Principle or Pragmatism?

As the English nation waits to see whether or not their bid to host the 2018 World Cup succeeds or fails an interesting debate has begun on Principle v Pragmatism.

Recent newspapers articles and a BBC Panorama documentary have cast a shadow over the bid as they have called into question the integrity of some of the members of the FIFA committee who will determine success or failure for the English Football Association.

It has been interesting to listen to the debate as it has raged over the airwaves on radio phone-in shows and television studios. Essentially, there are two sides to the debate. Those who believe that, on point of principle, journalists are just right to expose wrong doing wherever it is found. Running contrary to that there are others who believe that we ought to 'park' principle, at least until the outcome of the bid is decided. Those who take this second view offer the pragmatic reasoning that a successful bid would be good for the economy not to mention the mood of the nation.

So who is right? Is principle more important or are their times when we should forget about principles for the perceived common good? These are not new questions or arguments and we all have to face situations in life where we decide what are our principles? Where are our lines in the sand? These questions can arise in Church life, in home life, in business life and not to mention in political life.

On one extreme there are stubborn people who make a principle out of all of their opinions and cannot be worked with and on the other side there are those without principle who would sell their 'proverbial granny' if it meant they could get their hands on a few more pounds.

As with all situations in life, if we need to make big decisions, if we need to decide what our principles are then we need to seek guidance in God's Word. The Bible read and illuminated with the help of God's Spirit is the best guide for all the eventualities of life.

The Lord Jesus Christ when praying for His followers asked His Heavenly Father to 'Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.' John 17 v17 How good it is to know that in an uncertain world full of untruth and deceit that we have a place we can turn to where we are sure to get the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. In the previous chapter of John the Lord Jesus promised that 'when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth:' So not only do we have the Bible, the book of truth, but we have God's Spirit, the Spirit of truth to guide us in all the decisions of life. Are we employing these resources?

So back to our original question, principle or pragmatism? Well, it is not for me to decide your principles for you. You need to employ the resources mentioned above and come to decide where you will draw your lines in the sand. There are things in life where we can compromise and be flexible, however, there are times when principle is more important, even if that means that we scupper something that may be of material benefit to ourselves and others.

May God guide you as you seek truth.