The Emergence of Autonomous Man
The worldview of human beings is ultimately built on one of two foundations: either man’s word or God’s Word. Christians understand there is no other true foundation than Jesus Christ and the importance of building spiritual fruit by His grace (1 Cor. 3:11–15). Yet, by cultivating the self-exalting ideas of mankind apart from God’s authority, the “autonomous man” emerges, naturally desiring to become an authority unto himself. As the definition goes, the autonomous man believes and attempts to demonstrate that he can govern himself without acknowledging the Creator God. Instead, his worldview becomes one of selfism, fueled by postmodern thinking, and affecting his personal and public spheres of influence. As individuals look to the subjective self for answers to issues of morality, identity (including race, gender, and sexual orientation), and politics, the biblical God and Holy Scriptures are suppressed as the true means of objective, ultimate authority. This essay will examine the tyranny of selfism and how the so-called autonomous man cannot save himself. Rather, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ and His selfless demonstration of love that saves sinners.
Selfism and the Real Me
To further understand selfism, twentieth-century apologist Cornelius Van Til rightly highlighted the heart behind the notion of “fallen man.” He wrote, “[T]hrough the fall of Adam man has set aside the law of his Creator and therewith has become a law to himself.”[1] Van Til’s reasoning for man’s pursuit of self-governance included his “carnal mind” leading to death, whereby the spiritually minded man experiences life and peace (Rom. 8:6). Theologian and professor Carl Trueman helpfully defines the self as “expressive individualism,” or the “deeper notion of where the ‘real me’ is to be found, how that shapes my view of life, and in what the fulfillment or happiness of that ‘real me’ consists.”[2] To extend the connection to the level of autonomy, Trueman continues, “The modern self assumes the authority of inner feelings and sees authenticity as defined by the ability to give social expression to the same.”[3]
1. Cornelius Van Til, A Christian Theory of Knowledge, ed. Scott Oliphant (Glenside, PA: Westminster Seminary Press, 2023), 34.
2. Carl R. Trueman, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022), 21–22.
3. Trueman, Strange New World, 22.
Restated simply, selfism believes that as long as an individual’s behavior on theoutside is consistent with the individual’s feelings on the inside, then that individual is therefore an authentic person, demonstrating self-governance. However, allowing emotions to lead an individual’s behavior at the expense of truth’s anchor marks the beginnings of all types of sabotage, as Joe Rigney has brilliantly written in his discerning book on leadership.[4] Historically, selfism was arguably the fuel that sparked the sexual revolution, which has accelerated since the 1960’s counter-cultural revolution, or what Os Guinness has rightly termed “optimistic humanism.”[5] The chain reaction from selfism’s lie of “making a lifestyle choice” has curved in upon itself, causing tyranny to rule man’s identity—an identity idolized and affirmed through sexual desire. Selfism tyrannizes identity and biblical sexuality.
4. Joe Rigney, Leadership and Emotional Sabotage: Resisting the Anxiety that will Wreck Your Family, Destroy Your Church, and Ruin the World (Moscow, ID: Canon Press, 2024).
5. Os Guinness, The Dust of Death: The Sixties Counterculture and How it Changed America Forever (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020), 11.
The subjective nature of pursuing personal autonomy for definitive answers about identity sharply conflicts with the authority of God’s Word. In Jeremiah 17:9, the LORD God says, “The heart is deceitful about all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” This passage indicates that individuals cannot discern their own internal motives. External sources of objective authority are necessary, namely, God’s Word (Ps. 119:105) and His Spirit (Rom. 8:27). So then, if we cannot trust our motives, how can we govern them?
