Difference between revisions of "Antinomianism"
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[[Relativism|Relativist]] interpreters emphasize that "the true value of the Gospel" lies primarily in its profound psychological and emotional impact, in '''''the telling of the story''''', without the necessity of it being factually and historically true, as a powerful means of causing spiritual transformation through personal identification with "the struggle and triumph of the mythical Jesus invented by Paul and the Gospel writers and the developed tradition of Christianity". The [[Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic)]] of [[orthodox]] [[catholic]] biblical [[hermeneutics]] directly contradicts this approach. | [[Relativism|Relativist]] interpreters emphasize that "the true value of the Gospel" lies primarily in its profound psychological and emotional impact, in '''''the telling of the story''''', without the necessity of it being factually and historically true, as a powerful means of causing spiritual transformation through personal identification with "the struggle and triumph of the mythical Jesus invented by Paul and the Gospel writers and the developed tradition of Christianity". The [[Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic)]] of [[orthodox]] [[catholic]] biblical [[hermeneutics]] directly contradicts this approach. | ||
Revision as of 14:09, February 17, 2020
Antinomianism (from the Greek: αντι anti, "against" + νομος nomos, "law" = "lawless") is the belief and doctrinal teaching that man can freely partake in sin because the Law of God is no longer binding.
- "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:1 KJV[1]
- "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" Galatians 5:1 KJV.[2]
Those who promote this "law-less" belief and teaching are said to be antinomian.[3] The word "antinomian" was first coined by Martin Luther, as a description of Johannes Agricola, a German Protestant minister.[4][5]
The secular expression of antinomianism, civil and philosophical, is called anarchy.
Some conservative Christians argue[6] that antinomianism allows modern churches to engage in the Social Gospel, promoting social justice beliefs such as:[7][8][9]
- Differences between men and women are not important
- Easy divorce is acceptable
- The name of Jesus Christ does not need to be promoted to other religions
- Homosexual behavior is acceptable
- Out of wedlock intimacy is acceptable
- Regular church attendance is negotiable
Antinomian Protestantism as a form of Gnostic Christianity
Relativist interpreters emphasize that "the true value of the Gospel" lies primarily in its profound psychological and emotional impact, in the telling of the story, without the necessity of it being factually and historically true, as a powerful means of causing spiritual transformation through personal identification with "the struggle and triumph of the mythical Jesus invented by Paul and the Gospel writers and the developed tradition of Christianity". The Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic) of orthodox catholic biblical hermeneutics directly contradicts this approach.
The "myth" assertion that the story of Jesus is an archetypical iconic pattern for personal insight and development—being profoundly "awakened" and transformed by being dynamically engaged and absorbed in the telling of the story—is a prime element of gnostic initiation and Cosmic Humanism, which is in direct opposition to the grounded reality of the Christian mysteries.[10] See
- Joseph Campbell & The Hero's Journey - Odyssey Online. Antioch University, Santa Barbara (odyssey.antiochsb.edu)
- Excerpts from Myth and the Movies, Stuart Voytilla, by Christopher Vogler (tlu.ee) pdf (9 pages)
- Does Jesus follow Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey? (asyourpoetshavesaid.com)
- Are the Gospels a Myth?, by Fr. Dwight Longenecker - Strange Notions: The Digital Areopagus—Reason. Faith. Dialogue (strangenotions.com) They only seem to be, but they are not a myth.—see Fallacy of analogy.
- Are The Gospels Mythical? by Rene Girard (firstthings.com) Some people insist that they are, in spite of evidence to the contrary.
Author Philip J. Lee, Against the Protestant Gnostics [11] shows that Gnostic tendencies are being taught alongside Christian orthodoxy, and that the Reformation at its heart fostered the inherent Gnostic tendencies toward a disdain for authority and the physical nature of things, and the Gnostic disdain of the sacraments and disdain of the doctrine of the physical resurrection of the body, and a sola scriptura reading of scripture sola spiritu with the hope of a bodiless spiritual-only salvation forever in heaven after death, through a direct "personal relation with Christ" (as a cosmic spiritual entity) and "knowing Jesus" by the "chosen elect".[12] He demonstrates how these teachings of Gnosticism have wormed their way into Christian teachings, particularly in North American Protestantism. Pastor and author Peter Dietsch, in summarizing Lee's book, says, "In both the Old and New Testaments, the knowledge of God is not self-discoverable. God has revealed Himself in and through a community (His people, the Church), therefore He may be known only through that community." [13]
See also
- Natural Law
- Cafeteria Christian
- Cafeteria Catholic
- Christian In Name Only
- Anarchism
- Bogomil: Bogomilism
- Manicheanism
- Hypocrites
- Libertarianism
- Morality
- Hedonism
- Nicolaitans
- Eternal security (salvation)
References
- ↑ The second half of the Romans 8:1 is often omitted by those who teach "freedom in Christ" as being rooted in a fundamental antinomianism. The second half of the verse is a phrase that makes freedom conditional, based on morality and spirituality: "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit". Compare Galatians 5:13-25 which clarifies the meaning of "walk by the Spirit/walk in the Spirit".
- ↑ Paul also wrote, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Romans 6:1-2 KJV (boldface emphasis added).
- ↑ 2 Peter 3:17 "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability." RSV. See 1 Timothy 1:9.
- ↑ The Antinomian Disputations, Rev. Jesse Burns (lutheranreformation.org)
- ↑ Luther Coined the Term "Antinomian? - Beggars All: Reformation & Apologetics (beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com)
- ↑ The Law, the Gospel, and Social Justice, "the liberal notion of social justice attacks both the law of God and the gospel of Christ. It is simultaneously antinomian and legalistic."
- ↑ Where Did the Antinomianism in Today’s Christianity Come From?
- ↑ The Gospel Is Not Social
- ↑ Exodus International's Alan Chambers Accused of Antinomian Theology
- ↑ Compare Subjectivism, Mysticism, Gnosticism, Humanism, Christian socialism.
- ↑ Against the Protestant Gnostics, Philip J. Lee, Oxford University Press, 1993 (goodreads.com)
See Against the Protestant Gnostics: Book Review, by Caleb Miller - Preaching Peace (preachingpeace.org) - ↑ The same elements are found in the earlier Bogomils and the Cathars or Albigenses.
- ↑ Gnosticism vs. Christianity: Six contrasts between the teachings of Gnosticism and the Christian faith, Written by Peter M. Dietsch - The Aquila Report (theaquilareport.com)
- —Peter M. Dietsch is pastor of Providence PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) in Midland, Texas. He summarizes Against the Protestant Gnostics, by Philip J. Lee.
External links
- What Does the Bible Say About Lawlessness? (openbible.info)
- Antinomian - Merriam-Webster Dictionary (merriam-webster.com)
- Antinomianism - The Free Dictionary (thefreedictionary.com)
- Antinomianism - Theopedia (theopedia.com)
- Antinomianism - Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry (carm.org)
- Antinomianism - Encyclopedia of the Bible (biblegateway.com)
- Antinomianism - Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Antinomianism - Catholic Encyclopedia (newadvent.org)
- Antinomian Controversy - Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org) Luther's controversy against Agricola's distortion of his views on Christian freedom.
- Don't Tell Me That! Martin Luther's Antinomian Theses Translated by Paul Strawn (concordiatheology.org)
- Antinomianism, The Carnal Christian (evangelicaloutreach.org)