Articles From Our Bulletins
Pragmatic Faith?
“Pragmatism” is defined as “a practical approach to problems and affairs” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dict.; 1981 Edition). For our purposes herein, “faith” refers to man’s mental, emotional, and physical response to the existence of God; the conviction in the mind and trust in the heart that produces obedience in the life (cf. Hebrews 11:1,6). The question intended by our title is “Is your faith pragmatic?” Or, in other words, “Is your faith simply a means to an end?” Let me see if I can explain…
Obviously, there are benefits for and to us inherent within faith. God constructed it that way. These benefits are both in the here and now, and certainly in the hereafter. Though there are surely “cost-factors” as well (cf. Luke 14:26ff), the question for consideration is this: Is your faith, and the practice of it, based primarily on “what I get out of it”? Do you view and use your faith as a pragmatic arrangement with God wherein your belief in and service to Him are given in exchange for the benefits you receive both physical and spiritual, or temporal and eternal? Is “godliness” simply a “means of gain” to you, cf. 1Timothy 6:5?
It is a soul-searching-type question. If we reduce it down to its simplest form, it might also be expressed as: “If there were no benefits to you either now or after death, would you still believe in and serve God?” Perhaps the question is unfair, because it is, of course, purely hypothetical since there are personal benefits here and hereafter that are unquestionably associated with true “faith.” But the question does make us really think, doesn’t it? It forces us to consider the true motivations of our “godliness.”
Surely, the Old and New Testaments alike are replete with examples of individuals who were more than willing to forgo many, if not all, earthly “benefits” associated with their faith. Hebrews 11 is a remarkable, but only partial catalog of such faithful men and women (vv.32-38). But even though they were willing to sacrifice the earthly benefits of faith, the promise of heavenly rewards remained intact, Hebrews 11:39-40. As unfair as the question may be, would they have remained faithful without the promise of heavenly “benefits”? I ask not to cast derision upon their lives nor doubt upon their eternal destiny, but to get us (especially “me”) to really think about why we believe in and serve God. Is our faith just motivated by what we “get out of it,” or is there something more- and perhaps more noble, to it?
If faith’s rewards- whether here or hereafter, are not the motivation of it, what is? Or, what should be? I offer these considerations:
- Reward-based faith tends toward selfishness rather than selflessness. As God has demonstrated through His love for us, He is selfless, Romans 5:8,10. If we are to be like Him, and therefore fit for fellowship with Him (here or hereafter), we must also be motivated by selfless love.
- Therefore, our belief in, our trust of, and our obedience to Him (i.e. our faith) should be based in who and what He is, rather than what we get out of it. We should believe, trust, and obey Him because He is God. While what He has done for us through creation, physical sustenance, and spiritual provision through Christ proves that He is God, our faith should be based on His reality rather than ours: the fact of His existence as “God” rather than the benefits we have or hope to receive.
- So I put it to you this way: Even if there were no personal benefits of faith whatsoever- either now or later, God would still be God. And as such, deserving of our complete belief, trust, and obedience. Our faith, in concept, motivation, or practice, isn’t and should not be relegated to some sort of a pragmatic quid pro quo deal we’ve struck with God. It is and must be founded upon the firm conviction and dedicated resolve that above all else, He is “God” in all that the name implies, cf. Daniel 3:17-18.
Now, is your faith some sort of pragmatic “means to a favorable end” arrangement for you, or would it remain even if there were no personal benefit simply because He is God?
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Addendum: Not always but definitely sometimes, I write not so much to teach but to learn. Through the process of forcing the formulation and expression of (hopefully coherent and logical) thoughts and principles, I challenge my understanding of the Text, and explore my deficiencies as Christian. Such is certainly the case with this article. To the degree that sharing these thoughts has benefitted you, the reader, surely you’ll have to be the judge. But regardless of what you do or don’t receive from such efforts, thanks much for “playing along” as I endeavor to learn and grow through this medium. Sincerely, PCS
- Pragmatic_Faith.pdf (84.81 kB)
