Pragmatism

Efficacious. It's not a word you'll likely hear in casual conversation. You'll usually find it in a theologian's handbag of specialized words, especially a Reformed theologian. It means "the ability to produce the desired effect." It says that the thing it is describing is "efficient" -- it works. So while we don't typically use the word, I suspect that it is often the motivation for what we do. "Does it work?"

Why does a child throw a tantrum when he doesn't get his way? It works. They typically stop throwing tantrums when they realize it doesn't work. Much of our moral structures are based on "what works". For instance, many people do charitable work because it makes them feel good. It works. And it is, of course, the standard motivation for why a company does business the way they do. It works. It produces the results they want. If it doesn't produce the results they want, they change it.

There are, of course, other motivations. "How I feel about it" might be one without regard to if it works. (Thus we see people repeating what appear to be stupid actions that don't work.) There is the somewhat mythical altruism motivation -- "I'll do good for the sake of doing good." There are others. And, while much of our activities are built on efficacy, I would suggest that much of Christian activity is not. You see, we are commanded to obey without typically being told why. We are supposed to do the right thing whether or not it "works".

Some time ago I was talking to a friend about a particular problem with his wife. I told him, "You know you need to talk to her about it." He told me, "It won't do any good." That, you see, is the efficacy motivation. And that is often our problem. We know the right thing to do; we just don't think it will "work." It's like the fellow that told me, "I tried that 'born again' thing; it didn't work." Didn't work? What did you expect it to do? There is no measure of efficacy with "born again".

Whether or not something works is often a good reason to do it. If doing "this" action when you bowl makes you get better scores, then do it. If "that" model for doing business is making your company go down the tubes, then reconsider models. But Christians are commanded to obey. "Husbands, love your wives" is a command without a "why" or even a "therefore". We like to think "so you can have a better life", but the command carries no such guarantee. Sometimes, as Christians, we need to do the right thing even when it doesn't seem like it will work.