Syncretism has been defined as the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion, Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language (Deluxe Edition 2001).
Today, most professing Christians in most Christian denominations continue to sacrifice biblical doctrine, the gospel of Christ, theological and moral absolutes, and truth upon the syncretical altar of materialism, humanism, ecumenism, acquiescence, nationalism, diversity, feminism, Marxism, “social justice,” critical race theory, woke-ism, diversity, and compromise, and many other extra-biblical beliefs and ideologies. This results in obscurantism which serves to obscure or cloud true biblical truth. The result of this syncretism is a false gospel and empty doctrine being taught in the visible Christian church.
“The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, the only rule of faith and obedience.” (WCF 3; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:19-21). The Christian gospel and biblical doctrine only remain the truth if it is pure. Pure gold, for example, is only pure if no other element has replaced elemental gold. If gold has any adulteration, then it is not true gold. Likewise, biblical truth that has been adulterated with any extra biblical ideas, philosophies, and practices is no longer biblical truth.
So, any intrusion of any kind into the church that adulterates the teachings and the truth of the Bible in any way is false teaching. Syncretism creates a false Christianity by gradually incorporating cultural norms into Christian doctrine, faith, and practice, thereby overwriting the revealed word with cultural ideas, beliefs, and practices.
When, by way of syncretism, the Christian church incorporates into its doctrine, liturgy, worship, or gospel message, ideas, principles, and rituals that adulterate and corrupt Biblical truth, the result is a false gospel being taught in an unbiblical religious association that is a Christian church in name only but not in truth.
One way that syncretism can operate in the local church rather covertly is through church ministries associating with secular charitable or humanitarian organizations. Individual Christians often give to secular charities, for example the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, hospice, etc. and that may be okay, provided the secular organization is not hostile to Christianity in any way.
But when a church ministry associates with a secular organization, other issues arise that question whether that is a good thing to do. Christian ministries focus on more than basic humanitarian needs. While Christian ministries are interested in the person’s basic humanitarian needs, nevertheless they are also just as concerned for their spiritual needs. So, when a church decides to support a certain ministry, that ministry must include a ministry that addresses the spiritual needs of the people being served which is consistent with Christian doctrine. The church should demand an overt Christian aspect to any ministry it supports. And just because the local meeting of the secular organization prays a prayer before the meeting does not mean that it is not a purely secular and a non-Christian organization.
If a church ministry simply joins in with a secular ministry and just does whatever the secular ministry does and adds nothing from a Christians perspective that would edify the spiritual needs of the target audience, in an overt way, then the church ministry should not participate with that secular ministry. Because if it does participate, then there is going to be no Christian aspect to the work of that organization and the spiritual health of the individuals being served will not be addressed. This dilutes and actually negates any Christian ministry to the individuals being helped by the secular ministry with the assistance of the Christian ministry.
Considering this, Christian ministries should not simply join a secular ministry and just become another cog in that secular ministry operation. Because then the Christian ministry would not be doing what it’s supposed to be doing and that is overtly supporting both the spiritual and physical well-being of those needing assistance. This scenario is just another form of syncretism that should be avoided by the Christian church.
If the Christian ministry is drawn to support the cause of a particular secular organization, rather than joining the secular organization, they should consider developing their own fully Christian ministry to support the cause on their own.
