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All (111) Mike Winger (111)
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Parental authority over adult children: diminishes naturally with age; adult children make their own decisions while still honoring parents

Q from Joel Larson about how much authority a father has over adult children, and whether it differs for sons vs. daughters.

Genesis 2 Numbers 30 Genesis 2 honoring parents parental authority
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Christians can serve God faithfully under any form of government; government structure is a secondary issue

Part of the discussion on socialism vs. biblical justice.

sin nature government political theology
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Are marriage contracts biblical? — Yes, with wisdom; keeping one's word is a biblical principle

Question from Mahit (likely from India) about whether signing a pre-marriage contract is biblical.

Psalm 15:4 marriage covenant contracts
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Rejecting the deity of Christ is a salvation issue -- John 5 says dishonoring the Son dishonors the Father

Responding to Isaac Floyd's question about whether denying the deity of Christ is a salvation issue

John 5 mediator salvation Christology
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Luke 14:26 — Forsaking family for Christ: hyperbole and ultimate priority, not literal abandonment

A viewer asks what Jesus meant by forsaking family and hating father and mother.

1 Corinthians 7 Luke 14:26 1 Corinthians 7 discipleship Luke 14:26
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Preferred pronouns — Mike cannot use false pronouns because it constitutes dishonest support of a delusion

A viewer asks whether Christians should use preferred pronouns as this becomes a larger cultural issue.

Christian ethics cultural engagement gender identity
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 2020-12-11

Jephthah's daughter: the text is ambiguous - she may have been killed as a burnt offering or dedicated as a lifelong virgin servant at the temple; Mike slightly leans toward the literal sacrifice reading.

What happened to Jephthah's daughter?

Judges 11 hermeneutics Jephthah vows
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

The garter toss as an inappropriate sexualization of the bride — cultural critique

Continuing Q17 on Christian wedding practices

marriage cultural critique sexual ethics
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

A prayer opening Congress in the name of the Hindu god Brahma is blasphemy — but the appropriate Christian response is not rebellion

Question from Gorilla Christianity about a US Congress session opened in the name of Brahma

idolatry government early church
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Real-life example: a wife's Christ-like conduct broke through her angry husband's defenses and led to his conversion

Illustrative story supporting 1 Peter 3:1 and the "may" interpretation

1 Peter 3:1 1 Peter 3:1 marriage conversion
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Church attendance decisions during COVID are a matter of conscience — Christians should not cause division over this

Question from Israel Garcia about whether Christians are obligated to attend church during the pandemic

Romans 14 Romans 14 Christian liberty conscience
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Christians are not free to disobey government laws simply because they seem pointless — but there is a threshold of oppression where resistance becomes legitimate

Question from Jared's Story about UK COVID laws and Christian obligation to comply

Christian liberty conscience civil government
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Baptizing children should not be delayed based purely on age — genuine faith at any age is sufficient

Question from April B about baptizing her 8-year-old who has made a genuine profession of faith

baptism salvation faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Walking on eggshells around an easily angered person should be motivated by wisdom, not fear

Question from Taylor Paris about dealing with someone who is easily angered

Proverbs wisdom relationships Proverbs
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Christian rock and metal can honor God but requires vigilance — the genre's sinful elements easily infect the message

Question from Simon Batha about whether Christian rock and metal can honor God.

Christian music genres Cultural discernment Witness and lifestyle
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

2 Timothy 2:20-21 — Vessels of gold/silver vs. wood/clay for honorable/dishonorable use

Viewer asks whether 2 Tim 2:20-21 (self-cleansing to be an honorable vessel) refutes the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity, given it uses the same honorable/dishonorable language as Romans 9.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 sanctification 2 Timothy 2:20-21 vessels honorable dishonorable
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

The two vessel passages should not be conflated — different contexts, different applications

Mike's conclusion: 2 Tim 2:20-21 and Romans 9 use the same metaphor for different purposes and cannot be merged to make a doctrinal argument about total depravity.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 Romans 9:20-23 hermeneutics sanctification Calvinism
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Responding to an abusive parent who weaponizes 'honor your parents': adult children are not obligated to obey parents, and marriage triggers the leave-and-cleave authority shift.

Question from Enoch about an abusive father who uses 'honor your parents' to demand submission.

Genesis 2:24 Genesis 2:24 Honor your parents Leave and cleave
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Ministry titles and the clergy-laity distinction: what Jesus really forbade in Matthew 23

Chris Horn asked whether Matthew 23:8-12 prohibits using ministry titles like pastor or elder.

