Religious syncretism is commonly used to describe the intermingling of non-Christian beliefs with the basic scriptural tenets of Christianity. The first use of the Greek term synkrētismos, or sunkrētismos, was by Plutarch (ca. A.D. 46-120) to describe the joining together of Cretans in opposition to a common enemy. “In the early 17th century, English speakers adopted the term in the anglicized form syncretism to refer to the union of different religious beliefs.”[1] The term has since been applied to fusing different philosophical and political ideologies. Often, the result is a new belief or teaching system.
“From the early 1600s, however, the term in Christian writings has generally referred to the replacement or dilution of essential truths of the gospel through the incorporation of non-Christian elements.”[2] African churches have allowed spiritualistic practices to creep into worship. The Day of the Dead and other indigenous rituals continue among practicing Latin American Roman Catholics. And it is being incorporated into some American congregations through Christian Nationalism. God has a people, but they are not solely white evangelicals, and he has a kingdom, but it is not the United States. When it comes to Christianity, there is no warrant for modification. It is what it is, and God expects it to stay that way.
“From its inception until the present, the church has faced questions of culture and religious practices that stand in contrast to the faith revealed in the Bible.”[3] When a congregation moves away from Scripture and ceases to listen to the Holy Spirit, it opens the door to syncretism. Both Testaments contain numerous examples of syncretism, and the unavoidable message is it has no place in the Body of Christ. God doesn’t change. God’s people were exiled for doing it, and Christians were constantly warned against it by the apostle Paul and the writer of Hebrews.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 | NIV) Anything that takes our eyes off Jesus violates the First Commandment. “In claiming allegiance to Christ, the only standard on which the Christian can rely is the normative framework of the Scriptures.”[4] Religious syncretism is not compatible with genuine Christianity. It is analogous to saying, “The God I believe in.” There is only one God. We have two choices—take him or leave him. The same holds for Christianity. It is not a junkyard stew; a little of this and a little of that.
[1] Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “syncretism,” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syncretism, accessed January 12, 2023.
[2] A.S.Moreau, “Syncretism,” Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., Edited by Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001), p.1158.
[3] Ibid., p.1159.
[4] Ibid., p.1160.