Search — Theology Explorer

Philip Payne Tom Schreiner Gen 3:9

Schreiner's point 6: God approached Adam first after the sin (Gen 3:9) even though Eve sinned first, implying greater responsibility -- Payne counters with a chiastic structure argument.

Complementarian argument #6: God confronts Adam first

Rom 5:19 Adam's primary responsibility federal headship

Romans 5:19 shows the New Testament consistently assigns Adam primary responsibility for the fall, even though Eve ate first.

NT evidence for Adam's greater accountability

Gen 3:16-19 scope of curses Adam's greater representation

Combining Schreiner's points 2 and 6 with Mike's additional argument: Adam's curse impacts all creation while Eve's only impacts women, implying different scopes of representation.

Mike's additional argument from the different curses

Philip Payne Eve's sin against God Gen 3:1-6

Bad complementarian argument #1: Eve usurped Adam's authority by eating of the tree -- Mike refutes this; Eve's sin was against God, not Adam.

Bad complementarian arguments identified by Payne

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-13

Jason in Acts 17:5-9 does not prove host-as-leader; shows external cultural accountability only

Mike addresses the one passage egalitarians use to support host-as-leader.

Acts 17:5-9 hosting vs. leading Jason Acts 17:5-9

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-13

Deacons do whatever is needed as official church representatives; the 'pastor' label confusion

Mike completes his deacon definition.

pastor vs. elder vs. deacon church terminology deacon authority

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-13

Craig Blomberg on early church deaconesses: common for centuries with pastoral care and baptism roles

Mike cites historical support for women deacons.

Two Views on Women in Ministry Craig Blomberg deaconess history

Mike Winger idea 2022-07-18

The stakes: either husbands shirk responsibility by not leading, or they oppress by trying to lead

Mike frames the binary that emerges from the debate over male headship.

male headship oppression claim husband leadership

Mike Winger idea 2022-07-18

Chrysostom: 'let us rule the women... not by seeking greater honor but by their being more benefited by us'

Mike reads the conclusion of Chrysostom's passage.

John Chrysostom complementarianism servant leadership John Chrysostom

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-15

Ancient household codes typically told men what BOTH spouses should do; Paul doesn't

Mike highlights a genuine innovation in Paul's approach.

Ephesians 5-6 household codes personal responsibility Ephesians 5-6

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-04

Hebrews 13:17 and 2 Timothy 2:2 -- elders watch over souls and guard doctrine

Mike cites additional passages showing elders' responsibility to guard what the congregation receives.

1 Timothy 3:2 Hebrews 13:17 2 Timothy 2:2 elder qualifications 1 Timothy 3:2 Hebrews 13:17

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-04

Paul's farewell to Ephesian elders (Acts 20:28-31) -- fierce wolves and elders' responsibility

Mike cites Paul's passionate charge to elders to guard the flock.

Acts 20:28-31 doctrinal guardianship Acts 20:28-31 fierce wolves

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

Adam bears primary responsibility for sin — 1 Corinthians 15:22 and Romans 5:14-19

Mike argues Adam's greater representational role and accountability shows his greater authority.

Genesis 2 1 Corinthians 15:22 Romans 5:14-19 ezer Genesis 2 1 Corinthians 15:22

Revelation 22:17 evangelism Todd White Holy Spirit

Todd White's refusal to call people to repentance — arguing that is the Holy Spirit's job — is critiqued using Revelation 22:17: 'the Spirit and the bride say come,' showing the bride (the church) also calls people to Christ.

Critique of Todd White's evangelism methodology regarding repentance.

healing fraud psychosomatic response adrenaline

Adrenaline rush physiologically explains small incremental improvements in vision, pain, and strength — making it irresponsible to publish a healing video based on these responses.

Physiological explanation for the apparent improvements seen in the eye-healing video.

John 14:6 healing ministry ethics integrity

The proper Christian attitude toward error: we should celebrate real healing and equally confront fake healing — because Jesus is the truth and doing things in his name that are inaccurate is wrong.

Theological grounding for Mike's critical engagement with healing ministries.

healing ministry responsibility integrity

If healers never verify their healings with follow-up and all their subjects are strangers they never see again, they have no way of knowing whether the healings were real.

Practical critique of the healing ministry model.

self-examination responsibility practical discipleship

Tip 2: Evaluate your responsibilities — write them down as a concrete exercise

Second of seven tips. Mike turns the video interactive by asking viewers to write down their main life responsibilities.

spiritual maturity responsibility vs. desire Jesus as example

Godly maturity is marked by prioritizing responsibilities over desires

Expanding on Tip 2. Mike makes a theological claim about spiritual maturity.

self-examination responsibility discouragement

A forgotten responsibility is likely the most important one to focus on in the coming year

Continuation of Tip 2 exercise. Mike asks whether viewers left anything off their list.

self-examination responsibility godliness

Tip 4: Three specific areas to evaluate — godliness, relationships, and responsibilities

Fourth of seven tips. Mike defines the domains of life to assess in annual review.

calling personal responsibility accountability

Relationships area: evaluate whether you are fulfilling your calling — not whether others are fulfilling theirs

Elaboration on the 'relationships' area within Tip 4.

responsibility pursuing Christ spiritual growth

Responsibilities area: the question is whether you are 'just getting by' or actively pursuing Christ in each area

Elaboration on the 'responsibilities' area within Tip 4.

