The Biblical Case Against Autonomy

Autonomy= "Auto" + "Nomy"= Self law

Romans 8:7 states that "the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so."

Attack against the faith originates, operates and assumes and concludes with autonomy. Christian apologetics should expose autonomy and reduce it to rubbles:

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Moral Autonomy

Should you impose your idea of morality on God and accuse him of wrong doing?

"Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?" (Job 40:8)

Take heed, it is sinful to accuse God of wrong doing:
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (Job 1:22)

A.) Is God obligated to forbid trouble in your life?

No. "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"" (Job 2:10)

B.) Is God obligated to owe you anything?

No. "Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me." (Job 41:11)

C.) Is it permissible for God to take things away from you?

Yes ""Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."" (Job 1:21)

D.) Is it your place to teach God the right way?

No. "Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way?" (Isaiah 40:14a)

Intellectual Autonomy

Should you impose your idea of reasonableness on God and accuse him of being unreasonable?

A.) Is it you or God who is the source of wisdom?

God. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

B.) Does the world reflect your wisdom or God's wisdom?

God's wisdom. "By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew." (Proverbs 3:19-20)

C.) Is your knowledge finite?

Finite. From Job 38:19-20:

19 "What is the way to the abode of light?
And where does darkness reside?
20 Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born!
You have lived so many years!

D.) Is man's wisdom greater than God's wisdom?

God's wisdom is greater. "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." (1 Corinthians 1:25)

E.) Is it your place to instruct God?

No. "Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?" (Isaiah 40: 13)

Physical Autonomy

Should you behave/think as if you are stronger than God?

A.) Whose strength can be compared to His?

No one. According to Isaiah 40:25-26:

25 "To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

B.) Have you ever grown tired or weary?

Not God though. According to Isaiah 40:28,

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

C.) Is man's strength greater than God's strength?

God's strength is stronger than man's strengths. "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." (1 Corinthians 1:25)

Conclusion

A true grasp of this article would lead the Christian to worship God, knowing that He is the source of morality, intellectual capacity and strength. Indeed, all of these depend on his attribute: God is good, wise and powerful. On the other hand, for man to try to take God's throne will result in devastating consequences morally,

"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done" (Romans 8:28)

Intellectually,

"For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate'" (1Corinthians 1:19)

And powerfully,

"You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery" (Isaiah 41:12)

By Jimmy Li