Search — Theology Explorer

1 Corinthians 7 Paul 1 Corinthians 7 Torah observance

Jewish believers and Torah: Paul's principle "let him who is circumcised not seek to be uncircumcised" — Mike gives leeway to Jewish Christians observing Torah

Mike distinguishes between Jewish and Gentile believers in his pastoral response to Torah-observance.

Galatians 6 Tithing Giving (NT) Galatians 6

Tithing is not required for NT believers, but giving is — Mike outlines NT giving principles

Q&A: questioner asks whether tithing applies to NT believers.

Hebrew Roots Movement Paul rejection Dietary laws

Pastoral counsel for those with family members in the Hebrew Roots Movement — distinguish unnecessary restrictions from the deeper spiritual danger

Q&A: a viewer's mother is deeply in the Hebrew Roots movement; asking if the movement is the way to be close to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9 Paul Hebrew Roots Movement Pastoral counsel

"To the Jew I became a Jew" (1 Cor 9) — Paul's principle applied to engaging Hebrew Roots family members

Mike gives practical pastoral advice for relating to Hebrew Roots family without endorsing their views.

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

When should a pastor call out another pastor as a heretic?

Q&A on the pastoral responsibility to call out heretical teaching from other pastors.

false teaching heresy Rob Bell

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3) refers to polygamy, not divorce

Q&A on the pastoral qualification "husband of one wife" in the pastoral epistles.

1 Timothy 3 Titus 1 elder bishop 1 Timothy 3

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-13

A pastor considering a church of a different denomination should front-load doctrinal disagreements before accepting the role

Viewer who is a young preacher considering pastoring a church with doctrinal differences from his own convictions

pastoral ministry church and denomination integrity in ministry

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-20

Q&A: Titus and 1 Timothy pastoral qualifications — "husband of one wife" and "having children"

Q&A on elder/bishop/pastor qualifications in the Pastoral Epistles.

1 Timothy 3 Titus 1 1 Timothy 3 husband of one wife Titus 1

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-20

Q&A: How does God speak to new Christians? Live by biblical principles, not impressions

Q&A pastoral advice for new Christians wondering about hearing from God.

Christian living hearing from God spiritual discernment

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-13

Difference between ability/capability and calling: women may be skilled teachers but are not called to the pastoral role.

Addressing the emotional objection that restricting women from pastoral roles implies lesser capability.

Women in ministry Complementarianism Calling vs. capability

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-13

Women teaching men in a pastoral/leadership role: Mike reiterates his complementarian position.

Emily Espinal asks the biblical view on women teaching men in a pastoral role.

1 Timothy 2 1 Timothy 2 Women in ministry Complementarianism

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-27

Cameron Bertuzzi (Capturing Christianity): inability to answer a question doesn't mean Christianity is false; testimony is a legitimate epistemic basis

Video clip from Cameron Bertuzzi with pastoral/apologetic advice for Christians facing SE

Apologetics Capturing Christianity Cameron Bertuzzi

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Prison epistles and other NT letters as evidence that suffering was a church-wide reality needing sustained pastoral address

The pervasive theme of persecution across the entire NT corpus

1 Peter Romans 8 Revelation 2-3 1 Peter Romans 8 Revelation 2-3

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Philippians — Paul's pastoral management of his congregation's grief over his suffering as evidence that his persecution was a given, publicly known reality

Paul's suffering was so consistent and well-known that he had to repeatedly address the pastoral fallout from it

Philippians Paul the Apostle apostolic martyrdom apostle sincerity

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-10

Advice to a 15-year-old aspiring pastor: character comes before ministry; study the pastoral epistles

Q&A: Isaiah Jones (age 15) asks for advice on becoming a pastor

1 Timothy Titus 2 Timothy 1 Timothy Titus pastoral qualifications

Apologetics Evangelism Limits of apologetics

Apologetics is useful and important but should not be overstated — it works differently for different people

Mike's pastoral qualification on the limits of apologetics.

Q&A begins; note on busyness and the importance of deliberate margin in life

Transition to live Q&A.

Christian living

Youth ministry Discipleship Pastoral ministry

Q&A: Tips for young first-time pastor doing outreach to youth/college-age in a congregation of older saints

Pastoral question from a viewer.

Christian living Church accountability Pastoral correction

Q&A: Is it wrong to approach a pastor who taught something theologically unsound?

Viewer question about church accountability.

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Q&A: Are Jewish believers required to keep the Mosaic Law? No, but cultural/traditional practice may be permitted if not causing division

Nuanced pastoral answer about Jewish Christians and the Law

Romans 14 Romans 14 Christian liberty conscience

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Q&A: Modesty in dress is a New Testament command—not law-keeping—and our culture is distorted about it

Pastoral application question about dress standards

Christian living modesty New Testament ethics

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Q&A: The Christian's primary cultural identity is the culture of Christ—follow Christ absolutely, adapt to culture in neutral matters

Pastoral guidance on Christianity and cultural identity

1 Corinthians 9 Christian liberty 1 Corinthians 9 Christian and culture

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Advice to Anderson followers: recognize the problems and apply a filter

Pastoral counsel to people in Anderson's orbit

Romans 10:2 discernment zeal without knowledge Romans 10:2

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Pastoral observation: many Jesus mythicists are atheists/agnostics who find it convenient to deny Jesus existed rather than grapple with who he claimed to be

Winger's pastoral/spiritual observation about mythicists' motivations

apologetics atheism Jesus mythicism

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-03

Christian response to suffering: trust God's sovereign goodness despite not knowing the outcome

Pastoral application regarding suffering and theodicy

theodicy suffering faith

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

Many are called but few are chosen; preaching the gospel to all implies a genuine offer for all

Mike uses the Great Commission and related teaching to argue against limited atonement's pastoral coherence.

