Those who practice pragmatic Christianity believe that today's churches must be relevant.  The Church has to adjust to our modern culture.  In order to recruit the unsaved, Christianity must rid itself of its antiquated dogma and doctrines.  The Church must become "inclusive," "non-judgmental," and "tolerant."  To accomplish this, the atmosphere in churches should be warm and inviting and its members must be friendly. 

As well, church sanctuaries must do away with anything that might offend seekers.  Hence no cross, no choir, no organ, no stained glass, no pews, anything that smacks of tradition must be done away with.  Pragmatists reason that churches in a plain brown wrapper are more palatable to the seeker-sensitive crowd.  The unchurched prefer up beat contemporary music played loud. Hymns are for old fogies.  Seekers love their mocas and lattés, don't ya know, so churches should have an espresso bar on the premises.  It's a good idea to add a few parking spaces in front of the worship center (the use of "church" could be offensive) for first time visitors.  Wow 'em! 

The results of "Whatever" Christianity are in.  The Church has lost its salt.  The light of Christ has gone out.  The Gospel is compromised.  Christianity stands for, well, not much of anything anymore.  Churches now boast of "gays" and lesbians in the pulpit.  For the New Age population, churches offer worship services that blend Christianity with Eastern religious practices and neo-paganism, which includes goddess worship, earth spiritualism, Shamanism and Native American spirituality.  Incorporated into services of mainline denominations you'll discover humanism, radical feminist theology, evolution and Jungian psychology.

And speaking of mainline denominations, the Episcopal Church has installed the first "gay" bishop, Gene Robinson, who flagrantly flaunts his homosexuality and is shacking up with his "partner."  The Episcopal Church USA has its first female bishop, Katharine Jefferts-Schori, who believes that God makes some people "gay." Schori's outspoken in her support of same-sex "marriage."  She also believes Christians shouldn't say that Jesus is the only way to God, even though He claimed to be the only way to God.  His exact words were, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). 

Columnist David Aikman's words ring true.  "For Americans variety of choice in any domain of life is seen as an inherent virtue, the greater it is, the greater the virtue. Americans like to experiment, to 'mix and match,' and in religion it's no different than in the department store. A friend who attended Yale divinity school a few years ago had a classmate who signed herself in as a 'Catholic Buddhist.'"

Variety is the spice of life, as they say.  This even applies to a person's sacred beliefs!  No wonder Christianity isn't taken seriously anymore.  Who can define it?  Ingrid Schlueter warns,  "Defining our terms is becoming more and more important in this hour. The words may be the same, but the meanings can be very, very different."  Indeed.

Christians must become skilled at recognizing heresy and fasle teaching within the Church.  Paul warns believers to make sure that "no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (Col. 2:8).  Paul is addressing human philosophy and experiences.  Believers are to be alert to any philosophy or teaching that gives humanity credit for being the answer to all life's problems. 

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