06/04/2026
Autonomous self-will Vs. Theocentric obedience
In 1904, an occultist named Alister Crowley introduced a belief system called Thelema after claiming to have received a revelation from a spiritual entity named Aiwass between April 8–10, 1904. Crowley claimed that Aiwass dictated a text known as The Book of the Law (Liber AL vel Legis). This book became the foundational scripture of Thelema.
This doctrine functions as a perversion of the will of God as outlined in scripture. This doctrine functions to create an autonomous version of the will that functions apart from God. This autonomous perspective is often referred to as the Autonomous self-will.
Autonomous self-will can be defined as the belief that an individual has the ability to the determine ultimate truth and purpose. This view stands in diametrical opposition to the scriptural examples of humanity’s submissive response to the will of God as evidenced in the text below.
Your kingdom come. Your will (thelēma) be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
Not my will (thelēma), but yours, be done.”
Luke 22:42
“Do not be foolish, but understand what the will (thelēma) of the Lord is.”
Ephesians 5:17
The passages listed above reveal the true meaning of the divine will. As evidenced in the texts above, man’s response to the divine will is rooted in a principle called Theocentric obedience. Theocentric obedience speaks of the doctrinal position that establishes God as the supreme determinant of truth and purpose. When man allows God to determine their future, the posture that is demonstrated is one that is centered around yielding one’s desire to pursue their own will for the sake of pleasing God through submission to His will. This was evidence in the life of Jesus even to the point of the crucifixion.
Thelema encourages man to “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” In short this simply means that man has the right to discover their own unique, true will, and carry it out however they see fit. Even if this means pursuing desires apart from a theocentric perspective. This is nature that is anti-Christ in nature and rooted in rebellion.
Jesus on the other hand models theocentric obedience when faced with the reality of the crucifixion with the following statement “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). In this text Jesus demonstrates that He is willing to yielded to the divine will of God even though it may be painful and costly.
As believers, we must seek opportunities to follow the pattern of Jesus. Not the pattern of Satan. Crowley’s doctrine is one that emanates from a seducing spirit and one that functions as a devilish doctrine. This devilish doctrine also functions as an expression of worldly wisdom that is designed to lead to error, corruption, and sin. As believers, we can’t afford to follow devilish doctrines that promote autonomous living. We must CONTINUALLY choose to submit to the Lordship of Jesus and the divine will of God!
I pray that this blesses you!
Signed,
The Axehead Servant
