Today we shift our focus from looking at the skewed practices of modern churches to observing an ancient heresy. I’m sure that many readers will not be as interested to read of “old things” – But let me assure you, understanding the dynamics of such “old things” is absolutely crucial to identifying the root of errors that are still yet bearing fruit in our own day. The heresy I have in mind to briefly consider today is: Pelagianism. It is interesting because it had been nearly universally denounced for centuries until more modern scholars sought to reevaluate its claims. Today, there are many who unwittingly hold to many of the errors of this theological system, and they can find several preachers and theologians to support their skewed views if they’re looking for them.
Well, to understand why Pelagianism became such an issue of prominence in the ancient Christian world, it would help to know a little about the landscape of Christianity at the time. The church had for much of its early years been severely persecuted but had at this point seen a great shift under the leadership of Constantine, through whom Christianity began to see broad acceptance. Many people were “converting” to Christianity, but there was not a wide-scale conversion to actually adhere to the tenets of the faith – Many were in fact becoming “Christian” in name only. Upon such a scene, enters Pelagius – He was a man who believed in staunch asceticism and argued that believers could and should attain to sinlessness. This eventually led to his adopting a system of theology that supported such beliefs. In the scope of this short article I couldn’t possibly cover all of what he taught, but I will give you a few headlines:
1) Pelagius believed that man was not born sinful, and had not inherited a sin-nature from the Fall
2) Thus he believed that man’s decisions (good and bad) were completely due to his own choices
3) And so, a man’s righteousness, and ultimately his standing in eternity, rested in his choosing to live a good life free from sin
Pelagius thought that such foundational views would best motivate people to strive after holiness. He thought it would lead people to realize that they couldn’t afford to be lax in religion, and that it would give them encouragement that, through strenuous effort, they could attain to what their hearts desired. Now, none of these ideas can actually be attributed to Pelagius himself, but he became their spearhead during a crucial juncture in church history. A contemporary of Pelagius, was a scholar by the name of Augustine (who became Pelagius’ strongest opponent). Augustine argued that Pelagianism was heretical on 3 main points:
1) The fallacy that God redeems people on the basis of human merit
2) The fallacy in believing that people are capable of a sinless life
3) The fallacy in thinking that descendants of Adam are born “innocent”
Needless to say, such ideas were hotly debated for some time, and Augustine became very influential in his refutations of Pelagius. Ultimately, Augustine won the day, leading to a condemnation of Pelagianism as heresy at the Council of Carthage in 418AD. At the root of such a conclusion was how Pelagian beliefs diminished the work of Christ on the cross. If one argues that a man could choose to be good or evil without God’s hand in the matter – It would bring into question why Christ’s substitutionary atonement was needed at all. Augustine argued that if man “could have become just by the law of nature and free will... it would amount to rendering the cross of Christ void.” And such is the teaching of the New Testament – As the Apostle Paul recounts in his letter to the Galatians:
Gal. 3:21-24 – “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
Thus, biblical theology is that righteousness, justification, and salvation are all attained by faith, not in our own efforts – But in the finished and perfect work of Jesus Christ. Foundationally, we are all “confined under sin,” with no hope to escape that bondage on our own – Neither before our beginnings of faith in Christ, nor afterward:
Gal. 3:1-3 – “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
The only conclusion we can safely arrive at, is that everything we have is something freely, and entirely, given to us by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. We gain nothing by trying to replace divine intervention with man’s efforts. We dare not try to motivate genuine believers towards holiness by diminishing the finished work of Christ crucified – In fact, genuine believers will already strive after holiness because they are thankful for what Christ has accomplished for them, and they want to please Him. While, false believers (Christians in name only) and religious persons can never be brought to real righteousness through strict asceticism, law, or anything of the like:
Rom. 10:1-4 – “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Well, this article has definitely grown longer than I originally intended. But I trust that you can see the importance of understanding these things rightly. Furthermore, with a discerning eye, you can easily see how misconceptions about these very things continue down to our day. If we can glean anything, I hope it is this – Heresies in the church today have roots that extend far back into the past. O that we in our day would be up to the task of testing all things, and guarding the deposit that has been entrusted unto us.
Comments