“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” – Romans 1:21
Syncretism occurs when some of the basic core beliefs of the faith are kept, the rest are discarded, and in their place is some other ideology. Today, for example, in mainline liberal Protestant denominations, the parts of the Bible about doing justice, loving mercy, and caring for others are kept while the holiness and wrath of God, along with repentance of sexual sin (including homosexuality and transgenderism), and belief in Hell are discarded and replaced with progressive politics and universalistic spirituality where all beliefs and behaviors are tolerated and celebrated. Without repentance, syncretism quickly turns to apostasy.
There’s a big difference between someone who is lost and someone who is apostate. Someone who is lost has never professed Christ. Someone who is apostate professed Christ at some point but is no longer practicing their faith. What we’re seeing today is a generational apostasy. Often referred to as being “woke,” this is the counterfeit of being “born again.”
Apostasy is the word that best describes our days and the days of the Judges, when everyone “did what was right in his own eyes” (21:25). An Encyclopedia of Psychology & Counseling says, “Apostasy refers to the process of turning away from Christianity and from one’s relationship with God. It is considered an egregious sin (2 Peter 2:20–21), synonymous with falling away from the faith and rebellion.” (1) It goes on to say,
Richard Baxter…one of the great Puritan pastors, discussed some signs of growing apostasy: when sin’s delights are continually greater than the pleasures of holiness; when repentance is put off; when legitimate admonitions of others are resisted; when sin becomes easy and conscience offers no argument; and when sin is mentally and verbally defended. (2)
In tomorrow’s devotional, we will discuss the importance of being both biblical and political.
Where have you seen syncretism at work in the world around you? Are there any areas in your own life where you are allowing compromise with other beliefs that don’t align with the Word of God?
(1) E. L. Johnson, “Apostasy,” ed. David G. Benner and Peter C. Hill, Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology & Counseling, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 91.
(2) Ibid., 92.
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