a rabbi perhaps, a deep thinker or a philosopher. They will compare Jesus, the Son of God to ordinary (albeit exceptional) men like Buddha. We may nod our head and smile so as not to offend – which is a mistake, a compromise of our faith.

Such is subtle and seemingly in-offensive on the surface. Such is syncretism. Be not mistaken -such offends the true and living God.

Like so many other mortal men who have gone to their graves never to return, Buddha had last words that are very telling about his true philosophy. Depending on the interpretation, Buddha is reported (by his own disciples) to have said the following just before his death;

"Behold, O monks, this is my advice to you. All component things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation."

OR

“I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness.”

OR

“Think not for me. I am gone. Work out diligently your own salvation. Each one of you is just what I am. I am nothing but one of you. What I am today is what I made myself. Do your struggle and make yourselves what I am.”

I boil it down to this: “Strive without ceasing for your salvation.”

On the other hand … The last words spoken by Jesus Christ before He died on the cross are found in John 19:30  “It is finished.”

No mention of striving for one’s salvation anywhere to be found. Is that not GOOD NEWS? Is that not the BEST NEWS we could hope for?

Buddha was a deep thinker, a well-meaning, simple, humble man. Buddha is dead and remains dead.

Jesus Christ was (and is) God among us.

And we know that Jesus “did” speak again – because He rose from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. And then He ascended up to heaven where He now resides (alive) and prepares a place for those who are His and He will one day return to earth to claim what is His.

And when He returns, all knees “will” bow under the weight of His undeniable glory and all bridges of syncretism will be smashed.

Blessings,

Bill