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All (801) Scripture Commentary (244) Theology (100) Mike Winger (450) Pulpit (7)
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Sexual content in any media is a hard redline for Christians; violence is treated differently in Scripture

Distinguishing sexual content from violent content in media evaluation

Judges 4 Judges 4 Christian ethics video games
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

The Crusades: more defensible than popular narrative but also included real atrocities including use of child soldiers

Specific application of the church-history response to the Crusades

church history apologetics Christianity and violence
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Jesus commanded disciples to carry swords before his betrayal, indicating readiness for self-defense is a godly posture

New Testament grounding for self-defense, contrasted with earlier sending-out instructions

Luke 22:36 Peter Gethsemane Luke 22:36
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Moses going up and down Sinai — theological meaning vs. comedic treatment

Illustrating the danger of humor that replaces theological depth

Exodus Moses typology Exodus
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Just War theory — Mike affirms it; pacifism in all scenarios is evil

Q from Dan Dan about whether an Armenian Christian can go to war in defense against genocide.

Judges Judges Just War Pacifism
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Dan Wallace on John 1:1: the articular construction fights Sabellianism; the anarthrous predicate fights Arianism

Mike quotes Greek scholar Dan Wallace's commentary on John 1:1.

John 1:1 Trinity Deity of Christ theos
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Martin Luther quote: lack of article is against Sabellianism; word order is against Arianism

Mike continues citing Wallace who himself references Luther's summary of John 1:1's grammar.

John 1:1 Trinity Martin Luther John 1:1
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Short-term mission trips are often inefficient — local missionaries are more effective with the same funds

Mike continues on the mission trip question with personal experience and practical critique.

stewardship mission trips short-term missions
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Penal substitutionary atonement: two valid senses of God's wrath on the cross — displeasure toward sin; outward punishment of sin

Question from Zoe Abundant about whether Jesus experienced God's wrath and what that means.

Isaiah 53:10 crucifixion atonement Sodom and Gomorrah
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Cross-reference to Mike's full video series on penal substitutionary atonement

Mike directs viewers to deeper content on the topic.

atonement penal substitutionary atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Matthew 8 two demoniacs vs. Mark 5 one demoniac: narrative selectivity, not contradiction

Question from CM (from Germany) about the apparent discrepancy between Matthew 8 and Mark 5.

Matthew 8 Mark 5 inerrancy Matthew 8 Mark 5
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Francis Collins is cited as an example of a Christian who holds evolutionary creation yet is genuinely saved

Mike illustrates that believing in evolution does not automatically equal rejection of Christ

salvation evolution creation debate
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Can a faithful Christian be an evolutionist? — Yes, but with complications

A viewer (biochem grad student) asks if a faithful Christian can be an evolutionist.

Genesis 1 Genesis 1 creation evolution
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Molinism — middle knowledge reconciles divine sovereignty and human free will

A viewer asks about Molinism as a worldview for reconciling sovereignty and free will.

Calvinism Molinism middle knowledge
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

No single biblical form of government; Christianity fits any system through principles

Question about biblical support for monarchy and the Christian attitude toward it.

Romans 13 theocracy justice Romans 13
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Genesis 1-11 genre: separating science from exegesis; evaluating young earth, Walton, and William Lane Craig's archetypal history view

Question about the creation account in Genesis and young earth creationism vs. modern science.

Genesis 1-11 John Walton hermeneutics Adam and Eve young earth creationism
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Jesus is the only potential savior even hypothetically; a second incarnation-death-resurrection on another planet is ruled out by Romans 6:9-10.

Theological decision tree: how would aliens be saved?

Romans 6:9 Romans 6:10 atonement incarnation aliens and Christianity
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Speculative scenario: aliens made in the image of Adam (not directly God's image) could share in the fall and thus in Christ's redemption as a kind of extended humanity.

Theological decision tree: how Christ's death could extend to aliens

federal headship Adam atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

The flood narrative: "destroy all flesh" is a sweeping statement not meant to be woodenly literal - fish dying would be an example of over-literalism.

