The Trap of False Worship

Halloween, Christmas and Easter are filled with familiar traditions—costumes and trick-or-treating, tree decorating and gift giving, rabbits and egg hunts. Consumer culture never fails to remind us about each upcoming holiday, with stores often stocking the shelves full of spiderweb decorations and ornaments before the summer ends.  

These traditions are so ingrained in our society that many people celebrate them without much thought about their origins. For many, they are simply enjoyable traditions that bring family and friends together. But even if you don’t view these holidays through a religious lens or observe only the “good” religious elements, that doesn’t erase the origins of these days.  

As Christians, we are called to follow Christ’s example and carefully examine how we walk in God’s ways. That includes how we worship God. Ultimately, the question to answer is: Who does worship belong to? Is it just a set of traditions that can be bent and adapted based on what society needs at the time? Is it a set of repetitive practices to bring people comfort in routine?  

Throughout the Bible, the answer is clear: Worship is for God and designated by God.

Mixing truth and error

This mixing of beliefs and traditional practices actually has a theological term assigned to it. It’s called syncretism. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines syncretism as “the combination of different forms of belief or practice.” It is often the result of two cultures coming together, blending language, art and social practices. Syncretism isn’t necessarily bad when describing the blending of cultures, but religious syncretism is a serious problem because it introduces practices from other forms of worship into the worship of God. It alters the methods of worship that God specifically outlines.  

Traditions surrounding holidays like Halloween, Christmas and Easter provide familiar examples of how different religious and cultural practices can become blended. People participate in these traditions without knowing where they came from or what they originally represented.  

But syncretism isn’t just limited to holidays. It happens when we use ideas, practices or traditions from other religions in our worship of God. Syncretism can happen subtly. And without careful examination of our practices, it can take root in our lives.

Humanity has found syncretism appealing for about as long as people have existed. It’s in our nature to search for new and exciting things, even if it results in turning from the good things God commands us to do.  

When God brought the Israelites out of slavery in the land of Egypt, He knew they would have a hard time truly coming out of the practices of the land. For hundreds of years, Israel had lived in that polytheistic society steeped in pagan practices. Upon bringing the people out of the land with a mighty hand and many miracles, God warned them against adopting the practices of the surrounding lands:  

“When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them . . . and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods . . .” (Deuteronomy 12:29-31, emphasis added throughout).

It’s clear that God doesn’t accept just any form of worship. God desires that His people be holy and set apart from the society around them (Leviticus 11:45; Romans 12:1-2).

To intermingle God’s commands with surrounding practices is to treat God as common. God adds careful instruction at the end of this passage, telling them, “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it” (Deuteronomy 12:32).  

Not only should we not add false practices to God’s commands, but we should also be careful not to take away any of His commands. Finding meaning in practices God has forbidden is not a good reason to continue in them.

Only God can designate proper worship, and no amount of human intention or earnestness can make different forms of worship acceptable.  

More subtle forms of syncretism

Blending in pagan elements isn’t the only way people can distort God’s worship. The Pharisees in the New Testament were guilty of this through their development and practice of many traditions that violated the intended nature of the commandments.  

One of many traditions that the Pharisees clung to was the requirement to wash their hands in a special way before eating. When the Pharisees noticed that Christ’s disciples didn’t wash before eating, they called them out.  

“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread” (Matthew 15:2). Christ’s response probably surprised the group of men who were very religious and highly esteemed in society at the time:  

“Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (verse 3). The problem wasn’t in the act of washing hands but in the way they placed such sacred importance on a practice God never intended nor required. They were transgressing God’s commandments by adding their own stipulations.  

The dangerous thing about syncretism is that it can start out subtly. It’s doubtful the Pharisees deliberately devised ways to make God’s commandments a burden and unlikely they specifically thought of ways to add to the law. However, the practice of these traditions became so important to them that they mistakenly thought turning away from them would be sin.  

No matter their rationalizations for these traditions or their earnestness in keeping them, it doesn’t change God’s commands. It doesn’t matter how sincere we are in our attempts to worship God. It’s important to constantly evaluate how we approach God to make sure we’re worshiping Him the way He wants us to.

What syncretism does

Syncretism can divide our allegiance, taking focus away from God. Christ warns against this: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).  

Keeping God’s commandments partially, while mixing in other nonbiblical practices, is sitting on the fence, not fully committing to God. God expects complete, pure conversion in His followers. Though we are exposed to a myriad of alternative viewpoints and practices, it is imperative to remain spiritually separate.  

Christ acknowledged that God’s followers would be in the world; He didn’t pray that they be taken out of it, but rather that God would “keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15).  

Ultimately, God must know that His people will follow Him. Our being surrounded by practices contrary to God’s way allows Him to see what choice we will make—follow God and obey from the heart, or succumb to the ways of the world?

What we should do about syncretism

Knowing that syncretism is not how God wants to be worshiped, what should we do about it, especially as we see it in our own lives?  

Instead of being conformed to the world around us, Paul tells us to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind” (Romans 12:2). This involves careful examination and guarding the mind. James exhorts his audience to cleanse their hands and purify their hearts, avoiding doublemindedness or indecision (James 4:8). Even devout believers can struggle with spiritual one-mindedness—the willingness to focus completely on God and let go of everything that diverts us from Him. This requires continually comparing our attitudes and practices with God’s Word.