1 Timothy 3 Galatians 3:28 Matthew 23:8-12 servant leadership overseer episkopos
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Burial symbolism matters even though cremation is permissible

Mike affirms cremation is acceptable but argues for the value of burial symbolism and honoring the dead.

Luke 23 Leviticus Luke 23 Leviticus burial
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Knowing God's will for major decisions — acting without certainty

Simply Put asks how to know if God is guiding him and his wife to move to remote Alaska for missions.

Matthew 10 calling missions Matthew 10
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Evangelizing family and close friends is uniquely difficult because familiarity breeds dismissal; redirecting to outside sources may be more effective.

Jackson Star asks how to reach atheist friends and family who do not take Christian arguments seriously.

Matthew 13:57 evangelism apologetics atheism
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Intrusive/unwanted thoughts: possible demonic origin and the Philippians 4:8 remedy

Question from Turka Orenzova about horrifying thoughts that pop into her head unbidden.

Philippians 4:8 John 13:2 Ephesians 6 Peter Philippians 4:8 Satan
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Taking the Lord's name in vain: biblical command is broad and applies beyond formal oaths to casual, empty use of God's name.

Q1 from Tanya in South Africa: is it wrong to watch movies that use phrases like "Oh my God" or "JC" even if the viewer is not personally using God's name in vain?

Exodus 20:7 third commandment taking God's name in vain Exodus 20:7
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Loving neighbors in restricted-mobility times means reorienting attitude and creativity, not relying on physical proximity.

Q15 from Joel Holmberg: how can we love our neighbor and honor God when we cannot congregate (COVID-era context)?

love your neighbor community and congregation COVID-era church life
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Church COVID restrictions and pastoral imprisonment: uncertain whether it qualifies as persecution, but it feels like it

Q12 from Crystalline Sloan: Can you define persecution and speak to whether pastors imprisoned for defying public health orders are being persecuted?

conscience persecution COVID-19
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Daniel 11 points to the future Antichrist: Second Thessalonians 2 and the Olivet Discourse confirm it

Continuation: reasons for reading Daniel 11 as ultimately about a future Antichrist figure.

Mark 13 Daniel 11:36-45 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Abomination of desolation Antichrist Mark 13
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Distinguishing the Holy Spirit's burden from personal obsession

Listener Keys of the Kingdom wonders whether concern about a friend who broke contact is the Spirit's prompting or personal obsession.

Titus 2 Discerning the Holy Spirit Obsession vs divine prompting Good works
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-04

Q: Nudity in art. Mike opposes it. The argument "it's art so it's okay" fails: if a bad drawing of nudity is wrong, making it skillful doesn't change the morality. Rome and Las Vegas dress sin up beautifully. We honor the human form by covering it due to human sinfulness. Possible exception: medical textbooks.

Q&A — nudity in art

nudity in art
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-23

Mark 9:35: "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Jesus flips worldly leadership upside down. Parallel: Matthew 6:1-6 — Pharisees do good works for human recognition and get no reward from God. 1 Peter 5:3: lead by example, don't lord over people. The test: if everyone treated people the way you treat people, would it make a healthy church?

Servant leadership vs worldly leadership

Matthew 6:1-6 1 Peter 5:3 servant leadership servant leadership Matthew 6:1-6
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-31

Cloaks and branches on the road are red-carpet treatment declaring Jesus as king — the only OT parallel is 2 Kings 9:13 where Jehu is declared king of Israel.

Analysis of cloaks and branches in Mark 11:7-8

Mark 11:7-8 2 Kings 9:13 Triumphal Entry Mark 11:7-8 2 Kings 9:13
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-12

In the parable, the son is sent "last of all" — not meaning no more messengers ever, but that the Son is the final opportunity before judgment falls on the leaders. Jesus is greater than every prophet: they are slaves; he is the beloved Son.

Analysis of the Son's unique status in the parable (Mark 12:6-8)

John 5 Mark 12:1-12 John 5 deity of Christ Mark 12:1-12
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-19

Christians should pay taxes even to corrupt governments that use money for immoral purposes — Jesus said to pay taxes to Rome, which would use that money to crucify him. Romans 13:1-7 teaches we OWE government obedience, taxes, fear, and honor.

Biblical teaching on taxes, submission to government, and Romans 13

Romans 13:1-7 Matthew 5:41 submission to government Romans 13:1-7 Matthew 5:41
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-19

Honor the office even when you despise the officeholder — "salute the rank, not the person." Christians who only honor leaders they agree with are operating from party affiliation, not biblical integrity.

