The quicksand of antinomianism
March 17, 2009
If the voting in the national referendum on the “fidelity/chastity” ordination requirement in the Book of Order continues as it now appears possible, the Presbyterian Church (USA) will adopt antinomianism as its theological foundation. It’s a foundation of quicksand.
Antinomianism is the derivative of two Greek words – anti, meaning against, and nomos, meaning law. The short definition is that antinomianism is the complete opposite of legalism. It is a conscious decision to act according to one’s feelings, desires, influences and preferences. In short, it is an act so defiant that its followers are unworthy to be called disciples of Christ.
Salvation by grace
Do not be confused. Scripture and the Reformed tradition clearly teach that no one is saved by the works of the law. Who, other than Christ, has not willfully broken God’s law? “None,” said Paul, who strings together from the Psalms a series of indictments against everyone who has ever taken a breath. The honest person must stand before those indictments and the Ten Commandments with a desperate need to have another give his life meaning and eternity.
Thankfully, God has made it possible to experience salvation apart from the law, and that’s by sheer grace. Jesus provided that grace by His death on the cross. He fulfilled everything we fail at. Attempts to be nicer don’t work. Feigned piety doesn’t avail. A keen social consciousness fails. And grace doesn’t come through the bloodlines. Saving grace is absolutely undeserved, unattainable by any effort on our part, realized only by the gift of faith. Our destiny rests fully in the life, death, resurrection and reign of Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings.
The law remains
When others heard Paul teach this way, they wondered. Well, then, isn’t the law useless, outdated, unnecessary for our times? If salvation is only by grace, can’t we sin with abandon so that grace will abound. Paul’s answer: No. No. No. No. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the holy law of God still stands. Despite the deception of those “who do what’s right in their own eyes,” the law has not diminished in its authority. The seventh commandment prohibits adultery just as firmly and thoroughly as it did at Mount Sinai. And New Testament interpretations explore the deeper – not laxer – implications of the law.
Words of Christ
Consider what Jesus said. You have heard it said that you shall not murder. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to the judgment. Likewise with adultery. You have heard it said that you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Today the presbyteries are edging closer to renouncing the commandments of God. They are being led into the quicksand by people who have decreed that their behavior as homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, adulterers and fornicators is not displeasing to the Triune God. They claim that intimacy outside of marriage is a gift of God. They have lured into their crusade well-meaning moderates and even some self-described evangelicals. They have enlisted the denomination’s hired muscle to take punitive action against congregations comprised of Presbyterians who cannot declare God’s laws unholy.
Body of Christ tarnished
Even without a final victory at the polls, they have already tarnished the body of Christ. Their actions and message have led to increasing membership losses, shrinking world missions, confusion on theological and social issues and an image of a Jesus who is incompatible with Scripture. Not surprisingly, their tendency is toward the irrelevance of Jesus, not His supremacy, for they pose as progressives who believe there are many paths to God.
The outcome of the referendum seems to be moving inexorably toward the repudiation of God’s Word.
But a faithless repudiation by the PCUSA will not silence the one true voice that spans the ages.