Anxiety and Rebellion Against Work and Life Responsibilities
Rebellion, in a theological context, often stems from an inner disposition that defies divine authority or established norms. The book of Proverbs suggests that rebellion flows from the inner character of evil people who disregard the consequences of their actions [7]. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where the "carnal mind" is described as "enmity against God," inherently opposed to God's law and unwilling to submit to it [5]. This "carnal mind" is characterized as the very principle of rebellion, ceasing to be sin only when it ceases to rebel [5].
The nature of rebellion can manifest in various ways, including a refusal to fulfill responsibilities. In Jewish tradition, as discussed in the Babylonian Talmud, rebellion (מרידה, meridah) can refer to a wife's refusal to engage in marital relations or to perform tasks obligated to her husband [1, 2]. While there is debate among rabbis regarding whether refusing tasks constitutes rebellion, a refusal of marital relations is unequivocally considered rebellious [1, 2]. This illustrates how the concept of rebellion can apply to specific duties within a relationship.
From a Reformed perspective, the doctrine of efficacious grace addresses the human condition of spiritual inability, which is often linked to rebellion. Charles Hodge argues that objections to efficacious grace, such as the claim that it destroys human responsibility, are also leveled against other doctrines and have been previously considered [3]. one tradition contends that if a theory suggests humans are only responsible for acts of the will under their direct control, it must be rejected if the Bible teaches responsibility for states of mind beyond direct volitional power [4]. This implies that a rebellious state of mind, even if not directly willed, still incurs responsibility. Hodge further notes that objections to the Augustinian view of regeneration often deny supernaturalism or the scriptural understanding of God's relationship to the world [6].
Anxiety, particularly when it leads to a "loathing" of life's necessities, can be a symptom of a deeper spiritual or physical ailment [9]. This loathing, or nausea, can be a strong indicator of a person's inability or unwillingness to engage with their responsibilities [9]. The antithesis between wisdom and folly, and their differing effects, is a recurring theme in biblical wisdom literature, suggesting that a rebellious spirit is antithetical to wisdom [8].
Sources
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Ketubot 63a.5: GEMARA: The Gemara asks: Against what does she rebel; what is the nature of the rebellion discussed in the mishna? Rav Huna said: Against engaging in marital relations. Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: Against the tasks she is obligated to perform for her husband. The Gemara clarifies this dispute. The mishna states: Similarly, if a man rebels against his wife. Granted, according to the one who says that the rebellion is against marital relations, it is well, as this type of rebellion can apply equally to a husband. However, according to the one who say”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Ketubot 63b.1: However, according to the one who says the rebellion is against performing tasks, is an ill woman fit to perform tasks? Since she is ill, she has no obligation to perform tasks and this is not deemed rebellious behavior. Rather, one must explain this as follows: If she rebelled against engaging in marital relations, everyone agrees that she is defined as a rebellious woman. They disagree with regard to one who rebels against performing tasks. One Sage, Rav Huna, holds that one who rebels against performing tasks is not a rebellious woman, and one Sage, Rabbi Y”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 141: § 6. Objections. There are no specific objections against the doctrine of efficacious grace which need to be considered. Those which are commonly urged are pressed with equal force against other allied doctrines, and have already come under review. Thus, — 1. It is urged that this doctrine destroys human responsibility. If we need a change which nothing but almighty power can effect before we can do anything spiritually good, we cease to be responsible. This is the old objection that inability and responsibility are incompatible. This di”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 7: that free acts cannot be foreseen, predicted, or foreordained, then such theory must be false if the Scriptures assert facts which imply the contrary. If a theory teaches that men are responsible only for acts of the will, under their own control, that theory must be rejected if the Bible teaches that we are responsible for states of mind over which the will has no direct power. The facts involved in the evangelical doctrine of regeneration, as stated above, contradict the theories on which the arguments of the Remonstrants, Pelagians, and”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God - Because it is a carnal mind, and relishes earthly and sinful things, and lives in opposition to the pure and holy law of God: therefore, it is enmity against God; it is irreconcilable and implacable hatred. It is not subject to the law of God - It will come under no obedience; for it is sin, and the very principle of rebellion; and therefore it cannot be subject, nor subjected; for it is essential to sin to show itself in rebellion; and when it ceases to rebel, it ceases to be sin. From this we learn that the design of ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 7: § 4. Objection. The same objections which are urged against other doctrines of grace are pressed against the Augustinian view of the nature of regeneration. These objections are of three classes. Denial of Supernaturalism. 1. The first class of objections are founded on the denial of Theism; or at least on the denial of the Scriptural doctrine of the relation of God to the world. It is an assumption common to most of the forms of modern philosophy that the only agency of the Supreme Being (whether personal or impersonal) is according to la”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 17:11: 17:11 Rebellion flows from the inner character of evil people who defy the punishment that will follow.”
- Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 14 (introduction): Various moral sentiments. The antithesis between wisdom and folly, and the different effects of each.”
- Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 33:20: His life abhorreth bread - These expressions strongly and naturally point out that general nausea, or loathing which sick persons feel in almost every species of disorder.”