Avoiding Antinomianism: A Call to Biblical Living and Holistic Well-being
I have found that every few months the same subject pops up somewhere, in fact I am reasonably confident that this was one of the very first questions I was asked about the Christian life. Can Christians freely sin without consequence? It’s the Grace vs. Law debate, is it okay for Christians to sin, after all, Christ covered it all, right? Johannes Agricola famously said, “If you sin, be happy, it should have no consequence.” (Reformed Systematic Theology, Vol 3), which perhaps is the most extreme presentation of Antinomianism we can imagine.
It may seem that our world is increasingly inclined toward moral relativism, although personally I tend to think moral-relativism is quite ancient, as seen in this interesting theological view. The concept of antinomianism - the rejection of the necessity of following moral law due to the belief in grace alone - seems to run in cycles, emerging every few years, surging to popularity in certain generations, gaining traction before some reformation of character once again knocks it back. As we dig into scripture and seek to develop an deeper understanding of the Bible, we find it reveals that avoiding antinomianism is not just about adhering to religious rules, but about embracing a life that leads to holistic well-being. When I am asked about this question, these days, my answer tends to be less about the theology, and more about the health of the individual. Why avoid antinomianism? Because it will cause you and those around you harm. We would do well to recognise that allowing ourselves to sin impacts our mental, emotional, spiritual, and even physical health, not to mention that of those around us. In consideration of this, we would be wise to remember Paul’s words, ‘“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbour.”’ (1 Corinthians 10:23-24, ESV))
Defining Antinomianism
Antinomianism comes from the Greek words "anti" (against) and "nomos" (law). It is the belief that Christians are released by grace from the obligation of observing the moral law. To put it bluntly, this ideology undermines the teachings of the Bible which emphasise that while grace is indeed a cornerstone of Christian faith, it does not nullify the importance of moral law and righteous living.
The Biblical Call to Righteousness
I would posit, law is not there to ruin our fun, but rather to keep us healthy. Since the Gospel is in its fullness the restoration of creation, we would be painfully misguided to think that our restoration does not also include our morals.
The Bible calls us to live righteously and uphold moral laws as an expression of our faith and love for God. Jesus Himself said, "“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them." (Matthew 5:17, ESV). Paul, often misinterpreted as an advocate for antinomianism, clarifies, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it??" (Romans 6:1-2).
These scriptures underscore that grace and law are not mutually exclusive but crucially complementary. Grace empowers us to uphold the law, reflecting God’s holiness in our lives.
Disclaimer: “Sin” as a Word, Can be Unhelpful, but Necessary.
Before we go any further, I need to address a personal distaste for the word “sin”, I agree it has value, it’s weighty, particularly for those familiar with Christian lingo. However, for those outside the church, I find it can be unhelpful, and for those in the church, I find it can be loaded with presupposition and inference. Often, in deeper, slower, more relational conversations I have found it more beneficial to explain that there is a good and healthy way, and a broken and unhealthy way, sin is the former, and God does not want sin, in fact he despises it. For the purposes of this conversation, I will stick to the Biblical language.
The Impact of Sin on Holistic Health
Mental Health Sin, particularly when it becomes habitual, can lead to guilt and shame. These emotions are corrosive to mental health, fostering anxiety, depression, and a fractured sense of self-worth. The Bible speaks to this, as seen in Psalm 32:3-4, where David describes his anguish when he kept silent about his sin: "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” (ESV)
Emotional Health Emotions like anger, jealousy, and bitterness can flourish when we indulge in sin. These negative emotions disrupt our ability to form healthy relationships and maintain inner peace. Galatians 5:19-21 tells us, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Living contrary to God’s will not only disrupts the emotional harmony that He intends for us, but will cause us to suffer the vast loss of eternal separation from our God, and the true peace that is only found in Him.
Spiritual Health Sin creates a barrier between us and God, impairing our spiritual health. Isaiah 59:2 states, "…but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear." (ESV). This separation can lead to a spiritual emptiness and a sense of abandonment, robbing us of the joy and peace that come from a close relationship with God. A quick aside here, does that mean he will never hear us if we turn back? Not at all. Like the Father to the prodigal son, he will shamelessly run to us.
Physical Health The Bible acknowledges the interconnectedness of our spiritual and physical well-being. Proverbs 3:7-8 advises, "Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." I am told that chronic stress and guilt from unaddressed sin can manifest physically, leading to issues like hypertension, digestive problems, and weakened immune responses. In turning back to God, we can release the stress of sin, and seek the healing and wholeness of God.
The Path to True Freedom
True freedom in Christ is not the liberty to sin, but liberation from the bondage of sin. Galatians 5:1 reminds us, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (ESV). By avoiding antinomianism, we embrace a life that reflects God’s character, this is the beginnings of wholeness, and therefore the beginnings of holistic health.
Avoiding antinomianism is crucial, not just for theological correctness, but for our overall well-being. The Bible calls us to a life of righteousness, which fosters mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. By understanding and internalising these principles, we can live a life that truly honours God and reaps the benefits of moving towards our whole sanctified selves.
In our journey of faith, let us remember the words of James 1:19-27, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (ESV).
We are not limited by the law, rather, by embracing the law within the context of grace we find the path to true freedom and well-being, we find ourselves beginning to align with our God.