Search — Theology Explorer

women in ministry elder qualifications elder qualifications

Winger says there is no biblical requirement for an ordained person to officiate a wedding — marriage is a public covenant between a man and woman, and the authority to marry doesn't reside in a pastor, government, or anyone else. He wrestles with whether to recommend a woman officiate for non-believing family.

Q from a female believer: brother (non-believer) asked her to officiate his wedding; only option is online ordination, which feels like mocking God.

“Spirit Princes” – For Today?: Can you explain Daniel 10: 13 and 10: 20? What is the ‘spirit prince’ of the kingdom of Persia (NLT)? Is the concept of a spirit prince over a region only seen in the Old Testament, or can this happen today?

Q&A question: “Spirit Princes” – For Today?

Daniel Daniel

PSA – Contradicting Proverbs?: If Penal Substitutionary Atonement is an accurate doctrine, then isn't it contradicting Proverbs 17: 15?

Q&A question: PSA – Contradicting Proverbs?

atonement

Mike Winger idea 2025-03-28

Encouragement through Arduous Times: What gives people the will to live in the midst of terror, hardship, poverty, pain, childhood abuse, loss, and all other types of calamity (specifically non-Christians, but also Christians)?

Q&A question: Encouragement through Arduous Times

Support for Limited Atonement?: How does John 17:9 work alongside John 3: 16? Could John 17:9 be a valid point toward Limited Atonement? I do not want to believe in Limited Atonement, but I see verses like this and wonder.

Q&A question: Support for Limited Atonement?

John 3 atonement John 3

Mike Winger idea 2025-03-28

Agape vs. Phileo Love: Are agape and phileo love synonymous in Greek? John 3: 19 & John 12: 43 use agape for loving darkness and men's praise, respectively, while John 5: 20 uses phileo to describe the Father's love for the Son.

Q&A question: Agape vs. Phileo Love

John 5 John 12 John 3 John 5 John 12 John 3

Mike Winger idea 2025-03-28

The Apostle John Still Alive?: Have you ever heard the theory that the Apostle John might still be alive and be the second witness in the Tribulation? I found the arguments interesting, as conjecture.

Q&A question: The Apostle John Still Alive?

tribulation Apostle John

Mike Winger idea 2025-04-11

Salvation: Knowing the Exact Moment: I heard you talk about how you once questioned whether or not you were saved because you couldn’t name the specific time or event where it happened. How did you overcome that? I’m in the same situation.

Q&A question: Salvation: Knowing the Exact Moment

salvation

Mike Winger idea 2025-04-11

How did Martha Know?: In John 11, when Martha says she knows her brother will rise in the resurrection on the last day, did she know that from the Old Testament, or from Jesus’ teachings?

Q&A question: How did Martha Know?

John 11 Jesus resurrection John 11

Mike Winger idea 2025-05-02

A Judgment for Widows?: What is the judgment put on widows in 1 Timothy 5: 12, and how do we know we can change course without judgment? Does it apply to keeping an unchanging devotion time with God? My goals can get legalistic.

Q&A question: A Judgment for Widows?

1 Timothy 5 Timothy 1 Timothy 5

Mike Winger idea 2025-05-02

Is Progressive Sanctification Biblical?: While I know sanctification is real and biblical, if we are dead to sin after salvation as mentioned in Romans 7, why do we need progressive sanctification?

Q&A question: Is Progressive Sanctification Biblical?

Romans 7 salvation sanctification Romans 7

Mike Winger idea 2025-05-30

Jesus’ Deity: Why isn’t the NT Clearer?: In Titus 2: 13, Is Paul explicitly saying Jesus is God and Savior? Why do New Testament authors often not address Jesus as God and appear to place Jesus outside of the Godhead (e.g. 2 John 1:3)?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Deity: Why isn’t the NT Clearer?

Titus Titus 2 Titus Jesus Titus 2

Mike Winger idea 2025-05-30

The Atonement: The Importance of Jesus’ Deity: Why did Jesus have to be God to be the acceptable sacrifice? If it was Jesus’ humanity that died on the cross and not His divine nature, why did Jesus have to be fully God?

Q&A question: The Atonement: The Importance of Jesus’ Deity

Jesus atonement

Mike Winger idea 2025-07-04

Choosing Between Two Churches: What would you do if you had to choose between a Calvinist leaning church and a church that believed women could be elders? Both churches are otherwise healthy and doctrinally sound.

Q&A question: Choosing Between Two Churches

elder qualifications Calvinism

Mike Winger idea 2025-07-04

Processing Past Relationship Issues: My wife had several partners before our marriage. I wasn’t around, but I feel like I have to forgive the men. Am I being weird? How do I bring this to God, because I'm still losing sleep 10 years later?

