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Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

1 Corinthians 5:11 "do not eat with them" — does not apply to family relationships

Listener Melissa Heeg asks whether 1 Corinthians 5:11's instruction not to eat with a sinning "brother" applies to family gatherings.

1 Peter 3 1 Corinthians 5:11 1 Peter 3 Lifestyle sin 1 Corinthians 5:11
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Helping a nominal Christian spouse grow in biblical knowledge

Listener Tasteful Chicken has a wife who believes in Jesus and prays but does not read the Bible; her lifestyle does not align with Scripture.

Pastoral care Discipleship in marriage Nominal Christianity
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Politics in the pulpit — biblical worldview yes, partisan politics no

Listener Lisa asks whether politics belong in the pulpit; she is 100% against it.

Abortion Politics in the pulpit Biblical worldview
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Sharing Jesus with children when an atheist spouse objects

Listener Sheila is a new believer; her atheist husband does not want her sharing Jesus with their daughter because the daughter will think he's going to hell.

Acts 5:29 Acts 5:29 Atheism Religious liberty in marriage
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Introduction: Mike frames the show goal as helping viewers think biblically about everything.

Opening remarks before first question; also notes resolved internet issues.

biblical thinking pastoral teaching 20 Questions with Pastor Mike
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Unity of the faith in Ephesians 4 involves shared core doctrine, knowledge of Christ, and Christlike character.

Continuation of Question 1; applying the meaning of the faith to Ephesians 4 unity.

Ephesians 4 church unity Christian maturity Ephesians 4
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Apparent contradiction between Stephen's speech (Acts 7:4) and Genesis chronology of Terah and Abraham.

Question 2 from Rod D about Acts 7:4 vs Genesis 11:26, 32 and Genesis 12:4.

Acts 7:4 Genesis 11:26 Genesis 11:32 Stephen Abraham Acts 7:4
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Overcoming laziness requires creating structured tasks, improving energy through exercise and diet, and reading Proverbs.

Question 6 from Sherry Lynn about overcoming laziness at home after hard work-days.

Proverbs spiritual disciplines Proverbs practical wisdom
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

God physically appearing to everyone would not necessarily eliminate unbelief; unbelief is often a heart issue, not an evidence problem.

Question 8 from Amanda about why God does not appear physically and audibly to eliminate all unbelief.

Romans 1 John 5 John 1 apologetics Matt Dillahunty unbelief
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Modern (rabbinic) Judaism differs fundamentally from biblical Judaism; good works now replace the sacrificial system.

Question 9 from Meg Smiley about how Jews obtain forgiveness without the Temple.

Hebrews Romans 10:1-4 Hebrews works-righteousness Day of Atonement
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Christians can hold various views on Genesis 1 and the Big Bang; the Big Bang is actually strong evidence for God.

Question 11 from J James about whether the Big Bang is biblical.

Genesis 1 Genesis 1 creation ex nihilo Big Bang
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

The Holy Spirit speaks through fruit, track record, and confirmation from other believers; not every decision requires supernatural direction.

Question 14 from Gel Stapper (Netherlands) about how the Holy Spirit speaks personally, after leaving a hyper-charismatic church.

Ezekiel 13 Holy Spirit discernment wisdom
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Mark 5 demoniac: Jesus was not tricked by the demons; the swine destruction may have been demonic sabotage that God repurposed for good.

Question 16 from Galushkin about whether Jesus or the demons were tricked in the Gerasene demoniac account.

Mark 5:1-20 Gerasene demoniac Gentile mission demon possession
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Couples should formalize their marriage as officially as possible rather than treating informal cohabitation as equivalent.

Question 17 from Dasha Castenko about being informally married to a fiance in another country due to COVID restrictions.

marriage Christian ethics cohabitation
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Joseph Smith was a demonstrably false prophet; modern Mormonism is a victim of his fraud.

Question 19 from Evelyn Ellsworth (a Latter-day Saint) about the priesthood of all believers and Mike's denial of fellowship to Mormons.

1 Peter Genesis 50 priesthood of all believers Mormonism 1 Peter
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

The cause of the universe must be timeless, spaceless, and non-material, because the universe itself consists of time, space, and matter — the cause cannot be made of the things it created.

Conceptual analysis of the cause of the universe

conceptual analysis causation timelessness
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

The conceptual analysis points toward a spaceless, timeless, non-material, incredibly powerful, exceedingly wise mind — matching what Jews and Christians have always understood from Genesis 1:1.

Conceptual analysis — conclusion

Genesis 1:1 Kalam cosmological argument Genesis 1:1 Kalam cosmological argument
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

The Kalam cosmological argument stated formally: Premise 1 — whatever begins to exist must have a cause; Premise 2 — the universe began to exist; Conclusion — the universe has a cause.

