What's so bad about monoergism and monothelitism?
score:7
I was trying to explain these two Christological concepts to an unsaved friend of mine, and he said, "Oh, so you're talking about the opposite of demon-possession - that Jesus the man was simply possessed by God."
Stripping that analogy down to its essentials, I think he may be on to something. If Jesus only had one "energy" or one will, then Jesus is essentially a docetist God, only appearing to be man. If his humanity is scooped out and overridden by God's indwelling, then he can't really identify with humanity. To hold to a monothelitist idea is to say that God only "appeared" to be human - but a lobotomized human isn't really all that human.
As such, to hold to this heresy would be to make a mockery of the incarnation. God may have taken on flesh and bone, but not mind and spirit.
And, if he didn't, then he didn't know jack about every Tom. Dick, and Harry out there...
Upvote:2
The issue leading up to monothelitism in the late 8th century was caused by multiple diverging Christological viewpoints disagreeing with one another. Severus of Antioch was misread badly by Chalcedonians at that time as explained by Abouna Peter Farrington. There are great differences between Monophysites and Miaphysites, the former collapsed the two natures indistinguishable from one another after union while the later maintain distinction of the two "in thought alone" as St. Cyril interpreted correctly this use in his letter to John of Antioch and his letter to Acacius of Melitene (PG 77,184-201) to Eulogius (PG 77,224-228) and to Succensus (PG 77, 228-245). Miaphysitism is a belief in one compound nature of Logos incarnate. Just as the unity between soul and body in psychosomatic union, the unity between the Logos and His flesh is analogous. From this one nature Christology, Severus developed miathelitism that the Logos has a theandric divine-humane will. To propose that Christ has two wills is to assert that His two natures were never truly united. It's basically a misunderstanding, Chalcedonians see Severian Theandric will jeopardize the distinction of two natures which will lead to either Apollinarianism or Eutychianism while Miathelites see Dyothelitism as dividing the nature of Logos incarnate into two which will lead to Nestorianism. Even though Severian Miathelitism is not heretical, in general sense monothelitism and monergism are indeed heretical. The relationship between Severianism and Monothelitism is like Sabellianism and Modalism, one is a subset of larger theological group.
Monothelitism is a heresy condemned at Third Constantinople (681) because it jeopardize our salvation. The main concern of Christological controversy is not to defend a proper Christology but primarily to defend proper soteriology. St. Maximos the Confessor is the champion of two wills Christology. His main concern for two wills is focused not on how many will Christ possessed but how His wills relate to one another. He uses this relationship between two wills to develop a soteriological relationship between God's will and our human's will in salvation. This is where synergism is established as Orthodox and monergism is condemned as heterodox. At first glance it might not be obvious why from two wills and two activities of Christ Catholic and Orthodox come to synergistic soteriology. But this is the main heart of monothelitism controversy during Maximos' time. How the two wills and energies relate determine the Orthodox soteriology. I don't want to accuse Protestantism for the heresy of monergism, but given a time I'll post a proper question to bring how this relate to soteriology as Maximos intended. Briefly, unless Christ has a truly human will and energy then His incarnation didn't bring healing to our human will and energy. Because Christ has a truly human will and activity, His incarnation healed our will and activity. That way we can receive His grace willfully and actively. I'll also post a question regarding why Pelagius was a monergist and not a synergist as potently seen by Protestant. Maximian Synergy is foundational not only for contemplative Christology but primarily on Synergistic Soteriology. This is the irreconcilable Hallmark that separate synergism in Catholic and Orthodox from monergism in Protestant soteriology with unbridgeable gulf.
More post
- 📝 Is a "skeptical viewpoint" more objective than "Christian viewpoint" in matters of theology?
- 📝 Why is there a need for a sacrifice by Jesus?
- 📝 Can you be a Christian and serve in the Military?
- 📝 What Scriptures did Arius use to support teaching that Jesus was created?
- 📝 If one's entry into the church is solemnized by baptism, then how does one leave the church?
- 📝 Do the Majority of Denominations believe in a literal flood or a metaphorical one?
- 📝 Why are the Trappist monks vegetarians?
