The Means Matter

In the closing chapters of W.M. P. Farley's book "Outrageous Mercy" he covers the foolishness of God's Wisdom and I found this quote to be very profound for today's church and all should sit up and take notes.

Understanding God's wisdom is also important because it saves us from pragmatism. Pragmatism is the idea that whatever works is right. In other words, the ends justify the means. For example, if modern business management and marketing principles help us reach the lost, they must be good. If psychology helps people feel better about themselves, we should recommend it. But the wisdom that appeared at the cross speaks otherwise. The means matter greatly to God, whether they get results or not. The proclamation of the law, our sinfulness, God's holiness, and justification by faith alone, rather than contemporary business marketing strategies, are the means that please God. God is only glorified when we attain his ends with his means. To know his means we must be diligent students of the Bible. In the long run, God does not bless what is not built with his wisdom.

Excerpt taken from WM. P. Farley, Outrageous Mercy: Rediscover the Radical Nature of Christianity (Baker: Grand Rapids, MI) 2004. Page 137-138.