Search — Theology Explorer

God's impartiality doesn't mean equal circumstances — disabilities, poverty, and wealth may serve God's glory rather than being about what people deserve. Jesus healed the man born blind "for the glory of God," not as punishment for sin.

Q3: How is God impartial when people have such different lives?

John 9 Jesus John 9

Acts 2 Matthew Matthew 7 Acts 2 Jesus prophecy

Discerning false prophets by their "fruit" (Matthew 7:15-20) — fruit is defined IN the passage as whether their teaching leads people to do God's will vs. lawlessness. It's not about charismatic experiences or emotional reactions.

Q4: How to practically use Matthew 7:15-20 to discern people?

Psalm 51 David repentance Brian Zahnd

Psalm 51:16-17 ("God does not delight in sacrifice") is situational to David after murdering Uriah — he can't just offer a bull and fix things. The only thing he can offer is a broken spirit. It's not a blanket rejection of the sacrificial system.

Q6: Does Psalm 51 mean God doesn't want sacrifices?

Romans 5 Romans 5:12 Romans 5 Jesus Romans 5:12

Would Jesus have died of old age if not crucified? Probably yes — physical death entered through the Fall affecting all humanity, not just individual sinners. But Winger acknowledges he hasn't fully worked this out.

Q18: Would sinless Jesus have died of old age?

1 John 3:4 1 John 3 Moses 1 John 3:4 1 John 3

1 John 3:4 ("sin is lawlessness") doesn't mean Christians must keep the Mosaic Law — "lawlessness" means rebellion against God's moral authority, not specifically violating Torah commands. The New Testament redefines how we relate to God's moral standards.

Q19: Does 1 John 3:4 mean the Law of Moses still applies?

Mike Winger idea 2021-05-28

Offering Counsel in Difficult Situations: I’m in a master's program with Liberty University for clinical mental health counseling. During our training, we were asked how we would handle certain difficult situations, such as if a LGBTQ couple would request help strengthening their relationship, or request help advocating for adoption rights, or advocating for trans. people. Can you please give me some biblical principles to follow, to help me counsel these people in a caring way without condoning unbiblical behavior?

Q&A question: Offering Counsel in Difficult Situations

homosexuality

Mike Winger idea 2021-05-28

About the Overcomers in Rev.: What are your thoughts on the overcomers mentioned by Jesus in Revelation 3:5-12? Would you consider these to be believers in general, a specific group of believers, or some other group?

Q&A question: About the Overcomers in Rev.

Revelation 3 revelation Jesus Revelation 3 revelation

Mike Winger idea 2021-05-28

Encouragement through Chronic Illness: I’m newly diagnosed with a very debilitating chronic illness. How do I continue to serve the Lord in my role as a wife and mother and serve the body of Christ? I’m very discouraged.

Q&A question: Encouragement through Chronic Illness

marriage

About the Wedding Feast/Garments: The man who was at the wedding feast without a wedding garment in Matthew 22: 11, is he like what would called a nominal Christian?

Q&A question: About the Wedding Feast/Garments

Matthew Matthew

How to Honor an Abusive Parent: My father was physically and mentally abusive when I was a child. Can I stop talking to him and still be honoring him?

Q&A question: How to Honor an Abusive Parent

anxiety and mental health

About Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia: What are your thoughts about assisted suicide and euthanasia?

Q&A question: About Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-11

Should Pro-Life = Immigration Support?: Do you think that being pro-life means that I should also support immigration/refugee resettlement due to the pro-life belief that children should be taken care of regardless of circumstances?

Q&A question: Should Pro-Life = Immigration Support?

abortion

Winger walks through 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications, acknowledging real-life churches (especially small ones) struggle to find people who meet all criteria. Lists: blameless, husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy, gentle, not quarrelsome, rules his own house well, not a novice.

Q&A: How literally should we follow the qualifications for pastors/elders in 1 Timothy and Titus?

1 Timothy 3 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-11

Will we receive Glorified Bodies AND Minds?: We know that we will eventually gain glorified bodies, but what about glorified minds? Will someone who suffers from a mental disorder (like Down’s Syndrome) be “healed”?

Q&A question: Will we receive Glorified Bodies AND Minds?

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-11

Encouragement when we feel Empty: I struggle with emotional emptiness, abandonment issues, & having low self-worth. This makes my walk hard because my cup is always empty. God won’t answer my prayers. Any advice?

Q&A question: Encouragement when we feel Empty

prayer

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-18

What is “Fundamental Christianity”?: Can you define "Fundamental Christianity" for me? Recently I've been seeing it referred to as a negative thing. Is it?

Q&A question: What is “Fundamental Christianity”?

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-18

Using the Morality Argument: If using the morality argument, how would you respond to an unbeliever that uses the objection that morality is subjective and there is no real objective right or wrong?

Q&A question: Using the Morality Argument

evangelism

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-18

How Should we Study Other Religions?: Do you have any recommendations for studying other religions and how to approach others with the intention to evangelize? I am particularly interested in Islam.

Q&A question: How Should we Study Other Religions?

Islam angels

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-25

Why does John and Other Passages Not Mention Repentance?: If repentance is required to be saved, why is it not mentioned in the Gospel of John and other evangelical texts like Acts 16: 31 and Romans 10? Can repentance be somewhat synonymous with belief?

Q&A question: Why does John and Other Passages Not Mention Repentance?

Romans 10 repentance Romans 10 angels

Is Common Sense an Argument for God?: Some weeks ago you said you believed common sense is the best argument for God. Can you elaborate?

Q&A question: Is Common Sense an Argument for God?

Do Punishments Get Passed Down?: Does God punish children for the sins of their fathers?