Q&A question: Processing Past Relationship Issues

marriage

Mike Winger idea 2025-07-04

Winger says Eph 5:22 and Col 3:18 apply regardless of whether the husband is a Christian — the qualifier is 'your husband,' not 'your Christian husband.' Submission is not 100% in every possible thing, and exceptions exist for abuse, but the exception shouldn't be used to invalidate the rule.

Q: How should a newly Christian woman apply Eph 5:22 and Col 3:18 when her husband hasn't come to Christ and isn't supportive?

Colossians 3:18 Ephesians 5:22 1 Peter 3:1-6 complementarianism headship complementarianism

“Soul” in the OT/NT: How do we reconcile the Old Testament use of "soul" to mean a whole person with statements by Jesus implying that a soul is a separate entity? He seems to be contradicting what the Old Testament teaches.

Q&A question: “Soul” in the OT/NT

Jesus

“Lord” in the OT vs. NT: Is the title of Lord used in the same capacity in the New Testament as it is in the Old Testament (for example, in John13: 13)?

Q&A question: “Lord” in the OT vs. NT

Should Shame Linger?: As a kid, even after apologizing, I felt my parents' shame/disappointment/anger in the room until a period of time would pass. I know my sin harms my intimacy w/God even though Romans 8:1 is true, so I can't get over the "awkward in the room" feeling when I try to pray or draw near to God after sinning. Should shame linger for a period of time?

Q&A question: Should Shame Linger?

Romans 8 Romans 8

Mike Winger idea 2025-08-08

Church Leadership: Unbiblical Demands?: A church I know has an Intellectual Property document that staff signs and it says they can't pursue personal creative projects without the leadership’s permission. Is this biblical?

Q&A question: Church Leadership: Unbiblical Demands?

church leadership

Winger advises a 16-year-old in an egalitarian church on how to approach leaders: do self-assessment first (Matt 7:5, Gal 6:1), don't become one-sided in critique, acknowledge blessings from women's ministry even if the role is unbiblical, bring SPECIFIC evidence rather than just conviction, and start with encouragement.

Q from 16-year-old who has been studying Winger's Women in Ministry series and wants to discuss egalitarianism with church leaders.

Galatians 6:1 Matthew 7:5 women in ministry egalitarianism egalitarianism

Mike Winger idea 2025-08-08

Are Annulments Biblical?: What are your thoughts on annulments? Are they biblical and are they ever wise? Or are people just trying to justify their divorce?

Q&A question: Are Annulments Biblical?

divorce

Mike Winger idea 2025-08-29

Sheep, Goats & The Rapture: Have you considered the sheep and goat judgment of Matthew 25 in light of the timing of the Rapture? The Rapture HAS to be before the tribulation in order for the Earth to be repopulated.

Q&A question: Sheep, Goats & The Rapture

Matthew 25 Matthew rapture Matthew 25 tribulation

Mike Winger idea 2025-09-12

Prenups Always Bad?: Is a prenuptial agreement ever biblical? My fiance’s parents want us to get one. In my opinion, prenuptial agreements undermine the permanence of marriage, its covenantal nature, trust, and unity.

Q&A question: Prenups Always Bad?

marriage

Mike Winger idea 2025-09-12

Anxiety: Am I Doing Something Wrong?: I am a Christian and struggle with anxiety. It especially happens when I try to speak or when God is using me for something even around believers. It cripples me. Am I doing something wrong?

Q&A question: Anxiety: Am I Doing Something Wrong?

anxiety and mental health

Mike Winger idea 2025-09-19

PSA + Crucified WITH Christ?: How does the doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement harmonize with us being “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2: 20, Romans 6:5-6)? The substitution element seems to be missing, and wrath seems confusing if we are to affirm crucifixion with Christ.

Q&A question: PSA + Crucified WITH Christ?

Galatians 2 Romans 6 Galatians 2 atonement Romans 6

Mike Winger idea 2025-09-19

Eschatology in The Psalms?: Is it valid to interpret Psalms 42-49 as talking about the End Times (Tribulation in 42-44, Lamb’s wedding in 45, God’s reign/judgment and New Jerusalem with a river in 46-49)?

Q&A question: Eschatology in The Psalms?

eschatology tribulation

Mike Winger idea 2025-09-19

Mike’s Favorite Christian Music: Bonus!.What are some of your favorite or best recommended Christian music artists and albums?

Q&A question: Mike’s Favorite Christian Music

Mike Winger idea 2025-09-26

Enoch & Elisha – In Heaven?: Enoch and Elisha are said to be in Heaven in the Old Testament. Why did Jesus say in John 3: 13 that no one has gone to Heaven except Him?

