Pondering the Ignorance & Arrogance of Syncretism...That Infects Evangelicalism
by Phil Miglioratti
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I offer my observations as descriptive, not judgmental.
Ponderable. Educational.
As we seek to be "renewed in our mind-set." (Romans 12:2)
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*WHAT - is “syncretism”?
*SO WHAT - does that have to do with my faith? Or how I disciple Christ -followers? Or how I lead my ministry?
*NOW WHAT ...?
"You are thinking like the gentiles.”
Jesus; Matthew 6:8 paraphrase
{ WHAT? }
Evangelical. Syncretism.
I have always thought these two words were an oxymoron
“a combination of contradictory or incongruous words” (such as cruel kindness)
“the combination or fusion of different forms of belief or practice” [Dictionary]
I assumed syncretism applied to other theological streams; not mine. Other people groups in “foreign” places were compromised or confused; we weren’t. Other segments/streams of Christianity had obviously mixed culture and theology. Not Evangelicalism.
For example, early in my ministry as I became aware of Mexican Day of the Dead church services, the activism of South American liberation theologians, jubilant African praise celebrations, it seemed obvious those cultures had incorporated traditions into the faith and practices of their version of Christianity.
I consider “Happy Easter” and "Merry Christmas" to be Western examples of the Church intentionally co-opting a cultural tradition or absorbing a pagan holiday to make Christianity the nationally recognized religion.
In reality, these well intended associations create as much “churchianity” as they do genuine followers. Intentional or not, eventually these added elements feed a bifurcated, possibly convoluted, version of biblical truth.
But, in all my identifications of syncretism, it never crossed my mind that my own church experience in a middle-class, white, conservative culture, might have influenced, or worse yet, infected, my theology.
{Not my faith, my relationship with God through Christ, but my beliefs: teachings and traditions about God and Christian behavior}
And, in retrospect, I cannot recall any seminary professor, source text, or sermon, warning me I was not exempt from the same temptation to integrate culture and doctrine. It was as if my doctrinal statement was the truth, the whole truth, and added nothing to the truth.
Which is the mindset that drove evangelical missionaries to export Western Church worship style, hymns and “Sunday church” fashion with a credibility seemingly on par with core orthodox teachings.
{ SO WHAT? }
The river of evangelical theology was birthed and grew-up in an era of several mighty tributaries that shaped the thinking of its theologians, teachers, and leadership. Major influences:
- Manifest Destiny - is the belief that white nations were exceptional and authorized by God to expand their territory as a means of Christianizing the world. For example, Columbus’ voyages supported by Spain were for evangelism but equally or more so for expansion; the Puritans in Britain believed God was calling them to colonize North America as a "city upon a hill" that would glorify God. Merging evangelism with the colonization of other nations/people groups, sadly included violent displacement of indigenous populations and enslaving human beings for economically driven values; all in God’s name and for God’s fame. {"We The Fallen People"}
- Crusades - Manifest Destiny’s DNA is not unlike The Crusades several hundred years earlier, which “were motivated by a complex interplay of religious, political, and economic factors.” {AI}
- Enlightenment & Reformation - These two cultural paradigm shifts contributed to the theological formation of Evangelicalism. Theologically, the Reformation resuscitated a by-grace-through-faith Christianity. Culturally, the Enlightenment exalted the belief that human reason could discover truths through rational thinking thereby glorifying free-will and discovery (self and scientific) which fed a Westernized gospel that incorporated democracy and capitalism.
Theology is never written in a sacred vacuum.
Evangelical conviction of a divinely authorized great commission inplanted an attitude of superiority and privilege into this confidence in God's will and favor. It fueled a movement that sought to conquer, convert and control anything in its path…which placed evangelicals on the wrong-side of many transformative social issues.
Evangelicalism, certain their mission and message had God's mandate, caused them to be on the wrong side of:
- Resettling of First Nation tribes ~ by massacring and displacing
- Enslavement of Africans ~ captured and sold as legally less than fully human
- Jim Crow laws ~ segregating Black people, provided legal and cultural protections of racial apartheid
- Women’s suffrage - while supported by some churches /denominations, was primarily unsupported in order to preserve accepted gender roles that were based on male dominance and control, stemming from their interpretation of the Bible
- Prohibition ~ a sincere but faulty attempt to apply a scripture statement to combat the personal and societal ills of alcoholism, resulting in even greater social distress and disorder rather than a more safe and moral society
- Divorce laws ~ were another example of employing a biblical standard (the sanctity of marriage) to protect marriage in society. However, the laws and customs once again empowered men/husbands resulting in women/wives being vulnerable to physical and financial abuse with negligible legal recourse.
