God wants us to experience a deep companionship with Him. He wants us to be free from thought and heart processes which place us into bondage.“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3

Syncretism is a blending of two ideas, ideologies, or elements to produce something distinctively different – though it often carries characteristics of both originals. Most syncretic pursuit is initiated for the pleasure or a perceived advantage of the blender. This allows us to shape our beliefs and actions into our own philosophies or religions.

Paul gives us insight into syncretism in his letters. “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” – Galatians 1:6-8

For instance, if I am concerned with social justice I may choose to redefine the nature of justice. When God’s justice is defined in the God Story, it is often associated with several things. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8  So, if I am to pursue clarity in justice, I will be able to observe these three things working in tandem. And justice also belongs to God, because He alone is 100% pure in motive and free from insidious bias. Even on my best day I will be imperfect in my justice.

The syncretist will take the truth about justice (and many other key life teachings) and blend it with any of a variety of desires for social equity. As we are seeing at the moment (and throughout history) there are many standards for what true justice entails. It is only through kindness and humility that we will find just solutions to our challenges.

It is almost impossible to be free from syncretism. My best strategy is to keep my eye on what is pure and to resist the impulse to blend distortions which fit my own narrative for desired outcomes. This is yet another reason we must be men and women of the Word of God.

Just a thought.
Dave and Burnadette

Justice
A Good Justice Song
A Deep Dive into Galatians

We thank God for another awesome year of camp! Before we move on – here are a couple of thoughts and observations.

Camp Morningstar is a great joy as we associate with emerging souls. Luke 15:3-7
Engaged prayer, the serious work of loving one another, the young man who gave his life to Jesus, the openness of campers to reflect upon their own spirituality, the harmony, and our focused sense of mission continues to fuel our resolve to see our Fox Creek kids and friends encounter God. Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this happen once again!

The benefits of cultivating leadership are huge. Matthew 28:16-20
Mom’s and Dad’s – you would have been proud to  watch your sons and daughters step toward their “buddies” to care for and encourage each one. The teens worked hard, the graduating seniors engaged with sincerity, and the spirit of cooperation was beautiful. Camp is a woven opportunity to “see” what we “believe.” The gratefulness of workers and campers is heartening!

The way our team works together with true harmony is inspiring. Thanks for the heart you bring to Camp!
“… from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” – Ephesians 4:16/NASB

Finally, there is something astonishingly beautiful about being a part of answered prayer.  As we engage people in our world – everything rests upon God’s shoulders. This camp experience provided vivid snapshots of Who God is and who we are. It amplified our deep connection to what the Spirit is doing within us and around us.

“We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard—God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts.”  – 2 Peter 1:19/Message

What a great focused picture of how we pitch in together to honor the King and see His Kingdom grow.

Dave & Burney
on behalf of the Morningstar team of friends

A great Camp song
Another awesome Camp song

LET’S BE FREE!

As the new church grew in the wake of the resurrection of Jesus, there needed to be some serious reorientation. Jesus was promised to arrive through the Jews, God’s chosen people, and God used the Law of Moses, the Kings, and the prophets to give advance insight into Who He would be. But He wasn’t the Savior of the Jews alone, but of every man and woman from every “tribe.”

This did not sit well with the Jews, for their identity was caught up in their Jewishness rather than their promised Deliverer. This huge conflict needed to be overcome. Were these new believers supposed to become Jews OR Christ-followers? How did this differ? Where did they overlap?

Paul was a Jewish zealot. He was a problem for the early church. In fact, he pursued them and killed them (read about Stephen). He was specially chosen and equipped to make the journey from Jewish believer to one delivered by the grace of Christ. This is what the book of Galatians is attempting to sort out. The Good News + anything = nothing.

Both the new Jewish and Gentile believer needed to understand what it meant to become a “true Jew.” Check out Romans 2.28-29. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”

This is an astonishing answer to a very real problem. How does religion (any religion) fit together with the Kingdom heart Jesus so clearly articulated? King first. Then Kingdom. Then church. It is that simple 🙂

Enjoy this informative and heart-changing letter to the Galatians.

Dave & Burnadette

Freedom of the Deepest Kind
A great Warrior Song
Unpacking the letter to Galatia