Q&A question: Do Punishments Get Passed Down?

parenting

Matthew Matthew 7 Matthew Matthew 7

Can Non-Believers Bear Fruit?: Can a non-believer bear the fruit of the Spirit? (Matthew 7:17) How can this be, and is it an argument in favor of secular morality?

Q&A question: Can Non-Believers Bear Fruit?

salvation Philip Philippi

How to “Work out our Salvation”: I read a commentary on Philippians 2:12 and it was implied that salvation is not complete, what does that mean? Are we not fully saved?

Q&A question: How to “Work out our Salvation”

Clinging to Hope in Tough Circumstances: My husband had a vasectomy before we got together. I used to be WOF and "claimed" a baby but now know that movement is heretical. Is it dumb to still believe in having a baby?

Q&A question: Clinging to Hope in Tough Circumstances

marriage heresy

How to Respond to Unbiblical Statements: I was wondering of a kind way to correct people who just say "God just wants me to be happy.”

Q&A question: How to Respond to Unbiblical Statements

About the phrase “Son of Perdition”: What is the Greek meaning of “Son of Perdition”? Is it a specific person, or a general statement?

Q&A question: About the phrase “Son of Perdition”

Should Atheist Arguments Concern Us?: Should we be concerned about counterarguments that atheists and skeptics present to our faith?

Q&A question: Should Atheist Arguments Concern Us?

atheism

Mike Winger idea 2021-07-30

Am I Rightly or Wrongly Judging?: How do I know if I have a judgmental attitude toward someone or an honest concern about their sin?

Q&A question: Am I Rightly or Wrongly Judging?

What does Ecumenical Mean?: I'd rather not identify myself with any particular denomination. What does it mean to be an ecumenical Christian?

Q&A question: What does Ecumenical Mean?

Mike Winger idea 2021-07-30

Is the Fire Mentioned in 2 Peter Literal?: In 2 Peter 3: 10 it says that on the "Day of the Lord" God will destroy the world and "its elements" with fire. Is this a literal or figurative fire, and why?

Q&A question: Is the Fire Mentioned in 2 Peter Literal?

Peter

Did Jesus Consider the OT to be Scripture?: You said in a past Q&A session that Jude references Enoch, and your best explanation is that it's just to make a point, not to say that Enoch is canon or inerrant. But that's also my conclusion about when Jesus refers to the Old Testament. Isn’t it the same for when Jesus refers to the Old Testament?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Consider the OT to be Scripture?

Jesus Enoch

How did OT Punishments Display God’s Love?: What was the point of capital punishment in OT, which was way too harsh to the point that it was not strictly followed back then? How does it display God's love when people are killed for not obeying?

Q&A question: How did OT Punishments Display God’s Love?

Reconciling Two Verses: How does Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 reconcile with Paul’s statement that “to live is Christ and to die is gain”? Am I misreading it?

Q&A question: Reconciling Two Verses

Using Apologetics to Reach Friends: How do you recommend bringing up apologetics with unbelieving friends?

Q&A question: Using Apologetics to Reach Friends

apologetics

Should we be Worried about Gov’t Control?: Should Christians be worried about government control? I have friends not getting the Covid vaccine because "it's a way to be controlled by the government.” I want to think biblically about this.

Q&A question: Should we be Worried about Gov’t Control?

Galatians 1 Acts 9 Galatians 1 Acts 9

About Paul and a Time Gap in Scripture: Why didn’t Luke mention the time gap that took place during Acts 9: 20-26, that Paul mentioned in Galatians 1: 17-18?

Q&A question: About Paul and a Time Gap in Scripture

Can we be Confident in God’s Existence?: How can one ever be sure that the arguments for God’s existence are truly sound? Is it because all current objections fail? Maybe there is an Achilles heel that has not come up yet.

Q&A question: Can we be Confident in God’s Existence?

Finding Hope in Difficult Situations: How do you interpret the hopelessness of Psalm 88? How can you comfort someone who feels what Psalm 88:18b (NIV) implies?

Q&A question: Finding Hope in Difficult Situations

hermeneutics

anxiety and mental health

Is Receiving Mental Health Therapy Biblical?: Is it a sin for Christians to see a mental health therapist/psychiatrist? Is biblical counseling the only option for Christians?

Q&A question: Is Receiving Mental Health Therapy Biblical?

Is God Actively Judging Today?: Is God actively judging the world today or is all judgment held out ‘till the second coming? When negative things happen like natural disasters, how much of this can we say is God’s judgment?

Q&A question: Is God Actively Judging Today?

second coming

Bible Study Resource Recommendations?: Do you know of any good Bible Study resources for a group with no teacher, only facilitators?

Q&A question: Bible Study Resource Recommendations?

Bible study

Matthew 10 Matthew Matthew 10 Matthew

When to “Shake the Dust from our Feet”: At what point are we to "shake off the dust from our feet" as mentioned in Matthew 10: 14 when trying to witness to friends, strangers, loved ones, etc.?

Q&A question: When to “Shake the Dust from our Feet”

Historical Evidence for God’s Judgments?: Is there any historical evidence for any of the prophets of the old testament or for any judgments God pronounced on people?

Q&A question: Historical Evidence for God’s Judgments?

prophecy

1 Corinthians 11:7 complementarianism creation order headship

Winger admits he doesn't have a fully clear teaching on 1 Cor 11:7 (head coverings) but explains 'woman is the glory of man' as related to creation order: God made Adam from dust, then Eve from Adam. Paul draws a parallel suggesting an interrelationship between man and woman that relates to authority in the relationship.

Q&A: struggling with 1 Corinthians 11:7 — what does 'glory of man' mean?