Formal presentation of the Kalam syllogism

syllogism William Lane Craig William Lane Craig
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection to Premise 1: "Who made God?" (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion). Response: the premise says whatever BEGINS to exist needs a cause, not whatever EXISTS needs a cause.

Objection — who made God? (Dawkins)

Richard Dawkins who made God infinite regress
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection to Premise 1: the composition fallacy — just because every part of the universe has a cause doesn't mean the whole does. Response: this misunderstands the argument; it's about a CLASS of things (things that begin to exist), not parts composing a whole.

Objection — composition fallacy (Cosmic Skeptic)

Kalam cosmological argument Cosmic Skeptic Kalam cosmological argument
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: quantum physics shows things can come into existence uncaused. Response: quantum events are not truly uncaused or from nothing; the quantum vacuum is something, not nothing.

Objection — quantum physics

quantum vacuum quantum physics Stephen Hawking
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: the multiverse avoids the need for God. Response: everything said about our universe needing a cause applies equally to the multiverse — you're just kicking the can back.

Objection — multiverse

Matt Dillahunty Kalam cosmological argument Carl Sagan
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection to Premise 2: maybe the universe is infinite in the past. Response: an actually infinite past is impossible — you could never traverse infinite moments to arrive at the present.

Objection — infinite past

infinite past traversal of infinity JP Moreland
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: what if science one day explains the universe without God? Response: Christians welcome continued scientific inquiry; this objection is "naturalism of the gaps" — hoping naturalism will eventually explain it with no current evidence.

Objection — future science

William Lane Craig methodological naturalism William Lane Craig
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Why the cause must be PERSONAL: (1) a mind uniquely fits spaceless/timeless/immaterial yet has causal powers, (2) state-event causation from timelessness requires a decision to act, (3) absence of determinism in nothingness requires libertarian free will.

Why the cause is a personal agent

determinism determinism causal powers
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Classical apologetics typically combines the Kalam with design arguments and a moral argument (showing God has moral principles and loves people), building a cumulative case before presenting Christ.

Cumulative case approach

moral argument design argument Kalam cosmological argument
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Q&A: Revelation 21:1-2 and time in heaven. Heaven will involve time — months, sequential experiences — in physical resurrected bodies in the new creation. "Time will be no more" is poetic for everlasting, not literal timelessness.

Q&A — time in heaven (Revelation 21-22)

Revelation 21:1-2 Revelation 22:1-2 new heaven and new earth William Lane Craig physical resurrection
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Q&A: An infinite universe causing our universe in a "bounce" still faces the same problems — an infinite past of cycles can't be traversed, and a meta-timeline outside ours would need its own cause.

Q&A — cyclical/bounce universe models

multiverse infinite past cyclical universe models
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Q&A: When a Christian feels static in their walk, the answer is to fall in love with Jesus again rather than legalistically checking boxes. Pray for increased love and dedication; remember first works (Revelation 2, Ephesus).

Q&A — spiritual stagnation

Revelation 2 (Ephesus) first love Revelation 2 (Ephesus) spiritual stagnation
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Closing: Mike encourages viewers who are convinced to start seeking God, praying, and paying attention to Christ. He promotes Braxton Hunter's YouTube channel as a resource for apologetics.

Closing exhortation and promotion

evidence for God evidence for God Braxton Hunter
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Braxton responds: even if Drew's point succeeded, it wouldn't lead to atheism — at most it would adjust your concept of God. The video's title ("make you an atheist") overstates the stakes. Drew's argument mirrors Epicurus' logical argument from evil, which is too ambitious.

Response to Q1 — Drew's argument doesn't lead to atheism

problem of evil problem of evil trilemma
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Fourth option: written literature is the BEST medium for communicating detailed, specific information that can be preserved, studied in community, and shared worldwide. Other communication methods (prophets, dreams, miracles) are either also subject to interpretation, subjective, or lack specificity.

Response to Q1 — written text as optimal communication

1 Corinthians 12:12 1 Corinthians 12:27 Mark 12:30-31 hermeneutics hermeneutics divine communication
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

The JW blood transfusion example actually comes from Watchtower proclamations, not biblical interpretation. John notes the Bible's manuscript tradition makes it more reliable than modern media like video. Even supernatural direct knowledge could still be questioned by skeptics.

Additional response to Q1 — JW example and textual reliability

textual criticism textual criticism Watchtower
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Mike responds with three problems: (1) Drew misrepresents Pascal's wager as "believe whatever promises the most" — Pascal actually included evidential evaluation; (2) modern proponents like Michael Rota and Liz Jackson pair evidence with the wager; (3) Pascal's wager is decision theory, not blind gambling.

Response to Q2 — Pascal's wager is misrepresented

Pascals wager decision theory Michael Rota
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Drew's arbitrary cruel God is defeated by evidence: Christianity has historical verification, prophecy, testimony, and wasn't made up on the spot. A maximally cruel God would send everyone to hell with no heaven, giving no reason to worship. This is the "Pascal's mugger" objection, already addressed in literature.

