But No Compass
Summer is upon us and many will have enjoyed cruising across a lake or a river. If you have ever been in a high-powered speed boat, imagine the absurdity of opening wide throttle a powerful motor at night while lacking any reliable means for navigating it. The word suicide comes to my mind.
As surprising as it may seem, this is a fitting analogy of our American culture since the late 1800's when a spiritually bankrupt philosophy called pragmatism was first introduced to our country by John Dewey and William James. Pragmatism (originally termed instrumentalism) replaced the guiding question of "what is right" with "what works?" Denying that any normative compass exists for determining which direction a person, company or church ought to be headed, pragmatism merely affirms the most efficient and productive path to your goal.
The impact of pragmatism upon the thinking of society and the church has been profound. Even if different church fellowships have not agreed what constituted faithful doctrine, were not members of all churches generally concerned about doctrine and truth? But as pragmatism has permeated people's outlook, has not the primary concern shifted to "results?" Today when doctrine is mentioned, many seem indifferent. As long as what is being done produces a product which they approve, is not the status of things considered to be good?
It would be overly simplistic to claim that pragmatism is solely responsible for doctrine being largely lost in the wake of how people think. Another contributor has been the altering of the concept of grace from "we've been given a salvation we do not deserve" to the carte blanche assertion that "grace covers over any flaw in obedience." In practice, does not the new definition of grace make obedience superfluous? Is this not turning grace into a license for disobedience? In general, are people today concerned about the details of doctrine, church government and church practices such as the mode of baptism?
Still another apparent source for the growth of apathy toward doctrine comes from a different direction - interpretation. Instead of viewing the New Testament's teachings and practices as being normative doctrine and structures, some appear to view its message and practices as simply being one of our possible options. The words of this chorus echo along the lines of: Sure the early church had male spiritual leadership through its elders, but we are not limited to only this form. Sure the early church immersed, but other methods are equally viable. (In its radical form, this manner of interpreting and applying scripture destroys both the Restoration Plea as well as cuts off any tether to a biblical theology anchored in an author-centered meaning)
On the other hand, within scripture we read:
"Pay close attention to your life and to your doctrine. Persevere in them, because as you do this, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16After teaching about prayer, a woman's role, those who should be considered worthy of serving in the church's structure of elders and deacons, Paul wrote "I am writing these things so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God." 1 Timothy 3:14-15
"I praise you because ... you hold to the teachings, just as I delivered them to you." 1 Corinthians 11:2
"As in all the congregations of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. ... the things which I am writing to you are the Lord's command." 1 Corinthians 14:33-34, 37
"What you have heard from me, retain as the pattern of healthy teaching in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 1:13
"The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine; but desiring to have their ears tickled, they will gather around themselves teachers in accordance with what they want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:3
Scripture proclaims the importance of doctrine. To be sure, there is the need to examine statements such as these within their contexts to learn the content of what it is callng healthy doctrine. Failure to allow scripture to define what it means by doctrine could easily result in anachronously using these verses to buttress modern doctrines which are not within the perview of the text. But the primary point here is simply this, Scripture proclaims the importance of holding to healthy doctrine
Pragmatism will always offer self-gratifying solutions to get where someone wants to go. But the real issues are: "Where should we be headed?" "What is God's goal for my life?" "How does God want His church to be?" In short, where does the Lord's compass reveal that our boat should be headed?
Barry Newton, Copyright © 2003
Other Articles Which May Be of Interest:
Grace Dictates Boundaries. It Does Not Empower Endless Freedom
Thunderbirds & Culture (Thoughts on "This does not matter it is only cultural")
Sims, Animals & Biblical Teaching: Wielding the Power to Shape
A Common Disease (Using Secular Methodologies to Justify "Good Ideas")