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The Challenge of Pragmatism

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Revmitchell, Nov 4, 2009.

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  1. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    Crabby, did God not tell Abraham to go to a land that He would show to Him. I don't think God told Abraham how to specifically go, how long it would take, what would happen along the way, etc.
     
    #21 sag38, Nov 5, 2009
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Why don't you take specific points out of the op and address them using scripture instead of worrying about what everyone else holds to.
     
    #22 Revmitchell, Nov 5, 2009
  3. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    I don't call that pragmatism. Pragmatism in a spiritual context is taking the criteria, "does it work" over God's word or truth.

    That's not pragmatism either.
     
    #23 Marcia, Nov 5, 2009
  4. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I think you're overdefining or redefining pragmatism. For the purposes of this thread, pragmatism is a practical approach solving problems. Taking a practical approach to solving problems in the church is permissible, and often effective, so long as it does not compromise the Gospel. That's pragamtism applied appropriately.
     
    #24 Johnv, Nov 5, 2009
  5. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    Pragmatism is a philosophy that says what works is the bottom line. It is actually very contrary to Christianity, which has the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit and God's will at work.

    Pragmatism values what works over truth.
     
    #25 Marcia, Nov 5, 2009
  6. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pragmatism

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pragmatism
     
    #26 Marcia, Nov 5, 2009
  7. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    You're referring to something different. That's not what we've been discussing.
     
    #27 Johnv, Nov 5, 2009
  8. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    Maybe so, but it still remains that pragmatism should not be our bottom line. I can think of several things that work or seem to work that are wrong or evil.
     
    #28 Marcia, Nov 5, 2009
  9. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    "If it works and does not change the message" is just as poor a standard as anything else.


    The standard should be what is our role and what is the role of the Holy ghost and how do we not intrude on His role?

    Drawing is done by the word of God and the Holy Ghost. Doctoring up the message with methods and entertainment is unnecessary, leads to false conversions, and ungodly.
     
    #29 Revmitchell, Nov 5, 2009
  10. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Obviously if pragmatism is defined as doing thing that work, we should start doing those things that don't work.
    But Pragmatism works! We should keep doing it!!!


    Eight Steps to a Successful Ministry
    • Pray
    • Seek the Lord's will
    • Pray
    • Develop a plan
    • Pray
    • Do
    • Pray and give thanks
    • Evaluate and return to first step
    Rob
     
    #30 Deacon, Nov 5, 2009
  11. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    So what you are saying is that.......“the end justifies the means”!

    This “might” be okey, if we could see into men’s hearts and see if they were being changed........but we can’t.
    --------------------------------------------------
    And the 100 years or so, that the Church has been using pragmatism, has resulted in a Church that is getting farther and farther from the LORD!

    So it really isn’t working at all.
     
    #31 stilllearning, Nov 5, 2009
  12. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Paul avoided pragmatism
     
    #32 Revmitchell, Nov 5, 2009
  13. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Uh, that's what I've been saying all along.
     
    #33 Johnv, Nov 6, 2009
  14. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    We all tend to be pragmatic by times, but it should never be employed as part of hermeneutics. The modernists did this in the early days to tear up the real meaning of scripture. The end result surely doesn't justify the means.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #34 Jim1999, Nov 6, 2009
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