05/10/2023
Today we reflect on Two major Statements by Eliphas the Baptist on Religious Tolerance and Syncretism. This Seem to be the Issue that will completely erase Baptists Tenets if not taken care off.
What's Your Contribution too.?
CHALLENGES OF SYNCRETISM TO BAPTIST FAITH AND PRACTICE.
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Only For those interested to read and Students of Theology. Pastor's too need this write up. 🙏
Don't say it's long.!!! 😊 🙊🙈😂🔥👇👇👇
Am giving a Response to a Beloved Brother and have decided to do so publicly so that if there are contributions, they can be forwarded and for discussions. 🙏🙏🙏
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Eliphas the Baptist - Zambia is with John olatunde - Nigeria
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This issue is destroying the Baptist Church Every day.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
QUESTION : WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF SYNCRETISM TO BAPTIST FAITH AND PRACTICE. ⁉️
What is SYCRETISM?
According to Merriam-Webster, syncretism is “the combination of different forms of belief or practice.” The word can be applied to any system, such as politics, religion, or culture (e.g., food). What is known as fusion in the culinary world can be quite tasty, but the same is not true when discussing beliefs. There is a difference between appreciating other cultures and changing our entire belief system to fit with one contradictory to ours.
Syncretism is a word most people have never heard, so it would be hard to discuss the dangers of it without understanding its context. Let’s start with a simple example. When a couple gets married, they must merge not only their homes but their belongings as well. The wife likes pastel colors and soft materials, but the husband loves his old leather recliner. What do they do? Usually, compromise occurs when the woman decorates the living room in pastels, and the husband keeps his leather chair in his “man cave.” Everyone is happy.
Now imagine the husband is a Baptist and the wife is a Pentecostal. She insists on going to the Mountains to Recieve anointing,miracles and deliverances from her Prophets or the so called Apostles , and he insists on just believing God and surrender everything to God in Prayer (Priesthood of all Believers). Finally, the wife convinces her husband to do both. He joins in the Charismatic worship, and she also follows his guidance. What’s the problem? Obviously this Act will sweep away or compromise Doctrinal ingredients to ones faith. This man now is embracing two belief systems! SAD!!!😭😭😭😭 Eliphas the Baptist has cried now.
In a society where religious tolerance is equated with agreement, it is a real problem. Tolerance gives people the right to worship whomever and however, they choose as long as it causes no harm to others. Agreement is saying that you think their form of worship is right. I can be tolerant of another religion without agreeing with their beliefs. Syncretism is trying to merge two divergent beliefs into one system.
What Does God Say about Syncretism?
This blending of beliefs is in direct disobedience to God’s laws. The Ten Commandments clearly state, “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Exodus 20:3-5). Deuteronomy 4:2 also warns that nothing should be added or removed from the Word of God.
Dangers of Syncretism to Baptist Faith and Practice.
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Syncretism is when you attempt to combine different forms of belief or practice. It can also mean the blending of two different ideas or concepts into one new unique idea. While this can be seen quite often in the blending of cultural ideas, especially foods, for example, does this work when it comes to your faith as a Christian? Does the Bible mix well with other beliefs and more importantly, should it?
When you consider syncretism from a Christian or biblical sense it is when you inappropriately mix or blend non-Christian religious ideas or practices with the Christian faith. One example of that is what is known as Chrislam, Bap-Pentecostal, Charismatic Baptist etc. The concept of Chrislam was based on the idea of trying to syncretize Christianity with Islam. The thinking behind Chrislam is that since there are some compatibilities between Christianity and Islam that it is possible to be a Christian and Muslim at the same time. In essence, overlooking the clear distinctions between Christianity and Islam. Same applies to Bapticostals, Christmatic Baptists etc.
Hopefully, right off the bat, you can see the problem with this. Just the belief of who An Apostle is in Baptist and who an Appstle is in the Pentecostals make this blurring or syncretizing impossible. They may both mention the person of Apostle, but a True Baptist does not recognize the Apostolic office or rather succession. This one fact alone cannot be reconciled therefore removing the possibility of truly blending this into one belief system.
The problem when you mix the gospel with anything is that it becomes another gospel. What is so dangerous about syncretism in the Bible is when you attempt to combine the truths of Scripture with the message of any other idea or practice it dilutes and distorts the truth of Scripture. I would say that those who engage in this practice end up creating a gospel message that is far more confusing to the person who is trying to decipher it.
Syncretism dangers:-
- It dilutes the Baptist Beliefs and practices
- Brings Confusion among BAPTISTS hence Schisms.
- Gives birth to a complicated Religion or Church belief movement such as charismatic Baptist etc.
- it destroys the original doctrine of the church.
- it's Bad 😊
Conclusion.
This is why Eliphas the Baptist is advocating for the Sound Baptist Doctrine because of this too much Syncretism going on in the Baptist Churches because we have people who are abusing the Baptist Church Autonomy.
Please note that Syncretism Is not religious tolerance that's why it is bad.
