Syncretism Or The Price is Right

Syncretism

The TV show “Price is Right” is known for offering to trade one “prize” for another. A contestant wins a prize and is immediately offered another, which is veiled or in a box. The contestant has to decide whether to keep what he or she has or risk getting a zonker instead of a better one than he has. That model is sometimes used to portray religion.

“Is the one I have better than the unknown one out there?” That dilemma has led to some convoluted theological contortions. One is called syncretism.

Syncretism, now that is a good word. What does it mean? Simply, it is the combining of aspects of different religions to produce a single hybrid or conglomerate. In essence, it is attempting to play “The Price is Right” and keep both boxes. It is a variation on the theme of “all roads lead to God.” We can manufacture a concoction of all religions and make everyone happy. (Except God.)

Why would anyone want to do that? I think that we can ferret out two or three reasons. First, the boy (let’s go with Solomon’s favorite appellation, “My son,” for simplicity.), the boy sees a “new” way of “worship” and is attracted to it, but hesitates to completely break with the old ways. So he “finds common grounds” between the two and then claims a link that justifies both.

He may be afraid that the new way is right, but not completely convinced that the old way is not right, so basically keeps one foot in both camps. Paul ran into that in Athens. Acts 17:23
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

The Athenians were very cautious about “missing” any god and thus had the catchall safety idol to make sure that they hit them all. The Athenian would ask, “How do we know our religion is right?” They didn’t so they covered  all the bases to make sure.

(I am sure that someone must have been bright enough to realize that 1) some of these religions were mutually exclusive, and 2) some of the deities would be jealous and not take lightly the challenging of their primacy and authority. Paul, surely knew that Yahweh would not allow that. Interestingly, he did not address that. They needed to know Jahweh, before they were concerned about how to please Him. That does not imply that we misrepresent the Lord, but we do not have to impose all of our theological nuances on unbelievers or even new believers. The Holy Spirit is in charge of straightening out errors. You and I are just charged with preaching the message.)

Our first reason, then, is accommodation. Make sure we don’t miss anyone. Second we can take a little twist on the first. The new religion is attractive, but we have an emotional attachment to the old one. “Mom and Dad believed this. I cannot just abandon it.” So the “boy” simply converts to the new but keeps a nominal commitment to his previous beliefs but is not sincere. I think that a lot of the Old Testament idolatry by the Jews stemmed from that. Abe, Ike, and Jake were an integral part of their lives from babyhood (eight day circumcision, etc.) and on.

Jeremiah and Isaiah in particular point out some of these new gods, like the Asherah, and Queen of Heaven, to name a couple. The Jews continued to revere the forefathers, but the new, flashy, contemporary editions of deity were very attractive. And “everyone” else it doing it. All of their neighbors, whom they failed to “drive out,” were modern worshipers and Jacob’s kin did not want to be left behind. They wanted to be on the “right side of history.” (But I digress.)

The second reason could be identified as acclimation or evolution. The final reason we can consider is also related to the first. Some of new religions were extremely attractive due to their less than strict or libertarian standards. We can call them licentious, or unlimited, or even outright debauchery. But they were fun.

Jeremiah specifically identified that in chapters 6 and 7. After listing their offenses, Jeremiah is to give this message:
3 “This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Correct your ways and your deeds, and I will allow you to live in this place.”

But... 4 Do not trust deceitful words, chanting: This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.

Instead of repenting, they were going to continue their profligate ways and give lip service (three times for effect) to God and the temple. Essentially they were going to violate all of God’s commandments, but in the end run back to the sacred touch stone of the Temple and whisper the secret words. God would then forgive them–they reasoned.

The summation comes in verse 9.
“Do you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known? 10 Then do you come and stand before Me in this house called by My name and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue doing all these detestable acts’? 11 Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your view? Yes, I too have seen it.”

Someone, verse 4, evidently was reassuring them that if the used the right words and run back to the temple, that God would overlook their transgressions. Matthew gives the bad news when Jesus said to a crowd that was similarly giving the impression of religiosity by were not committed. He said, “I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Paul also addressed that in Romans 6:1. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” Paul reacts with the strongest negative available in the Greek language. “Absolutely, positively not!” (Probably two or three exclamation points.) And Jesus told why. It is exceedingly arrogant and presumptuous to think that one can sin, “repent,” and then go on sinning. Repent means to turn back and not go that way any longer. 1 John says a believer does not live like that. Therefore, someone who lives like that is not now, or ever was, a believer.

Whether it is accommodation, acclimation, or presumption, the concept of merging worship of the One and Only God does not pass muster. Just as in Matthew 7, Jeremiah 7 pronounces the end of false believers. Read verses 32-34 for the chilling description. (Below) It ends with “the land will become a desolate waste.” That was the corporate judgment. The personal one is just as devastating.

And for nearly 1900 years, that land was basically considered a wilderness and wasteland. If the Lord did not accept compromised worship from His own people, how can we expect that if we do the same that it will turn out any better. It will not.

There is only one way and it is unchanging forever. Don’t trade for a box of zonkers.


Jeremiah 7:32 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place. 33 And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away. 34 Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.