Selfism’s Tyranny on Culture
Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor offered an insightful analysis of the modern secular age and the culture of emotion-based authenticity. He saw it as the normative modern conception of selfism in the West, where individuals realize their humanity on the “inside” rather than surrendering it to some “outside” source (society, tradition, religion, etc.). He wrote, “Each one of us has his/her own way of realizing our humanity, and . . . it is important to find and live out one’s own, as against surrendering to conformity with a model imposed on us from the outside.”[6] This sentiment promotes autonomy through liberation, or casting off restraint, where subjective lived experiences and even hedonism are exalted above objective truth. Selfism is the ultimate campaign promoter for pleasure-seeking, even at the expense of creational fruitfulness. Through the resulting tyranny in society, culture is deconstructed and reconstructed through varying degrees of Cultural Marxism (via Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, and DEI policies), and the pursuit of God becomes a matter of false doctrine to selfism’s “gospel” of autonomy.
6. James K. A. Smith, How (Not) to be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014), 85, 141.
Ironically, there are several character qualities that benefit individuals and societies from taking heed to our inner selves. In the Old Testament, as Solomon was preparing to be king, God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” As Solomon acknowledged the mercy of God and his own lack of experience, he humbly asked God for an understanding heart to discern between good and evil as a leader (1 Kgs. 3:5–9). There is a humility in self-awareness as long as it is informed by and consistent with God’s Word. Consider the apostle Paul’s encouragement to the church in Galatia for believers to express the fruit of the Spirit. Although these spiritual qualities serve as helpful guides in building a better self, even a biblical self, the qualities refocus our attention outward to serve others as demonstrations of selflessness manifested by love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22–23). Paul tells us there is no law against these qualities; they do not need self-governance because they are sourced in our perfect and holy God Almighty.
To battle the spirit of selfism, individuals must repent of their pride-filled selves. The apostle Peter exhorts that it is high time to “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). Only those individuals truly “under God” (His governance) as saved by and submitted to Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit can embrace a complete identity built on the gospel of His grace (Matt. 7:24–25; John 3:3–6).
The Selfless Savior
In his essay on autonomy, Pierce Taylor Hibbs writes, “If we refuse to admit our dependence and our need for help, we not only frustrate ourselves; we isolate ourselves. And isolation makes us easy targets for Satan and his servants.” This refusal to submit to God rings true in Proverbs 18:1, “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment” (NKJV). Selfism eventually leads to isolation, resulting in destruction.
In his psalm exalting the name of the Lord, King David asks, “What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him” (Ps. 8:4, NKJV)? He continues by stating that man has been made a little lower than the angels and he has dominion (governance) over creation (Psalms 8:5–8). In refusing to acknowledge God’s excellence, it is easy for man to go astray, to be wise in his own eyes, and to pursue the kingdom of self. The apostle John reminds us of where the boastful pride of life comes from in 1 John 2:16: Selfism is worldly and not from God; He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Jas. 4:6).
To battle selfism’s falsehoods, the apostle Paul asserts, “We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). Those thoughts include how we view ourselves. In order for us to have an accurate view of self, confession plays a critical role in a Christian’s prayer life. When believers confess their sins, they say the same thing God says about them. There is personal agreement with God’s always-accurate assessment. And “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Additionally, we are sanctified by the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17), which encourages us to keep Christ’s commands because He is able to keep us. Repentant man fills his mind with Christ and does not seek his own desire. We are told in Luke 9:23 to deny self, take up our cross daily, and follow Christ. Selfism cannot be Christ’s disciple.
Our selfless Savior demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). Autonomous man would not serve others, so he especially would not demonstrate an others-centered love such as dying for a friend. But what did Jesus say (and do)? “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). The finished work of Christ’s cross and resurrection has the power to strike selfism from the heart of autonomous man.
Conclusion
In Hebrews chapter two, the author discusses subjection, including the role of man’s dominion from Psalm 8 mentioned above. Since Christ recognizes humans as God’s image-bearers, it is humbling to know He even considers us in any capacity. Yet, Hebrews rightly draws us away from notions of man’s supposed sovereignty based in selfism. The writer concludes by drawing us near to Jesus, seen without hindrance, “who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Heb. 2:9-10). Repentant man subjects his once autonomous self and now glories in the selfless Savior, who is the author and perfecter of our faith, the I AM who holds all things together by the word of His power (Heb. 12:2; 1:3). So then, seek first the kingdom of God as you slay the dragon of selfism.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared at Pursue Truth, and is used here with permission.
