““If it works it must be god?” (or) "The Error of pragmatism in the Church"
PRAGMATISM
DEFINED:
"Pragmatism is the view that meaning or worth is determined by practical
consequences.
The
error of pragmatism simply put: "if it works, it must be right"!
There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end
is the way of death." (Pro. 14:12)
What
the Pragmatic Gospel Does:
1. It is to
accommodate man's love for pleasure (more than love for God).
"This know also,
that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers...of
pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:1–4).
2. The pragmatic
gospel accommodates man's objection to a life of self-denial.
The gospel of Jesus
Christ is one of self-denial. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt
16:24,Gal. 2:20). Self-denial is not something you give. It's
someone you give up—the giving up of yourself, giving up everything you are.
It's a living sacrifice to the Lord Jesus Christ to present your body a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
3. The pragmatic
gospel accommodates man's offense to the gospel.
The Scriptures state,
"Behold, I lay in Zion a stumblingstone and rock of offense."
Paul spoke of the
offense (stumbling) of the Cross. Romans
9:33
(Isa 8:14; Isa. 28:16)
God's
Method
Certain men of God
met at Antioch to send out men to preach the gospel and establish churches. Here
is God's method: Acts 13
1. They ministered to the Lord and fasted. There were
no formulas, no surveys, no door-to-door asking people what they wanted and then
serving it to them. v. 2-3
2. They prayed—no strategizing, no network, and not one
step until the Holy Ghost spoke His mind. Then and only then did they lay
hands upon them, anoint them, and send them out in the power and demonstration
of the Holy Ghost. v. 3-4
Spiritual
and Biblical truth is not determined by testing what works and what
doesn’t
. Spiritual and Biblical truth is tested by one criterian and one criterian
only. Does
it match with what the Bible says or not.
– John MacArthur
Either
the Bible is our standard or it is not?!
I hope it is our standard?!
May the Bible ALWAYS to our guide in everything for our Church!