Q&A question: Enoch & Elisha – In Heaven?

John 3 Jesus Elisha Enoch

Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Learning to Evangelize Better: I converted just over a year ago and had some success evangelizing to my community (libertarians). I've read the New Testament and I’m working on reading it twice now. What can I do to evangelize better, especially to libertarians?

Q&A question: Learning to Evangelize Better

angels

Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Is Mental Illness a Fallacy?: I'm in a faith crisis. I shared my mental health struggle with my discipler, and at the next study, they called mental illness a fallacy. I walked away and struggle if it's all real.

Q&A question: Is Mental Illness a Fallacy?

doubt and faith anxiety and mental health

Mike Winger idea 2025-10-10

Dietary Laws: Fulfilled?: How did Jesus fulfill the dietary laws? I’m considering Jesus grafting in Gentiles into the faith to be the fulfillment of that (Matthew 5: 17, Acts 10:9-15).

Q&A question: Dietary Laws: Fulfilled?

Acts 10 Matthew 5 Matthew Acts 10 Jesus Matthew 5

Mike Winger idea 2026-01-02

How/Why was Jesus Amazed?: Matthew 8:5-13 says that Jesus was amazed at the centurion's faith. In other places in the New Testament, Jesus knew the thoughts of the Pharisees. If Jesus could read thoughts, how could He be amazed?

Q&A question: How/Why was Jesus Amazed?

Matthew Matthew 8 Jesus Pharisees Centurion

Mike Winger idea 2026-01-10

Should Abortion be Prosecuted?: Do you think it's biblical that women who have abortions should be legally judged the same way as someone who commits murder?

Q&A question: Should Abortion be Prosecuted?

abortion

Mike Winger idea 2026-01-10

Balancing Ambition & Contentment: As a Christian, how do you balance ambition and contentment?

Q&A question: Balancing Ambition & Contentment

Mike Winger idea 2026-02-06

Mental Illness vs. Demonic Possession: What is your opinion on whether or not the spike in mental illness in this world could potentially be demon possession?

Q&A question: Mental Illness vs. Demonic Possession

demons

Mike Winger idea 2026-02-06

Finding Meaning & Contentment: I feel spiritually empty despite recent financial blessings. I’m not lacking, yet discontent. What gives life meaning, and would serving or evangelizing help fulfill me?

Q&A question: Finding Meaning & Contentment

angels

Mike Winger idea 2026-02-06

Romans 13 & Corrupt Government: Many preachers use Romans 13 to promote supporting our current governmental leadership. Yet those same preachers were anti-Biden or anti-Democratic when he was in office. How do we walk that out rightly?

Q&A question: Romans 13 & Corrupt Government

Romans 13 Romans 13

The Meaning of “Jew”: When the New Testament uses the word “Jew,” who is it referring to?

Q&A question: The Meaning of “Jew”

Serving When We Don’t Want To: I know I’m supposed to serve, but to be honest, I’m always tired and would rather go home and relax after church. I’m ashamed of that, considering all Jesus did for me, but it's true. Lately I challenged myself to just obey with a good attitude when asked, but even then, I feel so guilty knowing I didn’t want to.

Q&A question: Serving When We Don’t Want To

Jesus

Celebrating Black History in Church?: Is it appropriate for a church to dedicate a service in celebration of Black History Month? If not, in what ways could it be a cause for concern?

Q&A question: Celebrating Black History in Church?

Believes in Purgatory – Still Saved?: Can a person who trusts Christ for her eventual salvation but thinks she might have to go to purgatory first be saved?

Q&A question: Believes in Purgatory – Still Saved?

salvation

Matthew Philippians 1 Matthew 7 Philip Matthew Philippi

Bad Tree Bearing Good Fruit?: In Philippians 1: 15-18, Paul rejoices when Christ is preached from strife and selfish ambition. How is that not a bad tree bearing good fruit (Matthew 7: 18)?

Q&A question: Bad Tree Bearing Good Fruit?

The Divine Seed Doctrine?: Have you heard of the “Divine Seed” Doctrine that states that Christ was born solely of the seed of God and not from the egg of Mary and that His flesh was a kind of divine flesh?

Q&A question: The Divine Seed Doctrine?

Mary (mother of Jesus)

About Jesus or About Israel?: As someone who engages with Hebrew Roots folks often, how can Matthew interpret “Out of Egypt I called my son” to mean Jesus, when the Old Testament passage is clearly about Israel?

Q&A question: About Jesus or About Israel?

Matthew Jesus Matthew