{ NOW WHAT? }
All that to say, Evangelicalism, like every theological explanation of Scripture, is a syncretic theology. It has a westernized social, cultural, etymological, and psychological context. Scholars and thought-leaders formed their theological positions in a distinct milieu. We must recognize the impossibility of any system of thought to be completely uninfluenced or uncluttered.
But more than a mere acceptance of that reality, Evangelicalism, like every other expression of Christianity, has the responsibility to self-evaluate by not only pointing out the mistakes of other systems, but by listening to those voices and their counter-interpretations or applications.
While every genuine stream or system should have confidence in their beliefs, if a movement strongly believes their dogmas to be THE way to truth and life, nearly as inspired as Holy Scripture, they will see no need for dialogue or self-examination. They persist in the belief they have been inspired by God and have no need for a reexamination of even tertiary issues.
This, once again, displays to the world a version of Christianity that is more institutional (command and control) than inspirational (reexamine Spirit-filled)
Even the Evangelical version has a variety of perspectives, as evidenced by this academic series of textbooks by an Evangelical publishing house:
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- Two views On Women In Ministry
- Three Views On The Rapture
- Three Views On The New Testament
- Four Views On Hell
- Four Views On Creation
- Four Views On The Historical Adam
- Four Views On Baptism
- Five Views On Biblical Inerrancy
Evidence that even within the Evangelical stream of Christianity there is a wide range of theological opinion. And not all relate to secondary and tertiary doctrines.
From another volume:
Five Views on the Gospel
- The Reformation Gospel
- The King Jesus Gospel
- The Wesleyan Gospel
- The Pentecostal Gospel
- A Liberation Theology
So what should be the response from each school of thought?
Repentance.
“In the New Testament, the Greek term for "repent" is metanoeō, which means "to change one's mind" or "to repent". It signifies a shift in thinking and a turning away from a previous course of action, particularly in a spiritual context, as in turning away from sin and towards God.” {AI}
Until we repent by thinking differently, more realistically, about ourselves and our systematized theologies and how we evaluate differing theories and theologies, we will continue to be champions for a viewpoint that may be as supportive of culture or tradition as it is biblical. At times, we may be fighting against a more accurate interpretation or a better application.
Our loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ does not extend to the “jots and scholarly tittles” of our voluminous commentaries.
This explains why so many self-identified Christians have come out, for example, as zealots for Christian Nationalism; seemingly unable to recognize its departure from Scripture and the destructive path it sets for Christian standards. Confident belief does not confer omniscience.
Syncretism is a miscalculated attempt to apply Scripture to life, resulting in a misleading or self-serving integration of eternal truths with temporal tenants. When worldview is unexamined…Blindspots remain invisible…Eisegesis is ignored…Syncretism becomes a creeping infection.
Millions, even billions, of authentic Christ-followers disagree at various points with my theological explanations. That astounding yet simple reality should cause a pause; should be met with genuine humility. A sincere pursuit of a fresh Spirit-led reading and researching of Holy Scripture.
No Christian or Christian theology is infallible.
We can learn from one another.
(If only to understand more clearly why they came to their position.
Maybe they came to a different conclusion but did so with the same motivation and dedication we claim.)
Can’t we, at the least, be quick to listen (meaningful dialogue rather than an attitude of superiority), slow to speak (negatively, disrespectful, with suspicion), and slow to anger (disparage or belittle with judgment).
It is inadequate, even unbiblical, to be aware of the human tendency toward syncretizing, regardless of the depth or sincerity of our faith, and yet ignore or fail to learn from other Christ-followers.
We must also beware.
The Apostle Paul warns us we must “be sure we live in a way that brings honor to the Good News of Christ, standing strong with one purpose, that we work together as one for the faith of the Good News.” Philippians 1:27 NCV
A Prayer from Psalm 139 (paraphrased)
O Lord, examine my heart (my motivations) and my mind (my conclusions about what Scripture states and means).
Search me, O God, and reveal my heart to me; test me and uncover my thoughts about your Word.
Point out anything I believe or teach that offends you because it is not accurate or adequate to lead me and other disciples as we walk the path of everlasting life
© Phil Miglioratti - Permission granted to repost without revision
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