Contra pragmatism
From The Gospel Driven Church:
The greatest threat to the gospel specific to today is the indirect challenge of pragmatism among evangelicals. --Mark Dever
Some random personal opinions (of mine) related to this issue of pragmatism in the Church...
2) ...somewhat ironically, the current equivalent of the 80's-90's seeker churches are not really bringing the lost into the life of discipleship so much as they are attracting Christians who have become bored with their previous church.
4) Worship time has become more entertainment driven not as a means to attract the lost but to ensure that a church's "show" is better than all the other churches' shows.
5) The embrace of pragmatism affects nearly all of a church's aims, so that even the largest churches with the most resources do not actually plant new churches so much as they are franchising themselves. We see this currently with the satellite church movement, in which large churches with popular teachers do not raise up pastors to plant missional churches elsewhere but set up "spin-offs" where the main church teacher is shown on video screen.
This means that either a) really big churches with lots of money and personnel are somehow unable to raise up and train quality teacher-pastors, or b) they are able to do so but prefer the attraction of the celebrity quotient of their pastor. Either of those options does not bode well for the state of the missional church.
I think Dever is pretty much on target.
Pragmatism
Definition:
1. way of thinking about results:a straighforward practical way of thinking about things or dealing with problems, concerned with results rather than with theories and principles
2. way of evaluating theories:a philosphical view that a theory or concept should be evaluated in terms of how it works and its consequences as the standard for action and thought
What are the goals of the church ? To make disciples and to help people with their needs should be two big ones.
Do we ask each person who comes into church what their personal needs are ? Do we help them meet those needs ? If we do not help people we are failing as a church. Jesus met the need of everyone He came into contact with that wanted His help. He also commanded us to love one another and help each other.
My particular concern is the relationship needs of single adults. Are the needs of single adults being addressed in practical ways ? Are their weekly relationship classes and interactive social activities to help people meet others and make friends ? Are churches working together to solve this problem and connect the thousands of singles who attend their churches? The church is concerned about divorce. What are Christians doing to solve this problem ? Who is teaching single adults about healthy relationships, communication skill and how to love themselves and others ? Are we all talk but very little action ?
In the past their were mass movements such as the YMCA, YWCA and Youth for Christ. Why have these efforts stopped ?
Where are the practical action plans ? Why so much emphasis on developing the ultimate worship service ?
Address the real life practical problems of people and perhaps the church will get somewhere.
Ask people what their practical needs are and come up with workable solutions to help them.
Be pragmatic, practical and realistic or else the church will live up to the motto
" They are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good."
Are peoples problems being solved and are our methods working ?
If they are not we need to come up with new ideas, better solutions and practical applications to solve those problems and meet those needs.