Syncretism

The grandest deception of all times is that many people are atheists! Note the definition of atheist: "a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods" (dictionary.com). At the same time humanists believe in the importance of mankind rather than the divine, and that man is the source of all good. Rather than faith, their belief is based on reason. They deny God as irrational, then assign importance to themselves and their fellow man. Of course, atheists might even deny humanism, but by denying God, they are de facto humanists.

Theists are those who believe in a god or gods of some sort. Their god need not be a real god but they must be greatly influenced by the power of their perceived god. The Stoics and Epicureans worshiped an "unknown god" (Acts 17:23). Their philosophies were "works" and "pleasure", respectively. Both philosophies were about them - the Stoics had faith in self-denial, and the Epicureans in self-appeasement. Who was their "unknown god"? They failed to realize it, but they both had their gods - themselves. 

Original sin, eating of the forbidden fruit, essentially meant that Adam and Eve didn't fully trust God. "The Word" was God, and we know from John 1 that "the Word" was called "Jesus". Jesus is God's human Name!

The third commandment is, "thou shalt not take the Lord's Name in vain". By not obeying "the Word", God became frivolous to them. They knew God's Plan: That He would come to them in the flesh and die in their place. They took Jesus's sacrifice in vain! (For those of you who think there were not conversations between the lines in scripture, throughout history covenants, symbolism, and prophecy indicates that the Word taught mankind the nature of sin and righteousness, the penalty for sin, what death is, what redemption means, and the significance of the flesh. I believe, knowing all these things, Adam and Eve knew they were not loving God!)

Gen 3:6 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil . 

The speaker was Satan and the enunciator was the serpent. They would not "be gods" but "be as gods".  There were more than a grain of truth from Satan. The would not "be as gods" but only perceive themselves "as gods". Their own existence would be as gods.

Psalm 82:5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

The Word, "I" said in the Hebrew 'elohiym ben 'elyown. which is the same connotation as being made "in our image" (Elohim). Thus, the Word was not really saying that men are gods, but were in the image of God.  It is clarified that they are not gods because they "shall die like men". 

You may have missed it but Jesus proclaimed himself God when he spoke these words:

John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

In the psalm above the Word spoke "I have said". In John above, Jesus spoke, "I said, Ye are gods". Without internal quotes the word "that" before "I said" is implied. Jesus spoke with the authority of the Word. Jesus was acknowledging as a gentleman would, you think you are gods but you are not! 

Thus, men are not gods, but they think and act as if they are! Our role is to quit elevating ourselves and lift up Jesus (John 3).

Atheists don't believe that they are gods. Neither do they believe that JHVH, Odin, Ashtoreth, Baal, Vishnu,  Ahura Mazda, or even Satan are gods. However, by depending on reason, logic, and the thoughts of mankind, mankind is their gods! Since, they put their own belief in the place of God's truth, essentially. all men worship themselves! Atheists have more purity; they have only one god, and are monotheists since their faith is in themselves alone! They fail to realize who their god is, and thus, they worship "an unknown god". Their god is even more irrational than our supernatural God because men-gods have no power to provide life!

On the other hand, those who worship gods are called theists. Christians, and finally Jews, believe in the One True God. The Hebrew people throughout the ages flirted with false gods, and spiritually "fornicated with them" even before the command, "thou halt have no other gods before me" (Exod 20:3). "Before" in this command is an archaic way of saying "besides" or "in my face". The Jews always had other gods alongside God. They never abandoned God, but always had others as well, even "before Him". Having divided faith in different divinities is called "syncretism". Humans have the uncanny ability to claim one God while worshiping their true god. 

Regardless what "other god" is worshiped, syncretism is hanging onto God "just in case" but by default, worshiping the self. When people do worship Odin, Vishnu, and the others; they are doing what they want to do in spite of being made aware of the desires of the One True God. By doing their own will rather than God's, in effect, everyone has "another god". It just happens to be the gods and goddesses of all the selves.

All natural men and women are into self-worship whether they admit it or not! There are no atheists at all, in truth. Everybody does their own will, and hence everyone's god is by default, themselves!

Are Christians the same? To some degree "yes". Unless we have picked up the cross of Jesus, and sacrificed ourselves to Jesus, we have some degree of syncretism. Immature Christians - babes in Christ, hang onto themselves. Only with sincerity to do God's will, is the other god crucified. 

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

What does presenting our "bodies a living sacrfice" entail? It means to crucify the self! Not having another god besides God. I assure you that "lack of self-esteem" is certainly not our problem! We are our gods, and our problem are "the other gods besides God". We lack sufficient Christ-esteem!

The vision which appeared to John in Revelation 1 is the One True God. Our fate - better called "God's will", rests in His hands. In order to be a candidate for salvation, we must trust in the Man-God who holds the churches in His hands! No place in scripture do we find our "old man" as a ticket to Heaven. That man must be crucified of his flesh, and his sin washed away to be with Jesus.

It is said, "you can't take it with you." A better saying is, "that you have no power to even take yourself!" Even you Christians who think otherwise, that is syncretism.