SYNCRETISM
Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel, a prominent Jewish rabbi, wrote
two volumes on The Prophets (New York: Harper & Row,
Publishers, 1962). Although Dr. Heschel was not religiously conservative, his
books still have considerable merit. I have used them extensively over the past
twenty-eight years. One brief observation from these books will introduce our
study today. "The prophet was an individual who said No to his society,
condemning its habits and assumptions, its complacency, waywardness, and syncretism"
(volume 1, p. xv of the Introduction).
What did Dr. Heschel have in mind when he used the word
"syncretism?" It is not a word most of us commonly use, but it is
often used in scholarly writings on the Bible. Baker's Dictionary of
Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1960), edited by Dr.
Everett Harrison, provides the following definition of the word
"syncretism": "The word is derived from synkretizein, (meaning)'to
combine.' ... .It is a term currently used to describe both efforts to unite
branches of Christianity, and attempts to harmonize Christianity with
non-Christian thought" (p. 510). The Evangelical Dictionary of
Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1984), edited by Dr.
Walter A. Elwell, defines "syncretism" as "the process by which
elements of one religion are assimilated into another religion resulting in a
change in the fundamental tenets or nature of those religions." Elwell's
dictionary also says: "Syncretism of the Christian gospel occurs when
critical or basic elements of the gospel are replaced by religious elements
from the host culture" (p. 1062).
A simple illustration may help us to understand the meaning
and danger of syncretism. A substantial number of people within the so-called
New Age movement add to the gospel such foreign elements as reincarnation,
psychic phenomena, astrology, necromancy (that is, pretending to communicate
with the dead), witchcraft, sorcery, channeling and similar pagan beliefs and
practices. Edgar Cayce, the famous psychic from
The word "pervert" (metastrepho) means
to change from one thing to another, to turn about, to change completely. Luke
used the word when he wrote: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come" (Acts
2:20). James urged his readers: "Be afflicted and mourn, and weep: let
your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to heaviness" (Jas.
4:9). Are Universalists perverting the gospel when they teach that all men will
be saved? Are radical Calvinists perverting the gospel when they teach
unconditional election?
Jeff Dunn & Craig Brubeck have written a very helpful
book with the title, The Gospel according to Dan Brown (
There is not even the slightest doubt that the Israelites
were often guilty of syncretism. They sometimes incorporated into their worship
many of the practices of the pagan nations surrounding
Manasseh was unquestionably one of
What I have read to you about Manasseh can be duplicated in
the lives of many of the kings of ancient
The early church faced the danger of syncretism. I shall
give you two examples: The temptation to return to some parts of the Mosaic
covenant and Gnosticism. Most of the early Christians came from a Jewish
background. It almost certainly was difficult for many of them to believe that
the gospel of Christ had completely replaced the Law of Moses. Tragically, it
is hard for some modern preachers like John Hagee to understand that the gospel
has replaced the Law of Moses and the church has replaced
I have already read to you from Paul's letter to the
Galatians. He knew some of the churches in
Paul used the word "foolish" (anoetoi) in
verses 1 and 3. That word in the Greek means senseless, without thinking,
mindless. Paul did not accuse the Galatians of being intellectually dull, but
of a refusal to understand the seriousness of their spiritual condition. But
adding parts of God's Old Testament law to the gospel cannot really be all that
serious, can it? If you have even the slightest doubt, please listen carefully.
Paul commanded the Galatians: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty
wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of
bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall
profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man who is circumcised, that
he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ has become of no effect unto you,
whosoever of you would be justified by the law; you have fallen from
grace" (Gal. 5: 1-4).
Paul is not arguing that circumcision for health reasons or
as a cultural act means that one has forsaken the gospel. You know that is true
if you have read other passages from 1 Corinthians and from Galatians. Paul
informed the Corinthians: "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing;
but the keeping of the commandments of God" (1 Cor. 7:19). The same
apostle told the Galatians: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
avails anything nor uncircumcision; but faith that works by love" (Gal.
