Search — Theology Explorer

Filter results by source database — Scripture Commentary, Theology, Mike Winger, or Pulpit. Click a tab to narrow to one database.

...more

All (92) Mike Winger (92)

Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

How to evaluate scholarship that challenges traditional OT interpretation through cultural/linguistic arguments

Question from True West about scholarship that challenges OT translations and cultural understandings.

James 3:1 Galatians (uncircumcision passage) Hermeneutics James 3:1 Biblical scholarship

Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Spiritual doubt overcome through volitional trust: Mike's personal testimony of months of intellectual and emotional doubt resolved by choosing to trust God regardless of feelings.

Q17 from Healthy Bleach: feeling cut off from God, wondering if prayer is talking to oneself, if faith is wishful thinking.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Genesis flood narrative Proverbs 3:5-6 perseverance spiritual dryness

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Introduction: Friday Q&A format and purpose

Mike Winger opens the livestream, explaining the format of the Friday Q&A (formerly Tuesday). He positions himself not as an authority but as a fellow observer of Scripture.

How to evaluate scholarship that challenges traditional OT interpretation through cultural/linguistic arguments

Spiritual doubt overcome through volitional trust: Mike's personal testimony of months of intellectual and emotional doubt resolved by choosing to trust God regardless of feelings.

Introduction: Friday Q&A format and purpose

Should Christians be shaken by brilliant atheist philosophers like Graham Oppy?

Deuteronomy 22 rape law — two scenarios and the woman's protection

God chose to redeem through the cross to display his love, patience, righteousness, and desire for relationship simultaneously.

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.

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.

The literary devices view has serious apologetic consequences: it eliminates resurrection appearances, undermines doubting Thomas, weakens the case for Jesus's deity from John's "I AM" sayings, and gives ammunition to cults and skeptics.

Wrestling with Doubts: I've studied the evidence for Christianity & it's amazing. But I struggle with doubts of “what if I'm wrong?” Does this affect my salvation? Will God help me?

Difference: Doubt vs. Unbelief: What is the difference biblically between doubt & unbelief? Are either of them a sin?

Can we Know 100% our Faith is True?: Is it possible to be 100% certain of Christianity and the Bible? Is believing but also having doubt a sin? I would like to have 100% certainty, but there's always a doubt that it all could be a lie.

Help During Trying Times of Doubt: Why can’t I trust Christ for complete forgiveness even though I fully believe every word in the Bible? Why won’t my heart allow me to enter salvation? Why doesn’t God seem to want to help me?

About the Fear of God and Dinosaurs: Does the "fear" of the Lord mean "scared"? If not, why is "fear” still used in today’s Bibles? Translation problem? Confused here! And were dinosaur bones/fossils created by the devil to cast doubt?

Help with Doubts & Unbelief: How do you stop doubting that God exists or that Christianity is the true religion out of many, especially Islam? Sometimes my faith wanders from belief to unbelief. Any tips?

About Doubt, Truth, & Bias: My friend is doubting his faith and reality because he claims there's no way to discern truth objectively without some sort of bias. How would you answer him?

About God being our Loving Father: I've been a believer for a very long time, but still struggle with the concept of God as loving Father. Mainly due to my upbringing. How do I overcome this? The doubt is overwhelming.

Coming Back to the Lord after Doubting: I wanted to ask if you have any biblical guidance on coming back to your Christ-like identity when you've fallen into doubt.

If we Confess our Doubts, Are We Still Saved?: I was having doubts about the atonement, and I was questioning if I really believed it. I had thoughts about me not believing. Am I still saved if confessed those and do believe now?

Desire to Believe, but Still Doubtful?: I am very eager to have a relationship with Jesus. However, I still have doubts about the truth of Christianity, and I don’t have full certainty. But people believe their mom loves them. Advice?

Does God Forgive “Extreme” Sins?: A loved one is struggling with the idea that God would forgive an abuser or a murderer if they started following God after their evil actions. What can I say to help them through this doubt?

Strengthening our Faith When Others are Doubting: I have been doubting lately because I know of so many people deconverting even after finding apologetics. It makes me question my reasoning at times. What are your thoughts on this?

The Trinity: Can We Ever be 100% Certain?: I've been fighting doubts and "what ifs" about the Trinity lately, and though I'm confident in the answers I've gotten, I fear I'll never be certain about it again. Any advice?

Should Ungodly Behavior Cause Doubt?: If I were to doubt Christianity (I don't), it would be because of a lack of holiness. Christians seem to be jerks at the same rate as the world, or more. Why is this, if we have the Holy Spirit?

Why did Some Disciples Doubt?: Why does Matthew record that some disciples doubted the resurrection? Is there some sort of significance to this? How could they doubt if Jesus was right in front of them?

Is “Spiritual Attack” Legitimate?: Is "spiritual attack" really a thing? Is that biblical? (i.e., during some notable season as a Christian, if we have intensified doubt, hopelessness, illness, etc. why's that not just, y'know, life?)

Should we be Baptized while Having Doubts?: People encourage me to get baptized ASAP (Acts 22: 16), but I struggle with serious psychological doubts. Should I disregard my doubts and get baptized? Can I take more time?

Help with the Hiddenness of God: The hiddenness (and silence) of God is causing me doubts. Is there any advice or help you can offer (such as that God is silent now because revelation has been completed with the New Testament)?

Honoring God Regardless of Feelings: When I feel "good" I find myself doubting less, being more loving, and sinning less. How do I know if I'm growing in the spirit or if it's just my antidepressants making me nicer?

The Doctrine of Inspiration: What evidence and encouragement can you offer a believer who is struggling to trust the doctrine of inspiration? I know that it’s true, but I struggle with doubt.

Is Doubting OK?: I love Mark 9: 24 - “I believe, help my unbelief.” But how do we understand that along with James 1:6-8 which says to ask in faith with no doubting, as the one who doubts will not receive anything from the Lord?

Did Jesus Doubt?: Is it true to say that Jesus doubted? How would you respond to someone that claims that He did (in Gethsemane), implying it's OK to doubt?

The Heartache of an Unbelieving Family: I'm the only Christian in my whole biological family. How do I not despair at the fact that they're all headed to Hell as it stands? It’s leading me to doubt the goodness of God.

Why Doesn’t God Just Satisfy Skeptics’ Doubts?: How would you answer someone who says, “If there is a God, He knows what evidence I would need to believe and has not given it to me” and seems to genuinely mean it, not mocking/scoffing?

Mixed Messages in Scripture?: I lost my faith due to all the mixed messages in the Bible. For example, is salvation by faith alone like John 5: 24, or faith plus works like James 2? Why doesn’t this cause you to doubt?

Obeying our Conscience: Is Romans 14: 23 about emotional doubt or intellectual doubt? For example, I'm mentally convinced that ham is OK to eat but I still doubt it emotionally. Which is my conscience to obey?

Resolving to Follow Christ Amid Doubts: Can you be saved by choosing the Christian life at any moment and hoping it’s real, or do you have to be convinced? What conditions do you need from God or yourself? Do you have to be feeling a certain way?

Permissible Doubts vs. Double-mindedness: Can you explain the difference between the man in Mark 9: 24 and the double-minded man talked about in James 1:5-8? I find myself relating to the former a lot, but I also fear being double-minded.

Does Doubt = Incomplete Faith?: I’m a new believer who used to be a Jehovah’s Witness. I gave my life to Christ a few years ago, but sometimes I wrestle with doubt. Does that make my faith incomplete?

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.

Bible Link Settings