Response to Q2 — arbitrary claims vs evidenced claims

evidence for God evidence for God Pascals wager
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Cameron adds: Michael Rota's avarice objection response — the wager need not be self-interested; one might commit to God out of desire to avoid disappointing God, to grow morally, or out of moral duty. Rota's drowning child analogy: even at 50/50, the stakes justify commitment.

Additional response to Q2 — avarice objection and drowning child analogy

Cameron Bertuzzi Michael Rota Taking Pascals Wager
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Drew's Question 3: Why did God create animals with pain receptors? John McCrae responds: (1) animals don't experience pain "exactly the same" as humans — they lack equivalent emotional/psychological pain; (2) pain is necessary for survival; (3) "psychological trauma" in animals is overstated (sloth bear eating its own cubs, chimps killing young).

Response to Q3 — animal pain

John McCrae John McCrae anthropomorphism animal suffering
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Drew's Question 4: If God knows who will choose him, why not only create those people and skip earthly suffering? If free will is the answer, that implies heaven lacks free will (since there's no suffering there), making earth better than heaven.

Presenting Drew's argument — why create the non-elect?

free will problem of evil problem of evil
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Good #3: Soul-building theodicy — suffering provides opportunities to develop character virtues (sacrifice, courage, compassion, forgiveness). Good #4: Robin Collins' connection-building theodicy — virtuous responses to evil create valuable relationships that grow infinitely over time.

Response to Q4 — soul-building and connection-building

theodicy theodicy soul-building theodicy
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Scientific consensus: 95% of 5,502 biologists from 1,050 institutions affirm human life begins at fertilization, including pro-choice and atheist biologists. Bernard Nathanson (co-founder of NARAL) confirmed the early embryo is indisputably a human being.

When does human life begin — scientific consensus

Bernard Nathanson NARAL when life begins
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Pro-choice language like "clump of cells," "remove the pregnancy," and "evacuate the uterus" are propagandistic euphemisms designed to avoid acknowledging that a living human being is being killed.

Dehumanizing language in the abortion debate

dehumanization pro-choice propaganda euphemisms
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Fourth artwork shows Valentine candy hearts with pro-choice slogans: "abortion is freedom," "abortion is normal," "shout your abortion." The strategy: repeat loudly and often enough until people believe it.

Propaganda through repetition

pro-choice propaganda Joseph Goebbels
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Every argument for abortion in the womb can equally justify killing a baby five minutes after birth — the baby is just as dependent, just as unaware, just as small. The moral distinction collapses.

No principled distinction between pre- and post-birth

abortion human rights human rights
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

The pro-choice movement needs a victim (the pregnant woman) to distract from the real victim (the baby). This is a propaganda tactic seen in every historical atrocity — the oppressors create an alternative victim narrative.

Propaganda tactic: creating a counter-victim

Isaiah 5:20 Isaiah 5:20 Isaiah 5:20 pro-choice propaganda Isaiah 5:20
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Both pro-life and pro-choice movements believe they hold the moral high ground. The pro-choice movement has inverted morality — helping a woman kill her offspring is seen as a moral good. The conversation breaks down because they're talking past each other.

Inverted morality — both sides think they're right

abortion inverted morality
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Even if you're unsure about early-term abortion, the "maybe" should compel you to oppose it — you wouldn't demolish a building that "maybe" has people in it. And if you draw the line anywhere, you should be fighting for that line instead of voting for unrestricted abortion.

The building demolition analogy and fighting for your convictions

abortion Born-Alive Act
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Q&A: Single-issue (pro-life) voting is legitimate because abortion is a deal-breaker moral issue. Mike would vote for a pro-life candidate with bad economic policies because saving lives outweighs financial pain.

Q&A — single-issue voting on abortion

abortion pro-life single-issue voting
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Q&A: Family members with distorted gospels — separate fellowship/church from family. 1 Peter teaches a wife should stay committed to an unbelieving husband. Family is not the same as church partnership; maintain relationship while not partnering in false ministry.

Q&A — family with distorted beliefs

1 Peter (wives and husbands) 1 Corinthians (church discipline) family vs fellowship 1 Peter (wives and husbands) 1 Corinthians (church discipline)
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Q&A: When the mother's life is in danger and both will die, abortion to save the mother is the one exception most pro-lifers accept. Analogous to separating conjoined twins when one is dying — saving one life rather than losing both.

Q&A — life of the mother exception

abortion life of the mother exception
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-26

Reason 1 (Sherry): Her 8-week ultrasound. She didn't see a clump of cells — she saw her child. "My choice was to keep her alive or kill her." Ultrasound compilation shows parents instinctively calling the image "he" or "she," never "the fetus."

Reason 1 — ultrasound revelation

ultrasound pro-choice to pro-life conversion
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