I Learned a New Word Today

On the elevator in my building is a screen that flashes headlines, sports scores and interesting tid bits to keep you engaged while you ride up to your floor–and of course–to sell you stuff.  One of the features is a “Word of the Day.”  Today’s word was syncretism, which means;

“The attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.”

Used in a sentence the screen read; “Robert practiced sycretism in that he took many different religious beliefs and used the parts he liked to create his own system of beliefs.”

Yikes.

Years ago, I was working in a law firm and became friends with several of the attorneys there.  One of them was very interested in religion and since he knew that I was a Chrstian, he and I began to have discussions about spiritual things.  One day he said to me;

“I think it doesn’t matter what you believe.  If you want to be Muslim, Buddhist, or a combination of multiple religions that’s fine, as long as you just believe something.”

I smiled and said; “You know, that sounds great.  It really does, and it would certainly seem to make everything a lot easier, but there is one major problem with it–Jesus Christ.  Jesus said; ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, and no man comes to the Father except by me.’  There simply is no relationship with God apart from Christ, He alone is the way, no other way will do.”

I’d love to be able to say that he he repented of his sins and put his faith in Christ, but he didn’t, he just looked at me and smiled.  It was a smile that said; “You poor ignorant fool.  That’s not very modern thinking now is it?”

Where the world practices syncretism, Christians believe in something called Solus Christus–salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith in Christ alone, for God’s glory alone.  There simply is no other way.

That doesn’t make us very popular.  I have personally been called intolerant, biased, closed-minded, and just plain stupid because I am firmly convinced that Jesus Christ is THE.  ONLY.  WAY.

A friend of mine helped plant a church in Maryland.  The church grew and God was blessing it.  One day in a staff meeting, the pastor announced that the church would no longer be talking about salvation.  They were going to focus on following the teachings of Jesus, and helping others to follow them but they weren’t going to mention the gospel anymore.

My friend said; “Excuse me, but what about the cross?  What about repentence and faith in Christ and living life in submission to His Lordship to bring glory to the Father?

“We aren’t going to talk about those things.”  The pastor said.  “They might offend people that come to church here who see Jesus as a teacher, but not as the only way to have a relationship with God.”

I wish I could say this story is fictional.  It isn’t.

The word gospel means “good news,” but remember that anything besides Solus Christis is no gospel.

It’s a lie.