5:6).
Both Romans and Hebrews warn of the danger of adding parts
of the law to the gospel. I shall give you one example from each letter.
"Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says to them who are
under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty
before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in
his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of
God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets" (Rom. 3:19-21). "For the priesthood being changed, there is
made of necessity a change also in the law. For he of whom these things are
spoken pertains to another tribe, of whom no man gave attendance at the
altar" (Heb. 7:12-13). Since Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek
and not after the Levitical order, the law had to be changed. We are not under
the Law of Moses - not any of it - but under the gospel of Christ. An attempt
to join the Mosaic covenant to the new covenant is called
"syncretism."
The early church also faced the threat of Gnosticism. The
word "Gnostic" literally means the knowing one. The Gnostics believed
they had a special pipeline, figuratively speaking, into the very mind of God.
Many of the so-called "lost gospels," like the Gospel of Judas, the
Gospel of Philip and others are Gnostic writings and are full of error. In one
of her latest books, The Mystical Life of Jesus: An Uncommon Perspective
on the Life of Christ (
Gnosticism did not become a real threat to Christianity
until well into the second century. But there were probably some Gnostic ideas
circulating in the latter part of the first century. In his commentary on Saint
Paul's Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1879, a Reprint), J. B. Lightfoot says: "A
mere glance at the epistle suffices to detect the presence of JUDAISM in the
teaching the Apostle combats.... We may say that along with Judaism there was a
GNOSTIC element in the false teaching which prevailed at Colosse" (pp.
73-74). The following verse may indicate Gnostic influence among the
Colossians. "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility
and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen,
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind" (Col. 2:18). The Essenes, a minor
sect of the Jews, also had some connection with angel worship. The point I must
stress is very simple: We cannot add to nor take from the word of God without
bringing his curses on our heads.
I have two questions I must ask about modem syncretism.
Does it exist within modern denominationalism? Does is also exist in some
left-leaning churches of Christ? Within the denominational world, there are
enormous departures from the faith once delivered to the saints. But I want to
mention one really radical group that claims to be Christian. Some Latin
American liberation theologians, such as, Gustavo Gutierrez and Jose Miguez
Bonino, seek a synthesis between the teachings of Jesus Christ and those of
Karl Marx. Gutierrez argues that God will grant salvation to Marxists. He
believes that Christians ought to join the Marxist movements scattered
throughout the world. Bonino, one of the six presidents of the World Council of
Churches, virtually denies any doctrinal foundation for acceptance with God.
According to Bonino, men are pleasing to God and know God only through justice,
primarily economic justice. The liberation theologians are working for the
advancement of Marxist causes. Many Protestant churches in the
Time does not allow for a full discussion of the trend
toward entertainment in the denominational world. Many modem churches have
dance troupes, special music, drama, athletic performances, and similar
activities. One church sponsored a wrestling match at its Sunday evening
service. Is there no limit to what churches will do to increase attendance and
contribution? Should not people who call themselves Christians have a strong
desire to follow the explicit teaching of the New Testament or does that
matter?
Have some churches of Christ fallen in with fleeting
fashions of the world (
One congregation in
One preacher among churches of Christ has introduced the
counting of beads as a substitute for scriptural prayer. Another church with
which I am acquainted practices testifying in the worship of the church. What
is the value of such practices? They have absolutely no basis in scripture and
make no scriptural sense. People who know and love the scriptures are not going
to put up with such foolishness.
As every serious student of the Bible knows, there is a
proper way to use the Old Testament. We can learn from it that God means what
he says. When he gave the Israelites commands, he expected them to obey them
explicitly. Does he not demand the same of those of us who live under the new
covenant? Why did Paul tell the Colossians: "Whatsoever you do in word of
deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father
by him" (Col. 3:17)? Can we truly be Christ's friends if we fail to do
whatever he commands us to do (John 15:14)?
Winford Claiborne
The International Gospel Hour