23.17 Syncretism, the Larger Church's Largest Issue (Part 1)

What do you do to follow months and months of teaching on the issue of syncretism?  If you're Craig and LaDonna Smith, you come right back to the subject matter and present more teaching on syncretism!  That's right!  But, no, it's not a continuation of syncretism in the Native American context.  It's the syncretism of the church at large.  In fact, Dr. George Barna, a long time research expert on the church states that, Syncretism is the largest issue facing the church today!  It's important for the Smiths to include this issue within the syncretism teaching already presented.  We've often been asked why we are singling out just the Native culture and traditions in our teaching?  What about other cultures?  This two part series on the larger church's dance with syncretistic practices shows it's not just the Native context the Smiths are concerned about.  Compromising Christians are in all cultures and when they are drawn into sinful actions, it often has to do with trying to blend their Christian faith and practices with those of other worldviews that have no allegiance to biblical truth.  In fact, as Craig Smith shares on the subject, he will be unfolding many of the statistics Dr. Barna has amassed in his academic based research on the subject.  It's not only fascinating statistics, but alarming ones as well.  Barna contends that basically the church is an unhealthy church with not only congregants, but pastors and leaders not living in adherence to biblical instruction.  Craig and LaDonna invite you to look at the larger church today, and in the podcast episode to follow, and how syncretism is rampant within its doors.  An alarming message, yes, but hopefully a wake up call to bring God's people into biblical alignment and living.  Please come to this teaching with an open mind and heart.  You'll be challenged and hopefully committed to lining up our actions with our stated beliefs!