Antinomianism
Antinomianism is a theological stance primarily associated with Christianity that opposes the idea of adhering strictly to moral laws, particularly those derived from religious doctrine. The term originates from the Greek words meaning "against the law," and it often suggests that salvation granted through divine grace means individuals are not bound to follow moral laws. This belief is generally seen as a heresy within traditional Christian thought, as it contrasts with legalism, which emphasizes strict adherence to religious rules. Historically, the antinomian viewpoint has been significant in various Christian debates, notably during the Antinomian Controversy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century, which involved figures like Anne Hutchinson. Hutchinson and her followers argued that God's grace could not be earned through good works, challenging the prevailing Puritan belief that righteous behavior was indicative of predestined salvation. The controversy led to significant social and religious upheaval, resulting in Hutchinson's expulsion from the colony. Antinomianism raises questions about the relationship between faith, behavior, and salvation that continue to resonate in contemporary discussions within various religious contexts.
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Antinomianism
Antinomianism is opposition to the law, especially opposing it because of religious beliefs. While in a broad sense, it can be applied to deliberate disobedience of the law for other reasons, it is most commonly applied to Christians who believe that because God granted salvation through grace, or the undeserved and unearned favor of God, people do not need to obey moral laws or the customs and practices set down by the fathers of the faith. It is considered a Christian heresy, or false belief.
Antinomianism was a factor in American history. The Antinomian controversy in 1636 disrupted the Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and led to charges of heresy being brought against several of them.
Background
The word antinomianism comes from the Greek words anti, meaning "against," and nomos, meaning "law." The word is pronounced "an-ta-nome-ee-an." Its main use is in reference to the belief that if humankind's eternal future is fixed, individuals have no reason to obey any laws related to faith. It is the opposite of legalism, or the practice of strict and ritualistic obedience to the letter of religious laws without any focus on the intent or spirit of those laws. It can also refer to the rejection of socially accepted moral principles, though this is a less common use. It is unusual for a person or group to self-identify as having an antinomianistic viewpoint; the term is almost always used in reference to another person or group that is being criticized for their beliefs or practices.
The word antinomian or some derivative appears in the original Greek of the Christian New Testament more than two dozen times. However, most people are not familiar with the word from the Bible because it is not usually translated directly. Instead, words such as unrighteous, iniquity, or lawless are generally used in condemnation of people who believe that Christians are saved by faith, not by works; therefore, as long as they correctly believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins and rose from the dead, what they do and how they act does not matter.
From the early days of the Christian faith, some individuals believed that nothing people did mattered to their eternal fate. However, the extremes of this belief were marked by some variations. Many of those who held this antinomian belief said that nothing a person did mattered for the eternal salvation of their soul except believing the death and resurrection of Jesus wiped away their sins. This was a particular issue with the Gnostic sects of Christianity, who believed the natural world was inferior and that some people—the believers—had been given special knowledge that would lead them to eternal life in heaven.
For others, antinomianism meant that the laws of the Old Covenant, as established between God and Abraham and followed by all devout Jews for centuries, were no longer valid after the death and resurrection of Jesus. These antinomians believed that because Jesus's life and death represented a new covenant that replaced the old one, the morality of the old law was also no longer valid and did not need to be followed. St. Paul and other authors of the New Testament repudiated this. For example, Paul wrote that people miss the point of God's saving grace if they believe it means that sinning is of no consequence (Romans 6:1-2), and the writer of the Gospel of Mark criticized the Pharisees who tried to get out of providing for their parents as required by the fourth commandment given to Moses in the Old Testament by claiming they instead had to give the money to the temple. In this, they were selectively obeying some laws and rejecting others they deemed unnecessary for salvation.
Impact
The question of obedience to the law versus salvation by grace was behind a disruption in the Massachusetts Bay Colony between 1636 and 1638. The Puritans who settled there had sought a way to freely express their Christian beliefs. This entailed completely integrating their religious and civil authorities, laws, and practices.
The Puritans were Calvinists, or followers of John Calvin (1509 – 1564), a Protestant reformer who said that God predestines, or determines in advance, who will go to heaven, and nothing a person says or does can change that. Even though their fate could not be changed, the Puritans sought a way to know what each person's fate after death would be. They believed that if a person was destined for salvation, this would show in their works and behaviors; therefore, a person who was righteous, kind, and good, who worked hard and was careful in spending money, was believed to be destined for salvation.
Some Puritans, led by Anne Hutchinson (1591 – 1643) and several others, had a different point of view. They believed that because God's grace could not be earned by good works, good works or good behavior could not be seen as a sign of grace. Instead, they said that a person had to have a personal encounter with God that indicated the individual had been marked for salvation. Hutchinson, a midwife and herbal healer, held religious meetings in her home, during which she spoke frequently and fervently about her viewpoint. She and some of her followers took a very adversarial approach with the leadership of the colony, insisting that theirs was the correct viewpoint. Hutchinson's outspokenness challenged the traditional male hierarchy of the community and the Puritan belief that only a minister could properly interpret the Bible.
The issue divided the colony between those who held the traditional and official view and those who subscribed to Hutchinson's beliefs. In 1638, the legal authorities of the General Court of Massachusetts ejected Hutchinson and some of her followers. The Church of Boston expelled them as heretics. They moved to Narragansett Bay in what is now Rhode Island. In 1643, Hutchinson and five of her six children were killed in an Indigenous American raid. However, some of those who had been her followers continued to make the same antinomian argument against the Quakers who settled the area that became Pennsylvania.
Bibliography
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"Antinomianism." Jewish Virtual Library, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud‗0002‗0002‗0‗01153.html. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
"The Distortion of Lawlessness." Ligonier Ministries, www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/distortion-lawlessness. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
"God in America - People and Ideas: Early American Individuals." WGBH Educational Foundation/PBS, www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/anne-hutchinson.html. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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Maag, Karin. "John Calvin." Calvin University, calvin.edu/about/history/john-calvin.html. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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Traister, Bryce. “Anne Hutchinson’s ‘Monstrous Birth’ and the Feminization of Antinomianism.” Canadian Review of American Studies, vol. 27, no. 2, Mar. 1997, pp. 133–58. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=392546&site=ehost-live. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.