Live Q&A with Mike Winger

Q&A livestream during early COVID lockdown period. Mike announces he'll livestream his Sunday night Bible study from home due to government guidelines.

Introduction — COVID-era Q&A

Q: Luke 9:50 vs Luke 11:23 — "not against you is for you" vs "not with me is against me." No contradiction: both affirm there's no middle ground — you're either in the kingdom or out. The first passage shows the kingdom is bigger than your local group; people can serve Jesus without being part of your organization.

Q&A — apparent contradiction in Luke

Q: Does the Bible say anything about other planets and alien life? No biblical text suggests aliens on other planets. God made stars and planets to display his glory. The only extraterrestrial beings in scripture are God and angels. Mormonism's planet Kolob is the one religion that addresses this — and it's false.

Q&A — aliens and other planets

Q: Could Christians have made up martyrdom claims? Unreasonable for Peter, James, and John — first-century evidence of their martyrdom is strong. Some later apostle martyrdom stories may have been embellished, but the core eyewitnesses clearly suffered for their resurrection claims. Martyrdom proves sincerity, not necessarily truth — but combined with ruling out hallucination, the case is strong.

Q&A — historicity of apostolic martyrdom

Q: New church member sharing New Age content. Options: approach the person gently, or approach leadership. Example: Doreen Virtue (former New Age guru) became Christian but retained New Age practices — no Christians helped correct her, they just condemned her. New believers need patient discipleship, not condemnation.

Q&A — New Age content in church

Q: Matthew 6:33 — seek first God's kingdom and he'll provide necessities. But Christians sometimes lack essentials. Mike's view: this is a general promise with exceptions. Paul experienced hunger, nakedness, and need (Philippians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 11:25-27) while faithfully serving God. Suffering doesn't invalidate the promise — it's for God's greater purposes.

Q&A — Matthew 6:33 and Christian suffering

Q: Why circumcision as the sign of the covenant? Not unique to Israel (others practiced it), but the meaning was unique. The NT reveals the deeper symbolism: putting off the flesh/sin nature. Circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy 30:6) is the spiritual reality — the physical sign pointed to putting off carnality and becoming distinct from the world.

Q&A — why circumcision

Q: Rapture timing — pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib? Mike isn't settled. Pre-trib arguments: God hasn't appointed us to wrath (1 Thess), John caught up in Rev 4 pictures the church. Post-trib argument: only one more coming of Jesus (first and second), no secret third appearance. Mid-trib/pre-wrath: Great Tribulation starts halfway through the 7-year period.

Q&A — rapture timing

Q: Did Jesus enable drunkenness at the wedding in Cana (John 2)? No. Weddings lasted days, so "well drunk" doesn't mean currently intoxicated. The master of the feast comments that the best wine usually comes first — he's surprised, not diagnosing drunkenness. Jesus providing wine doesn't excuse individual lack of self-control.

Q&A — wedding at Cana and drunkenness

Q: Where did Cain get his wife and who would kill him? Two options: (1) Adam and Eve's other children/grandchildren — could be hundreds of people by then, genetic issues not yet a problem. (2) Some scholars suggest other humans outside the garden, with Adam and Eve as representative/priestly figures. Mike leans toward option 1.

Q&A — Cain's wife and other people

Q: Will we be sad in heaven about people in hell? No — because of resolution, not memory loss. "Former things not remembered" means not dwelling on them or worrying, not literal amnesia. In God's presence with his perspective, we'll understand his justice is right. The glory will outshine all grief.

Q&A — sadness in heaven over hell

Q: 2 Corinthians 3:17 ("the Lord is the Spirit") — does it teach Jesus is the Holy Spirit? It affirms oneness in God but not Oneness Pentecostal theology. The Spirit is sometimes called the Spirit of Jesus; the Holy Spirit is Christ's presence with us. But the full NT also affirms distinct persons of the Trinity.

Q&A — 2 Corinthians 3:17 and the Trinity

Q: Who are the "sons of God" in Genesis 6? Mike leans toward angelic beings who possessed humans to fornicate with human women, producing the Nephilim. Alternative view: the "sons of God" are the godly line of Seth corrupted by marrying ungodly women. Mike has a detailed video in his 1 Peter series.

Q&A — sons of God in Genesis 6

Q: Does annihilationism follow from eternal life being dependent on salvation? No — eternal life in Scripture means more than mere existence. People physically alive are called "dead" (spiritually); believers have "eternal life" now while still mortal. Life and death are more than existence and non-existence.

Q&A — annihilationism

Q: Was Paul a false apostle (Revelation 2:2)? No — Revelation 2:2 actually proves Paul IS a true apostle. The Ephesians could identify false apostles AND they received Paul warmly (Ephesians letter, Acts 20). Peter calls Paul's writings "Scripture" (2 Peter 3:16). Paul-denial movements strip the NT to smuggle in cult theology.

Q&A — Paul as false apostle (Revelation 2:2)