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Conclusion of the Matter It becomes evident that this is not what the apostles delivered to the Church. This is something FOREIGN, altered. This is not upholding the Faith but destroying the Faith that was delivered to the saints. Kikawa wants to go back, back into the ancient past where the creator of a culture is generally mentioned or where some individual may have known something about the creator. He ignores the completed revelation that is in our hands that is to be distributed—as is. He cites Job and Mechizedik as examples of those who held a knowledge of God, but these were not nations but rare individuals in these PAGAN nations (Canaan, which God destroyed). There were no nations that worshipped God correctly, except one—Israel. This was only because God specifically revealed Himself to them. Yet, at times, Israel fell into idolatry even though they had his revelation. Why? Because of the influence of the way other nations worshipped their gods. If there were any redeeming qualities of these nations God would not have had to remove Abraham from among the pagans (Chaldeans) to train him and make a nation, a Theocracy under Himself. God did not purify any nation. If we look at Egypt as an example, He took His people out and judged those who opposed them. He continues to call us out from the world’s beliefs and system. Jer. 23:27: “as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.” Subtly Kikawa does the same, telling people to evangelize by befriending the people of the nations through using their own culture’s god’s names instead of introducing the God of Israel to them. The same problems are repeated from the Old Testament. 2 Kings 17:33-35: “They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods-- according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away. To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the LORD had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel, with whom the LORD had made a covenant and charged them, saying: "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them.” The Lord then talks about idolatry stating, “ you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me”. God considered those who had continued to adhere to these gods in any way as equal to hating Him. How can they be acknowledging him? (Deut. 5:9) This view presented by Kikawa and now being adopted by YWAM that is teaching this to the youth has all the functions of pluralism, and syncretism, though it has its own modifications—the idea that we can accept nearly anyone’s god as the same God of the Scripture if he is seen as a benevolent creator and that we worship the same God, only by different names. To be a Christian and say, “ all of us are worshipping the same God” with different names is absurd. In fact, these very same concepts are found in the religion of the Bahai, not Christianity. The Bahai’s, who are also monotheistic, claim that all religions are from the same God and that God sent his prophets in various different religions. “Many names in many religions are used to describe the same God.1 2.2.1. Be aware that all major religions promote the belief in one God and one mankind, and that God is the source of Truth and Guidance. 1.1.4. In other words, God creates all religions. 1.1.5. The source of all religions is one. Truth is One. God is One.” (Bahai site) 1.1.2. Often, when Christian students hear the name “Allah”, they think that the word is referring to the God of Islam, but not to the God of Christianity. We must remember that the Arabic-speaking Christians, before the coming of Mohammed, referred to God as “Allah”. In this day and age, the Arabic translation of the Bible, used by Christian Arabs, also uses the word, “Allah”. 1.1.4. In other words, God creates all religions.” 1.1.5. The source of all religions is one. Truth is One. God is One” ( Comparative Religion compilation Compiled For The National Spiritual Assembly of The Bahai’s Of Swaziland 1st Edition November 2000 ) “Although we may have different concepts of God's nature, although we may pray to Him in different languages and call Him by different names--Allah or Yahweh, God or Brahma--nevertheless, we are speaking about the same unique Being” (The Bahá'í Concept of God, http://info.bahai.org/article-1-4-0-2.html) Daniel Kikawa’s viewpoint is nearly the same theory the Bahai’s use to unite people from different religions, except that he is doing it with a Christian shell. This inclusive theology promotes an interfaith message that has nothing to do with the Gospel. This message is “culturally correct” but Biblically INCORRECT. It should be obvious to anyone who is familiar with Biblical History, World History and the Word itself. This is man’s wisdom and it should be rejected because it is not a Biblical worldview. The World Council of Churches and other interfaith organization’s main objective is to promote syncretism. Interspiritualism, Universalim, Pluralism and other terms all describe the formation of this new world religious system. Religious syncretism is probably the most dangerous practice that can quickly leaven a church. Deceptive as it is, it has come through evangelism. In Elwell’s Evangelical Dictionary we find these definitions and cautions: “Syncretism is the process by which elements of one religion are assimilated into another religion resulting in a change in the fundamental tenets or nature of those religions. It is the union of two or more opposite beliefs, so that the synthesized form is a new thing. It is not always a total fusion, but may be a combination of separate segments that remain identifiable compartments. Originally a political term, "syncretism" was used to describe the joining together of rival Greek forces on the Isle of Crete in opposition to a common enemy. “Syncretism of the Christian gospel occurs when critical or basic elements of the gospel are replaced by religious elements from the host culture. It often results from a tendency or attempt to undermine the uniqueness of the gospel as found in the Scriptures or the incarnate Son of God. The communication of the gospel involves the transmission of a message with supra - cultural elements between a variety of cultures. This includes the disembodiment of the message from one cultural context and the reembodiment of it in a different cultural context. In the striving by missionaries for an indigenous national church with a contextualized gospel, the danger of syncretism is ever present in attempts at accommodation, adjustment, and adaptation. Tippett reminds us that while striving for relevance we must remember that in communication only message is transmitted, not meaning. Beyerhaus points out three steps in biblical adaptation: 1. Discriminating selection of words, symbols, and rites, e.g., "Logos." 