SYNCRETISM

Syncretism - "the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion." (dictionary.com)

It's such a cool word - but such a terrible reality within the Body of Christ.

"Syncretism" is when someone decides that Jesus Christ is not enough and turns Christianity into a formula: "Jesus plus something else = salvation". 

For example, I had a couple of Mormons wanting to convince me that Jesus is the Way to salvation as long as I was baptized by the proper authorities. 

I think, too, of Haiti. I once heard someone describe Haiti's spiritual makeup as "90% Christian and 100% voodoo". When Christianity was introduced to Haiti, it didn't replace the old pagan African beliefs - too often the two belief systems simply intermixed. 

This is syncretism on a large scale, but I think many present-day American believers have a syncretistic faith on an individual level. They have accumulated unnecessary baggage on top of their core biblical belief system. 

And sometimes, like in the case of Haitian spirituality, the non-biblical beliefs have deeper roots. [And, yes, I would classify Calvinism as a type of syncretism. Thanks, St. Augustine.]

False teachers always seem to locate plenty of fertile ground for syncretistic beliefs. 

This is what Paul is warning the church of Colossae about in the second chapter of his letter to the believers there. 

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

Ideas have amazing power to take people captive. 

If the internet is to be trusted, it was Carl Jung who said, “People don't have ideas. Ideas have people.”

Ideas are sticky things. 

Along with teaching truth, a good teacher/preacher needs to be aware of what falsities have taken up residence in the minds of the congregation.

Syncretistic beliefs must be brought to light and pried loose.