Question about fish surviving the flood if God said he would destroy all flesh

Genesis flood Genesis 6-9 hermeneutics Genesis flood Genesis 6-9
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Western culture's refusal to have children is rooted in an unbiblical view that humans are parasites — a secular replacement of God's judgment with 'nature's judgment' for ecological sins.

Cultural diagnosis applied to the childbearing question.

Be Fruitful and Multiply Dominion Mandate Human Value / Imago Dei
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Church fathers are routinely quoted out of context to proof-text doctrines — Gustaf Aulén's Christus Victor is a prime example, misrepresenting patristic sources to argue against penal substitutionary atonement.

Warning about the misuse of the church fathers in theological argument.

Proof-texting Church Fathers Patristics
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Christus Victor is a beautiful and biblical doctrine, but Aulén's treatment is total anachronism that butchers both Christus Victor and penal substitutionary atonement by falsely presenting them as competing alternatives.

Final comment on the Christus Victor / PSA debate, wrapping up question 20.

Church Fathers Christus Victor Gustaf Aulén
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Typological reading of Cain/Abel: works vs. faith — valid typology but not the cause of rejection

Analysis of Cain's offering rejection

Genesis 4 Hebrews 11:4 typology works-righteousness Genesis 4
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Trusting man vs. trusting God: the distinction is priority, not binary rejection of human sources

Continuing Q14 on trusting man vs. God

Proverbs 3:5 biblical authority cultural pressure homosexuality
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Wives submit vs. children obey — different words, different authority structures; discipline is for children not wives

Continuing Q19 on husband-wife authority vs. parent-child authority

Ephesians 6:1 Ephesians 5:22 Ephesians 6:4 submission hupotasso marriage
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Romans 14:23 — "whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" — was not addressing all-encompassing anxiety about every decision

Question from Mr/Miss Spazzy Jazzy about a weak conscience producing doubt about everything basic

Romans 14:23 Romans 14:23 conscience faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Judges is a book designed to show total human depravity — God is the only hero; even the deliverers fail

Broader theological point drawn from the Judges 20 discussion

Judges Judges typology Samson
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Pentecost was a divine missionary strategy — God gathered diaspora Jews to Jerusalem so the gospel could radiate back to every nation

Continued Acts 2 discussion on why the miracle happened when and where it did.

Acts 2 Romans 1:16 Acts 2 Romans 1:16 Pentecost as missionary event
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

The theological basis for freeing fellow Israelites: God redeemed Israel from Egypt, so they cannot hold one another in permanent slavery

Explaining the theological rationale behind Israelite-specific slave laws.

Exodus redemption narrative Leviticus 25:42 Slavery in the Old Testament Exodus redemption narrative Leviticus 25:42
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike advises Christians to witness to Jehovah's Witnesses as they would to anyone, noting the advantage that JWs already want to talk about God, and encourages boldness in gospel witness with all people.

Response to viewer question about engaging Jehovah's Witnesses

evangelism Jehovah's Witnesses gospel witness
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike wrestles with whether the American Revolution violated Romans 13 (submission to government), concluding he cannot make a confident judgment but personally sympathizes with the revolutionaries and affirms his current submission to the established American government.

Response to viewer question about the American Revolution and Romans 13

1 Peter Romans 13 1 Peter just war Romans 13
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike identifies the naked young man fleeing in Mark 14:51-52 as likely the author Mark himself, explaining this was a common ancient biographical convention of embedding the author’s presence discreetly in the narrative.

Response to viewer question about the identity of the young man in Mark 14:51-52

Mark 14:51-52 Mark the Evangelist Peter Mark 14:51-52 Gospel of Mark
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Free will is biblically assumed throughout Scripture — humans are treated as responsible agents making real choices

Continuing the free will answer, Mike argues that the assumption of free choice and moral responsibility permeates the entire biblical narrative.

atheism free will moral responsibility
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q7: Advice for a young adult starting a theology ministry platform without formal training

Viewer Nathan Johnson asks how to start a ministry platform similar to Mike's without seminary training.

intellectual humility ministry platform theological training
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

God's timing for the Incarnation was strategically optimal — Jesus came when manuscript distribution, roads, and population growth maximized gospel spread

Mike continues the Matthew 11 answer by addressing why Jesus did not go to Sodom in the past.