Syncretism can be subtle. It can creep into our practices with little fanfare and with our best intentions. But just because something is enjoyable, meaningful and well-intentioned doesn't automatically make it right.  

Let’s walk through some steps to identify and root out syncretism in our lives.

Identify your practices

Practices are our patterns of behavior, sometimes called traditions, but they can look like many things. Celebrating Christmas and other major holidays is a big example, but syncretism can manifest in other ways that don’t appear religious at first.  

The core of our practices should be based on God’s Word and what He wants from us. When we center anything else, we begin to stray into syncretic practices. This can look like fully supporting a political party and taking every policy and party value as truth before comparing it to the Bible. It can also look like dabbling in New Age spirituality such as crystals, astrology, manifestation and spiritual energy that doesn't come from God.  

Be honest with yourself: In what ways are you worshiping God, and is there anything you do that decenters God and props up another person or practice?  

Once you’ve identified some of your practices, ask: Where does this particular practice come from, and what does it mean? What are my motivations for doing this? If I stopped practicing this, would it feel wrong? Why?  

There are many things normalized in society that may seem harmless. But just because others accept a practice doesn't make it acceptable to God.  

We are told to “test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). That responsibility falls on each of us individually to seek out what is pleasing to God and what falls short. Don’t let other people discern for you! Search the Bible to see what God has to say about the practices you've identified in your life.

Uproot syncretism

After examining your practices and discerning whether they’re acceptable to God, it’s time to uproot the practices from your life.  

This can be difficult, especially if your customs involve friends or family. However, full commitment to God requires becoming a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) and giving up our old ways in obedience to God. Uprooting parts of our old lives can be painful, and it will feel like something is missing. Thankfully, God has something much better in store for us!

Removing something isn’t enough, though. Once we identify and uproot practices that don’t belong in our worship, what should take their place? Mercifully, God didn't create humanity and leave us without instructions on how to worship our Creator. Everything we need to know about how God wants us to live our lives in worship of Him is revealed in His Word. It’s clear that God doesn’t want people to worship Him as others worship false gods. Those methods fall short of the rich meaning behind God’s structured and clear directives. Instead, God shows us a better and simpler way to follow Him, and we can begin with three main areas.

1. Ten Commandments

God’s Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 encapsulate the way God wants us to live. They provide instructions on how to love God (commandments 1-4) and how to love other people (5-10).  

A commandment widely misapplied is number four: “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Deuteronomy 5:12). This commandment hasn’t changed, and no human being has the authority to alter it.  

These Ten Commandments are at the foundation of God’s expectations for humanity. They show a way of life that leads to success in the eyes of our Creator, and this is the way that leads to a more abundant life (John 10:10). To learn more about these foundational laws, read or request our free study guide The Ten Commandments.

2. Holy Days

Leviticus 23 lists the “feasts of the Lord” (verse 2), which include the weekly Sabbath (on Saturday) and God’s seven annual festivals. Through these festivals, God outlines His entire plan for humanity—from the death and resurrection of Christ to His return and coming Kingdom, in which God the Father will ultimately bring the New Jerusalem to a new earth.  

On each of these days, believers rest from their work and gather for a commanded assembly to worship God and receive teaching from a minister about the meaning of the day. These days are not Jewish days, but God’s, and thus still apply today.  

Christ and His disciples are recorded in the New Testament as keeping these days, and His death does not annul these commands (see Matthew 26:17-19; Acts 2:1-21; Acts 27:9; John 7:1-14; John 7:37-38). While society as a whole celebrates major holidays steeped in syncretism, God has a better set of Holy Days He wants His followers to keep. Instead of a focus on earthly pleasures, God’s Holy Days point to His Kingdom and give His followers a foretaste of eternity (1 John 2:15-17; Colossians 3:2).

3. Christ’s example

The Word, who had existed eternally with the Father, came down to earth in the flesh as Jesus Christ and lived a perfect life, ultimately giving His life to redeem humankind from its sins and eternal death (Mark 10:45; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8-11).  

Only by living a perfect life could the sins of all be atoned for, and through His perfect life Christ our Savior showed us how to put God’s commands into action. Christ did not annul the law at His death. Instead, He magnified it and taught the deeper meaning behind it. His death freed us from the penalty of death for our sins but did not take away our responsibility to live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4).  

Through Christ’s ministry, He taught the application of the law and how to treat others. The gospel accounts—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—paint a picture of Christ demonstrating and magnifying how living God’s law can work in our lives too!

Dig deep and be honest

These are good places to start when seeking to replace syncretic practices with true worship, but this is not an exhaustive list. The more we study the Bible and seek answers from God, the more we learn about how to follow Him and cease from wrong practices.

We all inherit traditions and absorb ideas from what surrounds us. We’re not immune to this, but we are responsible for examining ourselves and ensuring that our worship belongs to God alone.  

The way He designed worship is perfect, and He desires a pure heart free from outside influences. That may require giving up long-held family traditions involving a Christmas tree or Easter egg hunts. It could also mean ridding our minds of ideologies that deprioritize God.  

To engage in syncretism is to misunderstand the primary purpose of worship: Honoring God according to His will. Only God can define what is acceptable in worship, and human attempts at mixing His commands with other practices—no matter how well-intentioned or enjoyable—do not honor our Creator.  

It’s important for us as Christians to constantly examine our customs and ensure that what we’re doing is according to God’s will. Beyond our examinations, we must uproot our syncretic beliefs and replace them with the Word of God, making our hearts pure before God.