Understanding Coherence in Christianity

Sep 5, 2024

Lecture on Coherence and Criticism

Introduction

  • Topic: Coherence
    • Definition: Intellectually clear, consistent, logical, and reasonable.
  • Objective: Use coherence to answer critics and defend church practices and beliefs.

Satan's Playbook

  • Foundation: Incoherence
  • Example: Genesis 3:1 - Satan questions the clarity and sense of God's words.
  • Implication: Attack on the coherency of God's commands is foundational to Satan's schemes and critics of the church.

Coherency and Truth

  • Philosophical Perspective: Coherency is essential to truth.
    • Coherency Test/Theory: Truth must be coherent.

Demonstrating Coherence in Christianity

  1. Obedience to God's Word: Actions should align with the Bible.
  2. Consistency of the Bible: Bible itself must be coherent.

Answering Criticisms

Capital Crimes

  • Criticism: Church's list of capital crimes and punishments is arbitrary.
  • Response:
    • New Testament affirms Old Testament laws' authority (e.g., Matthew 5:17-18).
    • Excommunication is the New Testament application for capital crimes.
    • Time assigned to excommunication must be consistent, reflecting biblical equity.

Love and Law

  • Criticism: The only law is love, replacing God's law.
  • Response:
    • No love without God's law; law defines righteous love.
    • Love fulfills the law (Galatians 5:13-14, Romans 13:8-10).

Apostasy

  • Criticism: Apostasy is not something the church can declare.
  • Response:
    • Old Testament priests had authority to declare apostasy.
    • New Testament priest-judges possess similar authority, enhanced by Holy Spirit and complete scriptures.

Sexual Immorality

  • Criticism: Views on sexual immorality (e.g., porn and masturbation) are too extreme.
  • Response:
    • Sexual immorality has consistent punishment: excommunication.
    • Most Americans practicing these acts are in danger of hell.
    • Mental health and longevity are not improved by sin.
    • Sinful sexual lust begins with coveting; must resist at initial stage.
    • Contentment comes from living for the next life.

Closing Contemplation

  • Is the church's response biblically coherent?
  • Criticism should be evaluated against scriptural coherence.
  • Encouragement to stay true to God's commands and guard against false knowledge.

Prayer and Blessing

  • Prayer for adherence to God's law and protection against Satan's schemes.
  • Final blessing from Numbers 6.