Autonomy, (coming from the Greek words, "auto" and "nomos", meaning "self" and "law" respectively), when discussed in the context of Theonomy, is understood to be the sole alternative system of government. We are either living according to God's laws, or we (mankind) are making up the laws as we go. There is no other ultimate standard of justice; no other Most Just Law Giver. Any system of government which is not God's law, (a system invented by mankind), no matter what merits or problems we may perceive in it, is just an arbitrary construction of the human mind. Furthermore, given that God's law is the standard and definition of justice, any deviation from God's law is, by definition, unjust. Any time a person rationalizes a sinful behavior or a deviation from God's law, they are exercising autonomy; they are choosing to determine what is good and evil for themselves; they are repeating the original sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve.
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Autonomy is being one's own source of law. It is directly opposed to Theonomy, a view which understands that the God YHWH is the only transcendent source of law. We either live according to God's laws, or we (mankind) make up laws as we go. There is no other ultimate standard of justice; no other transcendent Law Giver. Any system of government which is not based upon God's law is a system invented by mankind. No matter what merits or problems we may perceive in it, it is merely an arbitrary construction of the human mind. Furthermore, because God's law is the transcendent standard and definition of justice, any deviation from it is, by definition, unjust. Any time a person rationalizes a sinful behavior or a deviation from God's law, they are exercising autonomy; they are choosing to determine what is good and evil for themselves; they are repeating the original sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve.
Latest revision as of 00:32, 24 August 2020
Autonomy is being one's own source of law. It is directly opposed to Theonomy, a view which understands that the God YHWH is the only transcendent source of law. We either live according to God's laws, or we (mankind) make up laws as we go. There is no other ultimate standard of justice; no other transcendent Law Giver. Any system of government which is not based upon God's law is a system invented by mankind. No matter what merits or problems we may perceive in it, it is merely an arbitrary construction of the human mind. Furthermore, because God's law is the transcendent standard and definition of justice, any deviation from it is, by definition, unjust. Any time a person rationalizes a sinful behavior or a deviation from God's law, they are exercising autonomy; they are choosing to determine what is good and evil for themselves; they are repeating the original sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve.
