ONLINE CHURCH BULLETIN

THE ULTIMATE PRAGMATIST

Psalm 119: 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 

10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 

11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. 

13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 

14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 

16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

1 Corinthians 3.18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise.

Are you familiar with pragmatism, the philosophy that "truth is preeminently to be tested by the practical consequences of belief" (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary)?

You may be a pragmatist in regard to many aspect of life--doing "what works." Why would one want to do what does not "work"?

However, we often become aware of a tension between pragmatism and faith.

"Pragmatism says: Whatever works best is right. Actions and policies are judged on utilitarian grounds alone. By contrast, the Christian is an idealist, judging actions not by what works but by what ought to be, based on objective standards." (How Now Shall We Live? Charles Colson, p. 21).

The problem with a pragmatic approach to life is that only God can know the ULTIMATE consequences of beliefs and actions. In one respect, then, the ultimate pragmatist is the one who walks by faith in God knowing that only He knows what will ultimately work.

While obeying God did not seem to be working at the time, the apostles and others continued to live and die for their faith in Christ. Those who were "wise in their age" considered them foolish martyrs but they were doing the only thing that would ultimately work. They were obeying God. They were God-controlled pragmatists, doing what would really work for those with an eternal outlook.

The Bible is the owner’s manual God has given you. It tells you what will work eternally regardless of what seems to be working. When we follow His directions, we are walking by faith and doing what will work. Let us trust and obey Him.

Galatians 5.6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Dear Father, we are so grateful for the comfort, direction and hope we find in the Bible. We are grateful to know that Your Book equips us for this life. May we be good students and good teachers of the Word, always determined to obey as we look forward to our heavenly home. Help those who are hurting. We ask this in the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

1 John 5.14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Only God can know HOW our prayers WORK but we believe HE answers. Please write me to add names to the prayer list and to report changes in status. Let us be thankful and prayerful!

Love,
Brad Forgy