Syncretism in the Church: The Hidden Crisis with Dr. Adam Rasmussen

Syncretism in the Church: A Call to Return to Biblical Truth

Sometimes, a discussion hits so close to home that you can’t shake it. That’s exactly how I felt after watching Dr. Adam Rasmussen join hosts Duke White Jr. and Dr. Lee Kanter on GoodVue Network’s Good News to discuss the growing issue of syncretism in the Church.

Syncretism—a word that might sound academic or distant—is actually deeply personal. It’s about blending beliefs that don’t belong together, creating a mishmash of worldviews based on what feels good in the moment rather than what’s grounded in truth. This conversation wasn’t just an analysis of culture; it was a wake-up call for every believer to examine their faith and return to the unchanging foundation of God’s Word.

What Is Syncretism, and Why Does It Matter?

Dr. Rasmussen explained syncretism as a worldview problem. Instead of following biblical Christianity as a cohesive, whole truth, many people pick and choose beliefs from various sources—whether it’s karma, spirituality, or pop psychology—creating a personalized faith that’s often contradictory and ultimately unsatisfying.

Hearing him describe this hit me hard because it feels so familiar. How often do we see phrases like “the universe will provide” or “just follow your heart” floating around, even among Christians? Dr. Rasmussen’s words made it clear: blending these ideas with biblical truth not only weakens our faith but also fuels cultural confusion and personal turmoil.

“Beliefs drive behavior,” he said, and without a solid foundation in God’s Word, our emotions, which change constantly, take the wheel. The result? Anxiety, depression, and a society that feels increasingly unstable.

The Impact of a Shaky Foundation

One statistic from the episode stopped me in my tracks: 92% of Americans now operate with a synchronistic worldview, up from 88% in 2021. Even more shocking, only 6% of self-identified Christians possess a biblical worldview.

Dr. Rasmussen likened this trend to creating a playlist where you pick and choose songs you like while ignoring the rest. But when it comes to faith, this “mix-and-match” approach leaves people spiritually adrift.

As Duke pointed out, the effects of syncretism reminded him of the Tower of Babel—where humanity’s attempt at unity outside of God’s design led to chaos. Today, phrases like “we need to come together” might sound good, but at what cost? When unity demands compromise on core biblical truths, it leads to confusion and emptiness rather than peace and fulfillment.

A Double-Minded Church

One of the most convicting parts of the episode was hearing Dr. Rasmussen and Duke discuss the double-mindedness that often creeps into churches today. When pastors avoid teaching Scripture in its fullness—skimming over hard truths in favor of feel-good messages—it feeds this culture of syncretism.

As Dr. Rasmussen shared, “All you have to do to conform to the world is nothing.” That hit me. It’s so easy to drift when we’re not intentional about anchoring ourselves in God’s Word.

Romans 12:2 challenges us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That renewal doesn’t come from fleeting emotions or popular philosophies—it comes from the timeless truth of Scripture.

The Cost of Forgetting the Word

Dr. Rasmussen emphasized that the root of syncretism lies in a lack of biblical teaching. Parents aren’t passing on Scripture to their children. Pastors are prioritizing church growth over spiritual depth. And as a result, we’re raising a generation with only a 1-in-50 chance of developing a biblical worldview.

He pointed to Deuteronomy 6, where God commands parents to first love Him with all their hearts, then teach His Word diligently to their children. It’s not enough to tell kids to be good people or to follow their dreams—we need to give them the unshakable foundation of God’s truth.

Hope in the Gospel

But amidst the challenges, there was hope. Dr. Rasmussen reminded us that the solution to syncretism isn’t complicated—it’s a return to the basics of faith.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “The Bible has everything we need to live a full and meaningful life.”

As he spoke about the simplicity and sufficiency of Scripture, I felt a renewed sense of urgency to dig into God’s Word—not just for my own benefit, but for the sake of those around me.

A Personal Challenge

This episode wasn’t just informative—it was deeply convicting. It left me asking: Am I letting syncretism creep into my own faith? Am I picking and choosing what’s convenient instead of surrendering fully to God’s truth?

If there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s that we can’t afford to be passive. As believers, we’re called to be assertive in our faith, standing firm in the truth of Scripture and living as lights in a world desperately searching for answers.

Let this be a challenge to all of us: to know God’s Word, to teach it faithfully, and to live it boldly. Because when we do, we’re not just resisting syncretism—we’re offering the world something far greater: the life-changing hope of the Gospel.