The battle with the pragmatist within

Its one of the first questions people ask about anything isn't it; does it work? We are always looking for the quick fix, or if not the quick fix for something that definitely yields results and behind the question is the unspoken mantra that if it works it must be right.

But how do we take apply that to the church? Is it fair to ask if it works? And if it does, is it fair to then assume that if it works it is right?

I think it is always worth asking if it works. In fact I think its a necessary of church ministry. When the Apostles can't heal the boy in Matt 17, they want to know why. When in Acts 6 the churches ministry is off balance they ask whether it works and take the step of appointing the 7 to ensure that it does what it should do and they can do what they should be doing - praying and being witnesses. So asking if something works, evaluating it is always worth doing.

But we also need to always evaluate on the basis of what the Bible says. Are our evangelistic events being attended by peoples friends and family? What changes can we make, well we can change venue, we can change activity, we can adjust our overall strategy and look to build bridges and show the relevance of the gospel. But what we cannot do is change the gospel!!! And it can seem subtly attractive to do so, to leave out judgement, to soft soap sin, to talk of forgiveness and love, not why you need forgiveness and the danger of opposing God.

When we evaluate what we do we must not given in to the inner pragmatist who wants numbers at any cost. And its not just in evangelism. What about what we teach about divorce or any other moral issue, the Bibles teaching is not populist. Evaluation is good, in fact it is right but only as we sit under the authority of God's word as it evaluates us and our actions.