Antinomian?
As Chewydad and I have begun to walk run sprint away from what feels like legalism, there is a word that keeps popping up.
Antinomian.
As in, “We’re not sure we can trust you to teach our kids, because you are an antinomian.” Or, “You could never be an elder because you’re antinomian.” Or, “We won’t have you leading a Sunday school class or a Bible study, because of your antinomian leanings.” Or “We’re worried about your salvation because of your antinomian views.”
The definition of “antinomian” is a person who maintains that Christians are freed from the moral law by virtue of grace as set forth in the gospel. Simply put, it means “anti” “law.”
And there’s a sense in which that is true of Chewydad and me. Over the course of our Christian, married life (which encompasses almost 20 years, five cities, and seven churches), we’ve grown tired of being told how to uphold the Sabbath–Don’t drive through KFC! Don’t mow the grass! Be sure you attend Sunday School, morning worship, and evening worship, all three!
We’re tired of being told what to believe about women. Women cannot be elders. Or deacons. Or hand out the bulletin or collect the offering! They must be silent. They cannot hold an opinion unless their husband tells them to. Always wear makeup in public! And the reason women have these restrictions is that they are too emotional and can’t be trusted to think.
The church has become downright Pharisaical in many instances, adding to the law and making Christianity a noose around the believer’s neck. Don’t have a tattoo! Don’t listen to rock music! Always give 10% of your money to your local church! Thou shalt not vote for a Democrat. Keep your finances perfectly! Don’t drive a clunker car to church, or it might make us look bad.
Folks, I’m not opposed to the law. Without it, I would not understand my need for Jesus! If not for the law, how could Jesus have lived a perfect life in my place? And without it, how would my heart know what to do with my love for Jesus–what to strive for and long for? I am thankful that the law has shown me my sin, and that it can give my passion a place to go and a thing to do with my desire to show my love for God.
So instead of being labeled an “antinomian,” can I be called a “pro-grace?” Rather than emphasize the law, or rather AFTER I have emphasized the law (the REAL law–not that which is made up by well-meaning Christians) and seen how I cannot fulfill it, I am driven to the doctrine of grace.
Grace says, “I’m messed up. I can’t find God. I find all kinds of other things to fill the needs I feel–perfection, money, sex, possessions, family. They never satisfy, and I always want more. Jesus is more. He fulfills the law, He fulfills my desires, and He did it when I couldn’t.” That’s grace. And when I get that, I want to show that grace to others.
Here is “Grace,” in the words of U2:
Grace
She takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her nameGrace
It’s a name for a girl
It’s also a thought that
Changed the worldAnd when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness
In everythingGrace
She’s got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She’s got the time to talkShe travels outside
Of karma, karma
She travels outside
Of karmaWhen she goes to work
You can hear the strings
Grace finds beauty
In everythingGrace
She carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips
Between her fingertipsShe carries a pearl
In perfect condition
What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stingsBecause grace makes beauty
Out of ugly thingsGrace finds beauty
In everythingGrace finds goodness
In everything
February 8th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I couldn’t agree more!
February 8th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
AMEN!
This is one of the most encouraging blog entries I’ve read recently!
Ever notice that the “law” that so many accuse folks (like me and apparently like you) of being against, isn’t even scriptural?
And then, when you dare to bring grace into the discussion, that elder-brother resentment kicks in.
“This son of yours…” Or maybe the full-day workers’ scorn for the one-hour workers in the field.
How dare God lavish grace upon the undeserving? (Except for ME, of course…but then, I’m so much LESS undeserving than anyone else…)
Shoot…just accept my thanks for a wonderful post.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Chewmom,
I like the idea of being “pro-grace.” Why is it that we are so often defined by all the things we are not rather than by what we are?
February 8th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Oh, Chewymom, I hear you. Pretty much, the way I see it, if I’m preaching grace and I’m not being accused of being antinomian, then I’m not doing it right.
If you haven’t purchased/read Paul Zahl’s book Grace in Practice yet, go do that right now. I’ll wait.
You’ll thoroughly enjoy Zahl’s book. And it sounds like there are many people in your church who desperately need to read it!
February 8th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Thanks, Rachel!
Psalmist, thank you for the encouraging comment.
Thatmom, EXACTLY! I definitely get tired of being labeled as “anti”-whatever!!
RevJATB, I should clarify that while some of this attitude is coming from our current church, lots of the examples I gave are from previous churches. Our church definitely could stand to grow in this area, but they would be appalled at some of those things. Thanks for the book recommendation!
February 8th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I theoretically agree with you and loudly applaud.
Sometimes I find it puzzling to figure out what Jesus thought of law. He said he came to fulfill it, not destroy it, which still fits in fine with what you’re saying and with Paul. And of course there’s all the Sabbath healings and the picking of grain. But he also talks about the sheep and the goats, being judged by our deeds. That doesn’t seem to be about law in the OT sense, but is still more law-like than what some grace folks seem to think, the old license to sin school.