Biblical principle of honoring government leaders regardless of party

1 Peter 2:13 Romans 13:1-7 1 Peter 2:13 Romans 13:1-7 Christian politics
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-11

Mark 12:38-44 is Jesus's warning about fake spirituality in leadership and money-grubbing preachers, paired with the widow's offering showing what genuine sacrificial giving looks like. This is a pervasive, ongoing danger.

Introduction to Mark Series pt 51 on the scribes and the widow's mite

Mark 12:38-44 Mark series Mark 12:38-44 Mark series fake spiritual leadership
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-04

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

Mike Winger idea 2021-08-13

How to Respond to Verbal Abuse in Marriage: My husband yells & curses at me. I always tell him I don’t deserve it, but he continues. Can this be corrected? If so, how? And would I dishonor God if I stop being physically intimate with him?

Q&A question: How to Respond to Verbal Abuse in Marriage

marriage
Mike Winger idea 2021-08-20

Help for Maintaining a Godly Attitude: The Lord has blessed me tremendously in life. I love Him & want to please Him! But for some reason (& I have no excuse) I find it really hard to have a calm, grateful, God-honoring attitude. I'm easily irritated & find myself complaining about little things constantly, especially when I don't get my way or experience a minor inconvenience. I'm ashamed of this & don't want my attitude to be this way but I can't seem to change.

Q&A question: Help for Maintaining a Godly Attitude

Mike Winger idea 2021-09-24

About Evidence & Belief: Imagine if someone asked you, “Would you be willing to disbelieve in God if the evidence led there?” What would your response be? Are we obligated to say yes? Does that dishonor God?

Q&A question: About Evidence & Belief

apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2021-12-10

Did God’s Promise Change?: Why did the promise for honoring your parents change from Old Testament (Exodus 20: 12 – “in the land I will give you”) vs. the New Testament (Ephesians 6:2 – “living long on the earth”)?

Q&A question: Did God’s Promise Change?

Exodus 20 Ephesians 6 Exodus 20 Ephesians 6
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-18

How to Honor our Leaders: How do we actually honor leaders that we find personally dishonorable? Some find President Trump dishonorable, and some find President Biden dishonorable. What does honoring them actually entail?

Q&A question: How to Honor our Leaders

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-08

Raising Children with an Unbelieving Spouse: My husband doesn't believe in God and our 6 year old has started to notice and is asking why daddy doesn't believe. How should I approach this in a way that's helpful and honors my husband and God?

Q&A question: Raising Children with an Unbelieving Spouse

marriage
Mike Winger idea 2022-04-08

Drawing Near to God on Spiritual Holidays: First Easter being saved! Do you have any suggestions for some God honoring ways to spend Good Friday and Holy Saturday? I’m so excited and want to do whatever is in my power to feel especially close to Christ.

Q&A question: Drawing Near to God on Spiritual Holidays

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-15

Obeying vs. Honoring Parents: I am a legal adult and I currently still live in my parents’ home. I am looking at moving out in the near future, but my parents believe that young women shouldn’t leave the home until they’re married. Where do you draw the line between personal convictions and the command to honor your parents?

Q&A question: Obeying vs. Honoring Parents

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-05

Is it Wrong to Honor a DNR?: What do you think about DNR (do not resuscitate) orders? If I can’t perform CPR on a patient when it could save their life because the order forbids it, am I committing murder by honoring it?

Q&A question: Is it Wrong to Honor a DNR?

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-09

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?

Q&A question: Honoring God Regardless of Feelings

doubt and faith
Mike Winger idea 2023-03-03

Hair Length that Honors God: At my age and health, it’s hard to manage my long hair. May I cut it chin length as long as I keep it looking feminine and still relatively longer than a man’s? Is simply maintaining that gender distinction the important part?

Q&A question: Hair Length that Honors God

Mike Winger idea 2023-04-21

Setting Biblical Boundaries as Parents: I had a domestic violence upbringing, and I now have a son of my own. I have fears of family telling me how to parent my son. How do I set healthy biblical boundaries that protect my son and honor Christ?

Q&A question: Setting Biblical Boundaries as Parents

Mike Winger idea 2023-05-05

Honoring Parents through Marital Friction: How can I honor and love my parents biblically when they take offense at and criticize my wife and I for every little thing we do? It's making my wife anxious, and we're going to have a baby. We want a relationship with them, but they seem committed to bitterness.

Q&A question: Honoring Parents through Marital Friction

marriage