Observation: The King of Assyria, after conquering Samaria (in modern times, Northern Israel) moves in people from various nations in his Empire to live there. These new citizens set up idols and temples to their home gods. Even after missionary priests try to convince them to practice only the faith of Israel, honoring only Yahweh, they simply add elements of Yahweh worship to their old beliefs. This mixing and matching is what theologians call "syncretism," and it's usually derided as a bad thing.
Application: The funny thing about syncretism is it's very easy to see in other cultures but very hard to see in your own.
Sure, we can read critically about these multicultural Samaritan towns that compromised their original faith. And we may look with suspicion at more modern examples of the "mix and match" spirituality we see folks piecing together...some yoga here, some meditation there, some of the less challenging sayings of Jesus to spice it up, and you're good...
But before we rush to judgment, especially if we think of ourselves as "traditional" Christians, we need to ask whether there isn't just a whiff of syncretism in the faith we grew up in.
Do we really think that the term "inalienable rights" is in the Bible? It isn't. That's the Declaration of Independence.
Do we think that God has any special feelings of love for Americans? For our Constitution? For our specific culture, our specific way of governing, our specific economic model, our specific attitude toward hard work, self-determination, and freedom? Our favorite genres of music? Our language?
Do we have something in the back of our minds telling us maybe God, while trying to be all-loving, maybe just slightly prefers these ways of being to the way other cultures are? I'll admit, when I'm not thinking, I catch myself going there in the back of my mind. And that, my friends, is syncretism. It's a violation of the first commandment. It's adding a little "extra" from our personal cultural standpoint, to who God is. And it isn't okay. Let's repent together.
Prayer: God, smash my inner idols. Help me see you not only in my own ways, but in the ways of others radically different from me, who also reflect your image. Amen.
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