Like I said, I just find it puzzling — so much of Reformed theology makes so much sense and is so appealing, but to me it’s not obvious in Scripture, yet, at least not in all places.
February 8th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
SUCH a good good post…
February 8th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Wait–you can’t drive thru KFC on the Sabbath? Oh, CRAP!
February 8th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Marcy, It’s interesting– I hear and read about those who take grace to the extreme of being a license to sin (which flies in the face of what Paul said in Romans 6:1-2), but I have never, ever met anyone who thinks that. I know what you mean–there’s a balance in there somewhere, obviously. I don’t know exactly where the balance lies, but I am certain that it does NOT lie in man-made rules and regulations that add to the law of God. Jesus was pretty clear about that one when he dealt with the Pharisees!
Molly, Thank you!
Skerrib, We had college friends spend several days with us once, and after church on Sunday, we drove through KFC for chicken. I had two children under two, life was busy, and we were trying to show hospitality to our friends while keeping life not terribly insane for me. These friends told us later that their consciences were really troubled that they had eaten from KFC on a Sunday–they were opposed to making others work on the Sabbath. Nevermind the work I would have been doing to feed them….That doesn’t count, I guess. We had quite the theological debate with them over that one.
February 9th, 2008 at 9:39 am
The Greek word for grace is charis. It means, according to the Strong’s Greek Dictionary, “the divine influence on the heart with the reflection in the life.” Grace is the causative part of the New Covenant. The New Covenant, as defined by the Scripture in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and Hebrews, and other places is when we come to HIM by faith (believing what HE said - Torah) HE works grace in us, changing our heart from a lawless, rebellious one with the consistency of stone to a heart of flesh, made ready to have HIS Torah written on our hearts and put in our minds - the continued work of grace in and through us by the Holy Spirit, who is equally God.
The rules of men don’t apply. The commandments of Yahweh do. What is written is what matters. Man’s rules about going to KFC or whatever and even more important that man has decided to change the Sabbath of Yahweh to Sunday the venerable day of the sun god Mithra from HIS chosen day, the seventh day is a sure sign of a rebellious professing church.
We are commanded to walk as HE walked, according to John in 1st John 2. You admit HE walked Torah perfectly. Well we know we can’t. BUT because HE did, and HE lives in us, we are to try to, not decide since we can’t we will live in rebellion to Torah and HIM. HE is the Living Torah. NO! We try, by faith, allowing HIM to work grace continuallly in us, and when we fail we fall on HIS mercy, HIS blood restores our repentant heart and we are back on the road with HIM. Such is the life of a true born again beliver who now delights in the spiritual, holy, and good Law of the LORD, just as Paul did. Romans 7
February 9th, 2008 at 11:49 am
You’re right, I haven’t met one of those people either. But at one church we attended a long time (would be still if it weren’t for moving), there was such an emphasis on grace — such a life-giving, freeing, amazing emphasis on grace — that at times we wondered if it could possibly be that good, or if they were forgetting to tell us about what we still need to be doing. It is puzzling to try to figure out how exactly to live by grace without just sitting on our hands and doing nothing. Easy to avoid the extremes, hard, as you say, to find the balance.
February 9th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Banner Kidd…Huh??
February 10th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
(((((((hug)))))))
Thumbs up!
February 11th, 2008 at 10:35 am
(((hugs)))
You all know the Derek Webb song “A New Law” right? If you don’t, you should
February 13th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
One of my favorite U2 songs. Have you read What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancy. It changed my life. I wouldn’t put all the church under this description. I have met individuals within churches that have been pretty legalistic but it doesn’t come from the pulpit or the head office. Some of it, what I’ve noticed is that it’s a generational issue.
Most of the folks at our church eat out after church! But honestly, part of me feels a tad guilty because it is a day of rest and by our patronage we are making someone work for us. But as Jesus said, we are not made for the Sabbath, it’s the other way around.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
[...] Speaking of chewymom, I really enjoyed her post last weekabout things experienced by herself and her husband (whose blog, The Tumbler, is a great read, btw) as they’ve been walking out of legalistic Christianity. A teaser: Over the course of our Christian, married life (which encompasses almost 20 years, five cities, and seven churches), we’ve grown tired of being told how to uphold the Sabbath–Don’t drive through KFC! Don’t mow the grass! Be sure you attend Sunday School, morning worship, and evening worship, all three! [...]
February 16th, 2008 at 12:03 am
How did I manage to miss out going to MOST of this kind of thing?
oh wait.. I actually did at the mission I grew up in…
Great post. Great thoughts. Right on. God Bless as you journey on. well, gee, off course He will!
Renee
February 17th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
“To promise a man the certainty of his destiny may seem, on the human level, like playing with fire: but this leaves God out of the picture. Those who have the deepest appreciation of grace do not continue in sin. Moreover, fear produces the obedience of slaves; love engenders the obedience of sons.” J. W. Sanderson Jr.
“Often, after a while, fear produces only numbness, but love thrives on love.” Miles Stanford