2. Rejection of that which is clearly incompatible with biblical truth. 3. Reinterpretation by a complete refilling of the selected rite or symbol with a truly Christian meaning. The supracultural teachings of Scripture must be judge of b oth culture and meaning as God works through men using various forms to bring all creation under his lordship” (S. R. Imbach, p.1062, Elwell’s Evangelical Dictionary.) Daniel Kikawa makes use of all three of these areas that we should avoid, making general stories and myths to be close or exact equivalents to the doctrines and meanings found in Scripture. When teachings and practices are assimilated into another religion, the result is a change of the nature of that religion. This is a recipe for an all nations religious soup. The Spirit of truth bears witness to Jesus Christ. I can only wonder why the alarms are not going off in those who claim to follow Christ and are willing to call on OTHER god’s names in His place because of their nationality, gods that have been with these people from the beginning shaping their culture. Kikawa has disconnected God with Israel and made him the gods of all the nations. In fact, teaching that God has been shaping these cultures and societies throughout their history is a blatant false statement. This is not evangelism- telling people each of their gods had a son, who is Jesus Christ. This removes Jesus from His own people Israel; it disconnects him from the prophecies in the Old Testament, the shadows and types given to Israel. And most important of all, it has Him lose his Jewish identity, born through Mary. This is an alternative religion Kikawa has made up from historical references and myths (that he bends). His theory is about as sound as the theory of evolution, a slanted view that tilts 180 degrees away from the truth. The prophet Jeremiah speaks directly about this. Jer. 16:19-21 “… the Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, “Surely our fathers have inherited lies, Worthlessness and unprofitable things.” Will a man make gods for himself, which are not gods? “Therefore behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know my hand and My might; and they shall know that My name is the LORD.” How can they know who the Lord is if they teach that their god is God? ( 1 Chron. 16:25-26) Paul admonished Timothy: “Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith” (2 Tim. 4:3-4). “Because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables ” (1 Tim. 1:4). Peter says, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables” (2 Pet. 1:16). Kikawa takes fables about a culture’s past history to make their religion acceptable, he creates a religious mixture that is repugnant to a Holy God whom the Bible presents. Teachers are to be held to a higher standard. People who misrepresent God’s Word and history should be held accountable. How anyone can allow this, or endorse this is beyond me. Finding traces of God in your culture is a bankrupt idea. Why dig through corruption when the Truth is readily available? The Jewish culture was a theocracy, the only one there ever was made by God. God gave ONLY Israel as a nation customs which became their traditions in their culture (except those corrupted later on). The Jewish culture was given 613 laws to govern their conduct and separate themselves from ALL the other nations surrounding them. Gen. 12:3: “and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen. 18:18: “since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? Because of Abraham and through Israel they were to be blessed by the future fulfillment; when the Messiah would come. Gen. 26:4: “in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” This is speaking of the lineage of the Messiah, “ And to your Seed,” who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16) “ Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.” You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed ” (Acts 3:24-25). The Gospel is about the God of the Hebrews. Jesus himself said to a Samaritan, “for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). If you disconnect Jesus from Judaism then you have rejected the Bible's revelation of who He is. You separate yourself from the source of history, knowledge and revelation. Kikawa and others ignore this and instead blends this with other nations gods who he claims had a son and then names that son Jesus Christ.. Again, this is separating Jesus from the people and religion He came to earth by. They are making a “Jesus” for all nations out of those nations. This is diminishing the Hebrew origin of Jesus. Jesus came as a Jew according to the Scripture. He came to his own people he formed. All the gods that are not the one true Creator of the Heavens and the Earth will perish. You can call them creators by the many various names but in the end God says: Jeremiah 10:11: “Thus you shall say to them: “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens” Those who are called “creators” by the cultures and nations will one day all be gone and then everyone will bow their knee to the real Maker of heaven and earth—Jesus Christ (Phil.2:10-11). Until then let’s keep away from movements that would syncretize ancient gods and their practices and customs. Instead, lets keep pressing forward with Yehsua ha Mashiach—Jesus the Christ, Savior of the world. Psalm 98:2-3: “The LORD has made known His salvation; his righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Titus 2:11: “ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” John 20:31: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
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