The Alarming Rise of Theological Syncretism
Syncretism. The amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.
In recent days…
Baylor University (a Southern Baptist owned and operated institution) recently had Kaitlyn Curtis speak in a chapel service. Curtis says of her teaching…By contemplation, I am basically referring to the work of creating and sustaining an inner life of peace, quiet, listening to the Divine/Mystery/Higher Power/God , and letting the overflow of that love stretch into other realms of life. She began and ended her “sermon” with a prayer to “Mother Mystery” – whatever or whoever that is. Curtis is far from orthodox, biblical Christianity.
The Annual Pastor’s Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention (of which I used to be a part and also hold a Master’s Degree from one of their seminaries) just published it’s list of “preachers” for the event this year. It includes non-Southern Baptist pastors – some with less than biblical stances on key theological issues. It also includes David Hughes from Church by the Glades in Florida. All you have to do is look at a “worship” service on his church website and you can see why he is questionable. All the speakers are known for their less-than-textual and lack-of-expository preaching of the Bible. Their sermons are mostly pragmatic, feel-good, psychological mumbo-jumbo that any on-line trained pseudo-psychologist could dish out.
Liberty University (from which I hold a Bachelor’s Degree) had Jentezen Franklin speak in chapel. Franklin is a known health and wealth preacher who is popular on the TBN and Daystar prosperity gospel TV networks. Franklin practices eisegesis (adding to the Biblical text) to twist texts into saying what he wants them to say. Also slated to speak at Liberty is Steven Furtick … another eisegetical, Scripture-twisting health and wealth preacher who is far from Gospel-based Christianity.
Francis Chan (whose books I have read and formerly thought very highly of) has now joined ranks with the prosperity gospel crowd and become a “faith healer”.
In addition, I continue to be amazed at how many church members who attend supposedly orthodox, Protestant churches listen to and follow people like Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Christine Caine, John Hagee and others of that health-n-wealth, “visions”, “dreams” and “revelations”, twist-the-Scriptures, pragmatic non-sense.
The Apostle Paul (and there are NO biblical Apostles today) commanded Pastor Timothy to command others “not to teach false doctrines” (1 Timothy 1:3). Paul warned us “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrines. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4). I can’t imagine what the Apostle Paul would be thinking about some of the people who have been invited to speak at these once biblically-grounded institutions and conferences.
The days of which Paul spoke … have arrived.
jackpickel 
Very well written. I am particularly concerned about Chan. One thing you might consider in next blog is the syncretism on a practical basis in most of our churches-
-our prayer list is full of requests for health and jobs. Is this not a subtle health and wealth? When was last time a member asked you to pray for strength in the inner man by power of Holy Spirit? Help in the struggle of a stronghold? Etc etc. yet, we would never endorse the theology.
-universalism. We aren’t theological universalists. However, for the most part are practical universalists. Our lack of evangelistic zeal and passion must mean we actually believe good old boys do go to heaven.
Really enjoyed your blog. Press On!