- 📝 Do Protestants appreciate the significance of Mary's genealogy?
- 📝 Harrowing of Hell
- 📝 Who were the Black Canons on the Augustinian Priory of Inchmahome in Scotland?
- 📝 Does the Bible ever mention atheism and where?
- 📝 Why couldn't Adam and Eve keep both commandments?
- 📝 Did Jesus have a physical body before his incarnation?
- 📝 How did the livestock of the Egyptians die twice?
- 📝 Repetition of "and he begat sons and daughters:"
- 📝 Did Jesus have a divine biological Father?
- 📝 Why did Esau despise his birthright?
- 📝 What is the difference between LORD and GOD?
- 📝 Mentioning of Prophets
- 📝 Why do some Bible Translations omit John 7:53-8:11?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church officially claim that the Bible is insufficient without tradition?
- 📝 How did Christian Death Metal arise?
- 📝 Is there any tradition with regards to Zechariah's prayer in Luke?
- 📝 Would the Serpent (Satan) have dwelled eternally on earth if the fruit was not bitten?
- 📝 What did Brigham Young teach regarding Blood Atonement, and is that doctrine still held today in the LDS/Mormon Church?
- 📝 5 meaningful contacts with Christians before considering the claims of the gospel
- 📝 Should a woman cover her head in Christian worship?
- 📝 Is Mary Our Mother? Evangelicals please explain John 19:26–27
- 📝 How is "binding and loosing" extrapolated to all clergy?
- 📝 What distinguishes Christian meditation from the Catholic tradition from non-Christian meditation?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What's so bad about monoergism and monothelitism?
- 📝 Does the Bible itself give us clues about which parts to interpret literally and which figuratively?
- 📝 What does the LDS Church (Mormon) teach about marriage and polygamy in the afterlife?
- 📝 What has the LDS Church (Mormons) historically taught about the Curse of Cain and dark skin?
- 📝 Why Do Moses' Laws About Slavery and Punishment Not Align with the Teachings of Jesus?
- 📝 God created male and female.... What about those who do not fit in the box?
- 📝 Do Mormons secretly pray about you and then consider you included in their church?
- 📝 What do Quakers believe about war and serving in the military?
- 📝 What about the story of the "Rich Man and Lazarus" indicates whether it is a parable or not?
- 📝 Where can I learn about Catholic terms and phrases?
- 📝 Did the church fathers or OT talk about the visible and invisible church?
- 📝 What is the basis for the idea that the Song of Solomon is about the relationship between God and the church?
- 📝 What does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teach about who Jesus is and where He came from?
- 📝 What does the LDS Church teach about Jesus being married, having children, and His position on polygamy?
- 📝 What does the LDS church teach about what men and women did or do in the pre-existence?
- 📝 Commandment about idols and idolatry in OT
- 📝 For Catholics who have expressed concern about Pope Francis and are wary of his pontificate, what are the key issues?
- 📝 Is there any connection between minimum age for marriage in Catholic Church and tradition about Mary's age at Annunciation?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about this question- Why do Jesus and God have two seats in heaven when they are the same God?
- 📝 Why did Moses have the sons of Levi run about with swords slaying family and friends?
- 📝 What is the very least a Catholic needs to believe about Genesis 2 and 3?
- 📝 Can someone point to a prophecy about the 3 days between the cross and resurrection?
- 📝 What was the pre-Babel language and what can be said about the mechanism used to confuse the languages?
- 📝 Which groups of Christians hold signs about Jesus or Christianity in public, and why?
- 📝 How much did Moses and Elijah know about Jesus' Imminent Death?
- 📝 What did the early Church Fathers (pre-Nicea A.D. 325) have to say about faith, baptism and if it is the act of baptism that saves?
- 📝 A little more about natural law, the rules and punishment within natural law?
- 📝 Why wouldn't a practicing Catholic joke about the Sacraments and what would happen if they did?
- 📝 What does the Lutheran Church teach about Justification by Faith and is the sacrament of Baptism essential to salvation?
- 📝 Why did Jesuits and Franciscans disagree about indigenous labor in their missions?