What is Pragmatism?

A simple definition of Pragmatism is "whatever works". Pragmatism's focus is on efficient practicality.

Let's explore pragmatism through two main points:
1: Practicality
Pragmatism is, if you will, utilitarian. It focuses on the practical. "What do we need?" Pragmatism asks, "Which is the fastest possible way to get what we need?"
Pragmatism's highest goals are efficiency in practicality. However, this can lead to a serious problem ...
2: Short-sightedness
America is a very pragmatic society. We love to solve problems so we can get what we need - quickly!
But what happens when the most efficient way to solve a problem creates a host of other problems? Pragmatism has the answer. We simply solve those problems the most efficient way. That leads to even more problems created ... because we want what we want right now!
Ladies and gentlemen, Pragmatism's problematic problem-solving is how we got to the budget deficit!

Often, the godly answer to problems and getting what we want is just to be patient, work hard, and pray. God values patience and long-suffering more than efficiency, and wisdom more than Pragmatism's short-sighted problem-solving.

Are you real?

How do you know that you are real?

Really. How do you know? What proof do you have that this isn't just a dream?

Today I'll prove that you exist in three ways.
1: Self-Awareness

We wake up each morning with a keen sense of self-awareness. We don't wander around, looking for the cereal, and think, "Who is this person? Oh - it's me!"

We can't escape ourselves. We simply are ourselves, in a way that only we can know and tell.

However, self-awareness isn't enough by itself to prove our existence, as we are still aware of ourselves in a dream.
2: Limited Point of View

In a sense, you are all of the characters in a dream. You see into their minds, feel their emotions, and even control them. Obviously, life doesn't work this way.

In life, you know for sure solely what you are thinking, feeling, and can control only your actions. You are one of the actors who struts along the stage with no guarantee of what the other actors will do next.

You are limited to yourself.
3: Sense Perception

Sense perception is so vivid. We run our hand along a bookshelf and smell the faint scent of wood, see the dark grains that flow over it, feel the friction of our hand against its smoothened fibers, even hear the whisper of our hand against the wood.

There seems to be no doubt about whether or not sense perception is part of a dream.

Today I hope I've proven to you that you exist. Don't laugh. This is a serious matter that calls into question the entirety of reality.

Next time you feel like something's so wonderful that it must be a dream, praise God that we do exist!

You Matter

The human soul yearns for eternity. We desperately want to believe that we matter ... that there's something beyond the here and now.

Yet sometimes we wonder, don't we?

We watch people striving to accomplish certain goals. Perhaps they want to achieve fame, gain money, impress others, or maybe they strive out of true zeal for a cause.
Then we realize that even if they do achieve their goal, it may feel that it hardly matters and no one cares. Even if they achieve fame, it may not last. Even if they gain money, it may vanish. Even if they impress some, there's no guarantee everyone will stay impressed. Even if they fulfill their cause, it may be defeated at any time.

We build our hopes and fears - our very lives - on these dreams ... only to realize sooner or later that they don't satisfy our yearning for eternity

Ecclesiastes 3:19 echoes the hopelessness we all feel: "For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity."

Is there any way out? Jeremiah 31:17 gives us the answer: "There is hope for your future..."

How do we grasp this hope? We must center our lives on Jesus Christ by accepting Him as our Lord and Savior.

If we make Him the cornerstone for our lives, we will matter. Even when our hopes and dreams don't give us the satisfaction we desire, He will satisfy our desires more deeply and fully than we could've ever imagined.

Jesus offers you meaning for eternity.

Just Exist?

"Though you may not know

where your gifts may lead,

and it may not show

at the start,

when you live your dream,

you'll find destiny

is written in your heart."

Those words come from the closing song of the Barbie movie The Princess and the Pauper. Although seemingly harmless, they sum up one of the most prevalent and dangerous philosophies of today.

What is that philosophy?

Existentialism.

What is existentialism?

One of the leading proponents of this philosophy defined existentialism as "existence precedes essence."

Dr. R.C. Sproul clarifies that definition when he says that existentialism is all about living for now - since it says that there is nothing beyond our existence right now.

Why is existentialism dangerous?

1. Existentialism denies the supernatural

If we're going to take the Bible seriously at all, we need to take the supernatural seriously. Every page of the Bible savors of the supernatural affecting our daily lives. However, existentialism says that there is no supernatural; that right now is all that there ever was, is, and will be.

Fellow Christians, take this point seriously.

2. Existentialism opens the floodgates of evil

Existentialism's denial of the supernatural leads to a more obviously destructive implication.

If there is nothing beyond this world, then there are no consequences for our actions. With no eternal consequences, then there's no real right or wrong - we make our own destiny. Since nothing matters forever, we might as well party out our lives. Thus the saying, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."

Do you see how existentialism leads to moral chaos?

3. Existentialism is deceptively attractive

Yet despite these huge dangers, existentialism is alive and well!

The secret of its survival is its prevalence in the media. Movies, books, and music scream at us to follow our hearts and dreams, to do what we want to do right now because that's all there is.

Watch carefully - existentialism may be hiding in your favorite things. Defend yourself from it and cling to the word of God alone!

Relatively speaking ...

"That's what you believe."
"It's all relative."
"There are no absolutes."


Those three statements belong to the philosophy called relativism, a philosophy that dominates our culture. What is relativism all about, anyway?

Relativism is all about no absolutes. Let's look at the implications of relativism as we see three fatal contradictions in the philosophy of relativism.
1. Absolutely no absolutes
Relativism confidently asserts that there are absolutely no absolutes. Absolutely no absolutes? I don't think so.
2. Intolerance
Often relativists will boast in their tolerance of other religions and scold Christianity for their intolerance. Do you see now? There is one thing that relativism can't tolerate: intolerance.
3. Right and wrong
If everything is simply preference, since there are no absolutes, then justice, peace and liberty are all preferences. Some people might prefer to violate those preferences, because their preferences aren't the same as other people's preferences.

Relativism is inadequate as a philosophy because it violates its own principles.

What is Truth?

What is Truth?

This question has intrigued people since the very beginning of time. It's a question built into human nature. We all find ourselves asking this question, sooner or later.
If the answer doesn't emerge, we shrug it off.
Yet the question remains in the back of our mind, begging to be noticed.

Philosophers, theologians, and everyday people endeavor to answer the question. But sooner or later they run into a wall.
How do we know we're telling the truth about the truth?

By then, most people give up. "Truth is unknowable," or "There are no absolutes" they say.

What do you do when the question of right and wrong emerges?

Our very souls cry out for an answer to the question!

Jesus in John 14:6, says, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life..."

What is truth? Or rather, who is Truth? . . . Jesus Christ.