A Special Lure ... Lure #56
To a hungry fish, a mass of wiggling worms in the midst of a river’s murky waters looks like a sure fire solution for a rumbling stomach. But taking a mouthful of that lie could very well lead to its death. Every fisherman knows that to catch the right type of fish you need the right type of lure and so his tackle box is filled with various types of flies and lures.
Just as a fisherman tries to catch fish, we have an enemy called Satan who is determined to “catch us.” Don’t underestimate our adversary or his lures; he goes about seeking whomever he can destroy. He knows just what you like and knows how to use your beliefs to create beautiful lures.
Let’s take a peak in Satan’s tackle box and see what special lures he might have for our American minds. Immediately our eyes fall on something marked “lure #56.” Instinctively our defensive reflexes respond, “why that’s not a lure, that’s part of what makes us great!” Suddenly, we find ourselves wanting to deny that lure # 56, also known as pragmatism, is a dangerous lure.
Understanding Pragmatism
Most people probably think of pragmatism as simply "being practical" and "finding real answers for problems." What could possibly be wrong with this? What many people may not realize is that pragmatism as a way of living life is a perspective which Jesus rejected.
Pragmatism is morally, ethically and spiritually blind. It does determine what goals, behaviors or ideas are valuable. Instead, it claims that value is found in whatever works. Pragmatism empowers you to play god and pick your own path as it enables you to find the fastest means to your goal.
Pragmatism doesn’t care if you want to abort babies, grow congregations, gain wealth, steal someone’s wife, manufacture widgets or gain power. Pragmatism allows each human and sector of society to be their own god and determine where they want to be headed. According to pragmatism the only truth is, "the fastest and most efficient path to your goal is the best path." We recognize pragmatism in slogans such as "as long as it works."
Pragmatism, a philosophical movement that developed in the United States about a hundred years ago was a new way to look at life. It was a deliberate attempt to move away from the claim that there was an absoute standard to which people are accountable. Fundamental to pragmatism is a strong anti-absolutism: that is it is built upon the conviction that all principles are to be regarded as working hypotheses. Pragmatism teaches that both the meaning and the truth of any idea is a function of its practical outcome. It denies that there are any other ultimately true statements, e.g. metaphysically binding axioms.
And the result of pragmatism? Just look around you. You live in a sea of pragmatism where the individual or group is god and the only truth is “how can I best achieve my goal?” Greed thrives on pragmatism. Pragmatism would say to the young person trying to find direction for life, “I don’t care where you are headed, I just want to help you get there faster and go higher.” This is wickedly wonderful secular-value social glue.
Jesus and Pragmatism
Jesus, on the other hand rejected pragmatic principles as a means of living. For example, although Satan offered to hand over to Jesus the people of the world, Jesus refused this pragmatic approach to becoming Lord of people's lives, because worshiping Satan was wrong. (See Matthew 4) Similarly when Jesus said, “Truly truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise,” Jesus taught that both his life and his method were controlled by an objective principle. John 5:19
This is not to say that Jesus never did anything which had practical value. What we discover in Jesus is one who lived by goals, values and methods which were anchored in God. Jesus would have defined "the best" not in terms of "what's practical" or "what works," but whether or not it leads someone to obey God's will. He neither subjectively chose his own path, nor did he merely employ practical solutions when they would have compromised his path to the goal. And his disciples? Well, they are to follow him.
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1998
Other Articles Which May Be of Interest:
A Powerful Motor But No Compass (Pragmatism)
The Jesus Who Breaks the Status Quo To Care and Confront
A Common Disease (Using Secular Methodologies to Justify "Good Ideas")