Matthew 11:22-24 manuscript evidence apologetics Providence
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q18: Can Christians feel God's presence, or is it just emotion responding to truth? Both are possible — Spirit-generated emotion and ordinary human emotion are both real

Viewer Amelia asks whether feeling God's presence is genuine or just the mind responding emotionally to biblical truth.

Romans 8 Exodus 34 Moses Romans 8 Holy Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: If Christ's return requires a rebuilt temple, how is it rebuilt without the Ark of the Covenant?

Viewer Isaac O'Brien asks about the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple in eschatology and the missing Ark of the Covenant.

Acts 8 Acts 8 eschatology futurism
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Rebuilt temple does not need to be ritually valid — prophecy requires existence, not divine approval

Clarification of what prophetic fulfillment requires regarding the third temple.

eschatology prophetic fulfillment futurism
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Sports requiring bikini uniforms have immorality built in; empowerment framing of immodesty is backwards

Mike's stronger statement about institutionalized immodesty in competitive sports and the cultural narrative of empowerment through immodesty.

Christian ethics modesty sexuality and culture
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Advice for a 20-year-old preparing for pastoral ministry: balance seminary education with active local church service, and remove ego.

Question from John Parizzo about preparing for pastoral ministry while in college and seminary.

Pastoral formation Seminary education Humility in ministry
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Two senses of righteousness: relational/situational versus standing before God

Bella asked how David can claim righteousness in Psalm 18:20-24 when Scripture says no one is righteous.

Psalm 18:20-24 Psalm 51 Romans 3 David justification by faith Abraham
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Dinosaurs and the age of the earth: three intra-Christian views summarized

Madison Torres asked how dinosaur fossils fit with Adam and Eve and the biblical timeline.

Genesis 1 Job 40-41 Genesis 1 young earth creationism age of the earth
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Saints rising from tombs after the crucifixion (Matthew 27) — who were they?

James and Lindsey ask about the people coming out of tombs after Jesus's resurrection in Matthew 27 — did they continue living or ascend?

Matthew 27:52-53 Lazarus crucifixion Matthew 27:52-53
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Getting close to God and overcoming demonic oppression — prerequisites and warnings

Professor of Everything asks for advice on getting close to God and overcoming demons and oppression.

repentance pride spiritual warfare
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Covert narcissism and Proverbs 16:5 — misunderstanding grace; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Giant Mushroom Tree is being diagnosed with covert narcissistic personality disorder and fears Proverbs 16:5 means they are unsavable.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Proverbs 16:5 repentance pride grace
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Hardened heart and repentance — how to break callousness and return to closeness with God

Final question: someone says their heart has become hard through continued rebellion, they no longer feel sorry, and they miss living close to Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:13 Psalm 34:18 Psalm 51:17 repentance sanctification 1 Corinthians 10:13
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Mark 8 feeding of 4000: disciples may not have expected another miracle because Jesus did not multiply food at every meal; also, Jewish messianic expectation may not have extended to feeding Gentiles

Responding to why the disciples in Mark 8 seem unaware that Jesus had already fed 5000 in Mark 6

Mark 6 Mark 8 Gentiles Feeding of the 4000 Mark 6
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Ephesians 5:25-32 — the mystery of marriage as a typological picture of Christ and the church, rooted in the Adam-Eve narrative.

Discussing the "mystery" Paul refers to in Ephesians 5:32 while addressing the Vulgate question.

Ephesians 5:25-32 John 19:34 Christ and the Church typology Adam and Eve
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Matthew 7:13-14 — the narrow gate refers to the demanding and counter-cultural teachings of Christ, not to a works-salvation effort; few receive it because most reject it.

Jilly Bean from Finland asks what the narrow gate means in practice.

Matthew 7:13-14 discipleship salvation Sermon on the Mount
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

The Canaanite genocide: why God commanded Israel to kill rather than drive out or convert

Question from Lindsey Kelso about the moral difficulty of God commanding Israel to kill thousands of Canaanites.

Deuteronomy / Joshua conquest texts Theodicy Children and salvation Canaanite conquest
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