Man's lust for autonomy began in the Garden of Eden. The desire to be sovereign over one's own life is the basis of all sin.
Notice:
By the time of Noah, God "saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." -Genesis 6:5
In Judges the Bible says that "every man did what was right in his own eyes." - Judges 17:6
When God came to earth as a man, the reaction from the people was as described in the parable:
"But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us." -Luke 19:14
Countless Kings, Pharaohs, and rulers have proclaimed themselves to be dieties.
Paganism, Atheism, Humanism, etc are all rooted in the rebellious hearts of man who want to rule their own lives and free themselves from God's laws. Make your own god, deny God exists, and make ourselves gods - it's all the same ideology whose root is the lust for autonomy.
Sin is the manifestation of this lust for autonomy. When Satan first thought about exalting himself above God (Isaiah 14:12-15) his actions created sin, not content with his own fall he went to the garden to sow rebellion in the hearts of Adam and Eve, and he has been working tirelessly to turn the hearts of men away from God since that time.
If you ever hear a teacher say that sin isn't the issue or isn't a problem for God you can be assured that they are teaching falsely. Sin is rebellion, period. It corrupts, kills, separates, and destroys. It is a serious matter that required the ultimate sacrifice from God to pay for.
Our lust for autonomy also shows up in other ways. A child's behavior is indicative of this desire for independence, from the moment we take the first couple of shaky steps we are attempting to run from authority. As children we only think of ourselves, what makes us happy, what tastes good or feels good. Hedonism is a clear sign that we believe that all that matters is us. We are naturally selfish, arrogant, lazy, angry, controlling, rebellious and violent - all indications that we live and care only about ourselves.
Without God, without His laws and Spirit and Life, man inevitably does what is evil. Don't let the lust for autonomy lead to a rebellious heart that loves sin.
If you ever hear a teacher say that sin isn't the issue or isn't a problem for God you can be assured that they are teaching falsely. Sin is rebellion, period. It corrupts, kills, separates, and destroys. It is a serious matter that required the ultimate sacrifice from God to pay for.
Our lust for autonomy also shows up in other ways. A child's behavior is indicative of this desire for independence, from the moment we take the first couple of shaky steps we are attempting to run from authority. As children we only think of ourselves, what makes us happy, what tastes good or feels good. Hedonism is a clear sign that we believe that all that matters is us. We are naturally selfish, arrogant, lazy, angry, controlling, rebellious and violent - all indications that we live and care only about ourselves.
Without God, without His laws and Spirit and Life, man inevitably does what is evil. Don't let the lust for autonomy lead to a rebellious heart that loves sin.
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