Pragmatism, the Church, & Theology

We Americans are pragmatic people.

In many ways, pragmatism was built into the fabric of our society due to necessity. When people moved to North America about four hundred years ago, they had to figure out how to survive. They needed to grow food, build homes, develop businesses, and build a society. There were many immediate needs. Learning needed to produce something.

As time went by, pragmatism developed into a philosophical movement. According to Merriam-Webster, pragmatism is "an American movement in philosophy founded by C. S. Peirce and William James and marked by the doctrines that the meaning of conceptions is to be sought in their practical bearings, that the function of thought is to guide action, and that truth is preeminently to be tested by the practical consequences of belief."[1]

In other words, knowledge matters if there is some practical outcome. If it works, keep it. If it doesn't work, dispense it. The things that work are the things that are true.

Pragmatism says, "The things that work are the things that are true."

Occasionally, we are faced with the obstacle of needing to produce a certain result. This is often true at work or if we are solving a problem at home. We may need to continue refining our methods if they aren't producing the desired results (e.g., fitness, finances, work strategies, etc.). In other words, we need to figure out whatever works.

This does not automatically lead to pragmatism. Pragmatism argues that whatever works is true. But not every question is a matter of what works. And, more importantly, something isn’t necessarily true because it works (or because it appears to work).

For example, not all that appears to work is true and right. Consider this:

• There was a time in Nazi Germany when racism was considered to work (obviously for certain people; others were brutally oppressed).

• There was a time in America when slavery appeared to work (obviously for certain people; others were brutally oppressed).

• American greed sometimes appears to work.

• Abusive and narcissistic leadership often appears to work.

• Stealing food and not getting caught appears to work occasionally.

• Preaching in such a way where itching ears get scratched appears to work (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

• Cheating sometimes appears to work (e.g., banned performance enhancing drugs in sports).

• Sometimes workaholism appears to work.

• For a time, lying appears to work.

• For a while, rushing ahead of God appears to work (e.g., Abraham and Sarah).

  
  

  But these things are wrong, sinful, and evil.

Conversely, sometimes things that don't appear to work are true and right. Now, consider this:

• Waiting on God for a long time doesn't appear to work (e.g, Abraham and Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Jesus, etc.).

• Preaching sound doctrine in an era when itching ears are the norm doesn't appear to work (see 2 Timothy 4:1-8).

• Faithfully teaching all of God's Word, rather than a few fashionable topics, doesn't always appear to work (Acts 20:27).

• Bold, faithful ministry doesn't always appear successful and effective (consider all of the set backs, times thrown in prison, and persecuted in the early church).

• Sometimes prayer doesn't appear to work.

• Integrity and honesty at school, work, and in relationships sometimes doesn't appear to work.

• Resting from our work often doesn't appear to work.

• Generosity often doesn't appear to work.

• Servant leadership doesn't always appear to work.

  
  

  Nevertheless, these things are good and right.

Moreover, this can be seen in the preaching ministry of Jesus. Sometimes his preaching appeared to "work," such as when massive crowds followed him and he could not get away (Matt. 5-7; 14:13-21; Mark 3:7-9). Other times his preaching didn't appear to "work," at least according to human standards, such as the time that he relayed some hard truths to a crowd and almost all of the crowd left (John 6:66).

An article from GotQuestions titled "What Is Pragmatism?" articulates the dilemma well:

Christians cannot follow both pragmatism and the Bible. Scripture indicates that truth is not defined by our experiences or our opinions (Proverbs 14:12). In fact, the Bible teaches that our fallible perspective can lead us to make mistakes (1 Corinthians 2:14). Particularly when it comes to moral issues, Christianity and pragmatism are entirely incompatible. Whether or not we like the outcome (Matthew 6:9–13), and whether or not we personally benefit (Philippians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 12:8–9), right and wrong are defined in relationship to God (Job 38:1–5; Romans 2:4). What “works” for us in our limited human minds, in the end, is not necessarily what’s true or what “works” from an eternal perspective (Romans 8:17–19; Matthew 7:21–23).[2]

Thus, things can work and be completely wrong and things can fail to work and be correct and godly.

Which brings us to two subjects: the church and theology. What are some implications?

First, the church needs to be clear on our own definition of success. Otherwise we are prone to define success according to worldly standards and then we succumb to pragmatism in order to succeed in those standards. For example, if a church merely defines success as the size of the church (number of attendees or members), then the church will be prone to finding strategies that work and will call them true and right. However, the church may adopt strategies that the Lord detests and still build a crowd. In this example, the church will be considered a success on earth but not in heaven. (Consider the example of Jesus referenced earlier which is found in John 6. If he were simply trying to build a large crowd would he have preached hard truths that ultimately led to the crowd leaving?)

Second, we need to be clear on the purpose of reading Scripture and theology. Yes, there are sometimes practical effects of learning theology in our lives. Further, among other things, theology does lead us to worship and sanctification. But simply seeing practical effects in our lives is not the main purpose. Isn't it valid to learn theology because it's true, whether or not there is necessarily a practical effect in our lives? Moreover, we should not move backwards and "discover" theology on the basis of its perceived outcome. In other words, we should be careful about saying that this or that theological idea is true because it works.

• Think about how many prophets in Scripture seemed to stand alone. God commended them, but it did not appear to work.

• Think about how many kings failed in Scripture. God rebuked and punished them, but what they did sometimes appeared to work.

Instead of pragmatism, let's seek God.

Let's seek truth and faithfulness.

If God orchestrates our lives where they appear to work while we are faithful, then we can be thankful. If God orchestrates our lives in such a way where they don't appear to work from earthly standards while we are faithful, then we can still be thankful.

We must live for God and desire his "well done" at the end of life. That is better than gaining the whole world and losing our own souls.

Ultimately, we should labor to pursue truth and faithfulness over pragmatic success. Occasionally spiritual fruit can be seen in this life, but we won't see all of the eternal, spiritual fruit until we are in Christ's kingdom.

End Notes:

[1] Merriam-Webster, s.v. "Pragmatism," accessed July 18, 2026, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pragmatism.

[2] "What Is Pragmatism?," GotQuestions, accessed July 18,2026, https://www.gotquestions.org/pragmatism.html.