Can Change the World Again
With a Praying People.
| | Can Change the World Again With a Praying People. | |
A Brief Analysis of the Philosophy and Practice
CHAPTER II.
Pragmatism: The American Justification.
It's True Because It Works.
"You will know them by their fruits." Matthew. 7: 20
Before we go directly into the peculiar nature and beliefs of this movement, we must consider an important argument often made to justify the entire movement in light of remaining evils to be mentioned in subsequent chapters, which are more or less acknowledged. For unless we can learn how to judge a movement in determining whether to join it, or whether it is of God in whole or in part, we will be gambling as to the truth, and will be captivated by error. It has been said that Pragmatism is the only philosophy that Americans really developed into systematic belief. In its basic form it appears as: If it works it is true. Truth is determined by whether it is useful. It is no wonder that it is often found as the basis for entire religions. And it is no wonder that many religions will actually justify lies, neglects, and sins because they work for their cause. Of course if there was not some truth in pragmatism then it would have little success:
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Naked error is powerless to deceive, and borrows all of its effectiveness from fragments of the truth with which it is associated.
Asa Mahan
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We all have an instinctive appreciation for things that work the way we want them to. And if we find something will turn out as we desire, we naturally seek to possess it. We will then desire to justify its practice or use whether our character is good or bad. The only truth in pragmatism is when both the final results, as well as the means to bring it about, are pure and appropriate before God. The truth is as Jesus said: good ends will bring about good results. But good results can often be used to justify bad measures. It is in this way that the fallacy of pragmatism is most often known. Good ends do not justify any kind of means to bring them about. We are not permitted by God to rob from the rich to give to the needy poor. Much less are we to build numerous churches (something that is a good end) with false converts or biblically unqualified leaders (unlawful means). The way to examine all the arguments used by such people is to carefully consider the fruit which our Lord exhorts us to examine in order to know people by. Just because the fruit is desired by someone does not mean it is desired by the Lord. It is the Lord who defines true and false ends; which in this case would be the church. And it is the Lord who approves of the means to use to accomplish such results. Consider the great end God had in mind in bringing great prosperity and famine to Egypt and to set Joseph up as the highest leader in all the world. Now who would suppose that all the events that lead to this result ought to be used as examples to accomplish similar ends today? Who would suppose that selling persons off for slavery is justifiable for gaining the rule? Well it might work! In the same way we see that accidental circumstances that lead to a good result in most cases are not lawful for us to bring about by our own initiative for the same purpose. We can clearly see with the apostle the evil in doing (or using) evil that good may result. (Romans 3: 8). Or in other words, allowing sin in order for some good end. It must be considered however, that all people are greatly liable to misjudge and mistake themselves in their choice of means. We all must have understanding for each other and humbly allow for people to be mistaken.
If we determine a truth, or the validity of a religion, by whether it works, it soon becomes evident that opposing ideas would also be true. For example, the most common way pragmatism displays itself is in religions that play the numbers game and suppose that the fastest growing movement must be of God. But as we have seen, we would be at a great loss to know the truth if we considered all numbers historically or geographically. Often, after all other arguments have been shown invalid or faulty, both mutually exclusive groups, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons, will resort to this final proof of their religion. But we would simply ask them if they do not invalidate each other, or if their arguments are not invalidated by the fact that they were once not the fastest growing movements in the particular areas they wish to mention. Do they forget that they once struggled for years in loneliness and with few friends? It does not take much to see that there is no truth in their claims. Numbers or popularity no more determine truth than that the broad way leads to heaven. What! Shall that vast majority of judged souls in the solemn Judgment Day claim this philosophy as true and rush the gates of heaven to turn it into a den of lies?
At times many have believed truth; at other times few have so desired. But it never is determined by numbers. The fact therefore, that more and more people are joining this 'Remnant' movement, and that churches are forming in many places, does not at all mean that it is all that it claims to be. There are many reasons to account of its growth, and no doubt it is working for many people. As we have said, there are many good values promoted by these people that are very much lacking in most American churches. There is the excitement of a new movement that claims to be the 'Remnant' of God in this day. People all over are just waiting for a movement of God to come along that they can throw in their lot with. And when the well is so dry today, all these conservative values convince many that it must be the real thing they have been desiring. Now we would not be understood to claim that there is no true Christians associated with these people. We are only challenging the assumption here that this is THE movement of God in this day, and more importantly, that God approves of its structure and certain practices in the way that the leaders do. The only way to actually determine what the truth is, and what God thinks of it, is to examine very carefully all of its fruit with the word of God.
One way a pragmatic argument is used to support this movement, and actually keeps many people from leaving it, is to say there is no better place to go. In other words, this works best for me. The assumption behind this is that God absolutely forbids all persons to be alone for a season, and that all other possibilities are presently known. It is true that many people often do not know the full nature and philosophy of the movements they are involved with, or what to do about what they do know. But historically thousands of years can be considered where numerous solitary souls, as the apostle says, were "destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground." (Hebrews 11: 37-38) Just because God did not open up a door of structured fellowship to conscientious souls for a season, does not mean they were to settle for the closest resemblance of the truth, or that they are forsaking the assembling of brethren. In many times or in many areas yet today, that would mean settling for a form of Islam or religion contrary to Christianity. Or as we will see later, it would mean that we would have to partake in a united assembly that justifies either unbiblical practices or sin. Here we see that the good end (fellowship) is not justified by faulty fellowship (in this case the fruit is not actually good in God's sight). And fellowship does not justify impure means and pressures to submit to this idea (compromising God's truth and positive commands just because popular opinion says that being out of an established church automatically means sin and separation from God). Yes, fellowship is commanded when it can properly be engaged in. And yes, many seek to be alone to escape accountability and indulge in unhindered desires. But fellowship is never commanded where it does not exist, or where it is unknown. And certainly the fellowship we seek is with God in the Light, and not with sin in the darkness:
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"What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not do the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."
1 John 1: 3-7
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In fact, as we see above, in order to have fellowship with God, we cannot at the same time have fellowship with anyone in sin—or group of people who allow it. It is very clear today, that because of the faulty argument we have been talking about—which is enforced by the fear of man—thousands of souls would rather have fellowship with an organized body where sin is tolerated—at least in lesser socially acceptable degrees —than to have fellowship with God in purity and truth. Let it be remembered that true fellowship was first clearly defined by the above scriptures which most churches profess to believe. We will see in the next chapter some of the reasons why some people cannot believe this is even possible, or at least neglect to consider these words.
We conclude therefore in saying that the fruit of a movement before God is not determined merely in its outward appearance, in its enthusiasm, or in its growing numbers.
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"For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others." Matthew 23: 23
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Rick Friedrich
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