Matthew 22:14 Mark 16:15 Great Commission gospel proclamation limited atonement

sin God's wrath theological error

Consequence 6 of denying wrath: trivializes sin and produces narcissism

Mike draws on his counseling experience to illustrate the practical danger of removing wrath.

God's love divine judgment God's wrath

Critique of depersonalizing wrath: 'God hates sin but not sinners' is biblically insufficient

Mike critiques a popular pastoral slogan often used to soften the doctrine of wrath.

Romans 5:8 God's wrath human sin divine holiness

Three reasons people struggle with God's wrath: false dichotomy, wounded past, inflated view of human goodness

Mike diagnoses the pastoral and psychological sources of resistance to the doctrine of divine wrath.

James 3:1 divine judgment James 3:1 pastoral accountability

Q&A: Pastors held to higher accountability — James 3:1

Viewer asks why saved pastors who lead people astray face greater judgment.

Romans 12:18 Romans 12:18 reconciliation pastoral counsel

Q&A: When a pastor refuses reconciliation after theological disagreement

Viewer seeks pastoral counsel on a broken relationship with a church leader.

Trinity Christology theological error

Q&A: Severity of the Oneness doctrine — compromises the very nature of God

Viewer asks about the theological severity of the Oneness Pentecostal position.

Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Q&A: Is it wise to tell someone their deceased Catholic loved one is in heaven?

Viewer question from Hannah Elizabeth

salvation gospel Catholicism

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Practical pastoral counsel: baptized as infant → get believers' baptism; already baptized your child → let them choose later

Winger offers pastoral guidance for common situations arising from the infant baptism debate.

baptism infant baptism believers baptism

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Q&A: Counsel for an adult believer who does not fully understand baptism — connect with a pastor and do it

A viewer aged 44 says they do not fully understand baptism and asks whether to wait.

baptism pastoral counsel local church

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Q&A: False conversion followed by genuine salvation — should the person be re-baptized?

A viewer asks about someone who was baptized during a false conversion and then genuinely saved.

assurance of salvation baptism pastoral counsel

Romans 1 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Romans 1 sin witness of the Holy Spirit

Christians who struggle to sense the Spirit's witness still have access to evidence as a support, and doubt often traces to sin

Pastoral application for doubting Christians

1 John 3 1 John 4 assurance of salvation soteriology 1 John 3

Assurance of salvation can fluctuate but does not determine a Christian's actual standing before God

Q&A: personal and pastoral reflections on assurance of salvation

1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians church discipline fellowship

Gospel-level error requires breaking fellowship; lesser errors require wisdom and church leadership

Q&A: pastoral guidance on when doctrinal disagreement becomes a fellowship-breaking issue

evangelism relational evangelism

When a family member refuses to discuss God, build relational bridges rather than forcing spiritual conversations

Q&A: pastoral advice on evangelism to hostile family members

Hebrews ecclesiology Hebrews church attendance

Christians without a local church should attend an imperfect one rather than stay home; Hebrews commands gathering

Q&A: pastoral guidance for Christians who cannot find a theologically sound local church

prophecy witness of the Holy Spirit divine communication

Everything genuinely from God is true; the problem is misidentifying non-divine impressions as God speaking

Q&A: pastoral guidance on how to handle perceived divine guidance that turns out to be wrong

repentance sanctification lust

Repentance from lust should be immediate; do not delay until emotional relief arrives

Q&A: pastoral guidance to a viewer who struggled with lust

healing false prophecy pastoral care

When a Christian falsely promises healing and the person dies, address the false prophet privately in love; be present for the sick person without making promises

Question from Alex M about how to speak to someone dying of cancer whose hope was falsely raised by another Christian claiming God said the cancer would not return.

Acts Matthew 28:18-20 Great Commission discipleship baptism

The Great Commission applies to all Christians at some level; discipleship includes both evangelism (initiation) and ongoing teaching

Question from Cass Magnuson about how Matthew 28:18-20 applies to individual Christians and what making a disciple involves.

discipleship personal testimony pastoral ethics

Mike declines to share his full personal testimony out of love for family members whose failures would be exposed publicly

Question from ZZ asking Mike to share his testimony and struggles as a new believer.

salvation ethics pastoral care

Suicide does not automatically mean loss of salvation; Christians can and do commit terrible sins — but suicide harms others profoundly

Question from Miguel about whether a true believer who commits suicide in a moment of weakness can still be saved.