Pragmatism and Fighting the Monster of Corruption
[image error]The monster has not come for games. It has studied the battlefield and watched the protagonists closely for centuries and is deft in laying out tactics to remain unvanquished. This monster understands well three vital things which it uses to maintain his grip.
Pragmatism is the real religion of many professors of ethics and many are simply as motivated to material comforts and/or prominence as any other. Pragmatism means we must do our best to secure a reasonable and practical conclusion on matters in front of us – doing of course our best given the circumstance. Everyone bribes and can be bribed … most with money, others with honour and elevation and almost all with compliments, attention and recognition.
Morality for most is not absolute and the context will determine the case. Every case can be argued and we need to probe the context to establish truth. Truth can be true in a case and untrue for another – depending on who is presenting it or arguing for it. It is the end that justifies the means ….and this creates different scenarios and possibilities – enough to sustain every evil action. The best minds can argue decadence to be right. Everything can be contextualised.
It seems all dread inconvenience, bad news, shame, loneliness and lack more than they fear the hell that they preach about … if they still truly believe it. Most will only have pragmatic perspectives presented and will eschew rather than help people grapple through real ethical dilemmas. All like good news and worship happy endings.
Corruption is not new. Indeed at its height, the Roman Empire was the most impressive human administration the world had ever seen. Roman legislation was indeed effective and is still the basis of the legal code of many countries. Yet, many have said it was corruption that hastened Rome's downfall. The Romans were experts in juggling a corrupt judicial system and knew how to play the cards of the law as was required. They were the ultimate pragmatists.
Acts 24 [22] And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. [23] And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. [24] And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. [25] And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. [26] He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
The apostle Paul suffered under corrupt Roman officials. Felix, the Roman governor recognized Paul's innocence but hoped to be bribed by Paul to secure his release – after all this was only the pragmatic solution to enable Paul have the freedoms he needed to preach and do the work of God. An ally in Felix would also have been most helpful. What practical value will an incarcerated Paul confer? " None " says the positive pragmatist. Surely, Felix deserves some consideration for his kind intervention.
Instead of bribing Felix, Paul spoke about "righteousness and self-control." Felix expecting a more practical discussion was incensed and had Paul retained in prison. For many what the monster demands is not money, but our services or an assent to evil or a quiet silence – anything to secure our freedoms from the bonds of the gospel and the love of God which restrains us. But we are yoked to Christ and must do as the Holy Spirit commands … in this our coast is supernaturally enlarged to do even more.
What is pragmatism? This is how Steve Jobs would have defined it.
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." (1955-2011)
But this is how the Bible describes the voice speaking in our hearts…Jeremiah 17 [9] The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Paul is not perfect and surely did not plan, when his life was interrupted on the way to Damascus, for a ministry in the prisons of Rome or to be crucified like a criminal, but the bonds of the gospel to which he called himself a slave demanded it.
The monster of corruption offers a wealthier, longer and healthier life, perhaps an opportunity in the lush courts of Felix to preach … but all that – did not affect Paul. Perhaps even though Paul did not dent the corrupt order, he saved his destiny and his soul – continuing in a pitiable incarceration from which he penned most of the New Testament.
The monster of corruption and injustice notes the identity of Paul, isolates him from his team and leaves him alone, waiting to hear of his eventual death and ignoring his tears in the sad corridors of a dark jail as he penned his works.
To my friend reading this post – be strong and courageous; continue to stand for truth. There is a new anointing in Christ not to be overcome by corruption. You will laugh last…all your private tears will soon be completely wiped away.
(Adapted from a real scenario and dedicated to the reader silently and privately suffering for battling the monster of corruption)