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-25

Q&A: Mike's current position on rapture timing — hasn't yet settled it to his own standard

Viewer question about pre-tribulation rapture.

rapture timing pre-tribulation rapture inherited theology

Mike Winger idea 2018-11-14

Q&A: Anger at oneself often masks avoidance of personal accountability — treating oneself as a victim of one's own actions.

Q&A on self-directed anger.

repentance accountability Q&A

Mike Winger idea 2019-01-30

119 Ministries invites critique of their teaching and claims their commentary is subordinate to Scripture — Mike calls this partially manipulative

Mike plays clips from 119 Ministries where they invite correction and claim their own commentary is worthless.

Sola Scriptura 119 Ministries Rhetorical manipulation

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 2019-04-24

Q&A: Handling unreliable sources and fact-checking in a Wikipedia age — do your diligence, own mistakes, and nuance statements to match the strength of evidence

Final audience question about fact-checking and epistemic responsibility

Romans 7 biblical interpretation apologetics methodology fact-checking

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-08

It is not the Christian's job to change minds; our responsibility is to present truth and build a case, while God holds unbelievers accountable for their own response

Sidebar comment after discussing apologetic prophecies

evangelism apologetics human responsibility

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-03

Q&A: If God gave us a wicked heart, can we blame him? — Shaking fist at God is foolish

Audience question on whether God bears responsibility for human sinfulness

salvation sin free will

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Q&A: Are those who never hear the gospel lost? Is it your fault if you fail to share?

Winger addresses two connected questions about evangelistic responsibility.

Ezekiel 33 evangelism accountability hell

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Christians and labor exploitation: genuine question requiring more information before forming a clear position

Response to Spazzy Jazzy asking whether Christians should boycott products made with exploited labor (chocolate, phones, etc.).

Christian ethics labor exploitation consumerism

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Avoiding heresy-tracking burnout — know your realm of responsibility in the body of Christ

Question from Judah Matthews about discernment without anxiety over every false teaching.

false teaching heresy discernment

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Christians have a biblical duty to protect others — pacifism taken to its logical extreme is evil

Question from Spazzy Jazzy about the extent to which Christians should protect and retaliate against abuse

violence Old Testament ethics self-defense

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Sinning in dreams: only requires repentance if you yielded your will to it in the dream; involuntary dream content is not sin

Question from Christian Liang about whether to repent for sins committed in dreams

repentance sin dreams

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Living with non-Christian parents who swear, drink, and watch vulgar content

Q from Soul about navigating holiness when living with ungodly parents.

Evangelism Holiness Family Relationships

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Voting as a Christian moral obligation in a democracy

Q from Woolpack about whether it is a sin for a Christian not to vote.

Government Voting Civic Responsibility

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Temptation originates primarily from one's own sinful desires, not Satan — James 1:13-15

Question about whether all temptation comes from Satan/demons or from one's sinful self.

James 1:13-15 personal responsibility Satan sin

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Worship leaders bear collective responsibility to their congregations: presenting music in corporate worship is like preparing a meal for everyone — songs known to cause stumbling should be avoided.

Application of the meat-in-marketplace analogy to congregational worship leading.

1 Corinthians 8-10 — Meat Offered to Idols 1 Corinthians 8-10 — Meat Offered to Idols Christian Liberty / Conscience Worship Music and Discernment

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Moral limits apply in every job; a Christian working in intelligence may face a moment requiring resignation

Concluding thought on Christians in intelligence work

vocation Christian ethics moral accountability

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

The Potter/clay metaphor does not eliminate human responsibility — diligence and trust in God operate simultaneously, not in opposition

Question from David Mason about whether God being the Potter means humans are not responsible for their own lives.

Romans 9 Isaiah 64:8 Luke 16:8 Romans 9 Divine sovereignty and human responsibility Potter and clay (Isaiah 64:8 / Romans 9)

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike advises Christians to witness to Jehovah's Witnesses as they would to anyone, noting the advantage that JWs already want to talk about God, and encourages boldness in gospel witness with all people.

Response to viewer question about engaging Jehovah's Witnesses

evangelism Jehovah's Witnesses gospel witness

James 1 Genesis 4 James 1 Calvinism free will

Q2: Do we have free will? Mike asserts strong yes — biblically, intuitively, and philosophically supported

Viewer Lace Buck Corny asks about free will, sovereignty, and whether punishment is just if we lack free will.

atheism free will moral responsibility

Free will is biblically assumed throughout Scripture — humans are treated as responsible agents making real choices

Continuing the free will answer, Mike argues that the assumption of free choice and moral responsibility permeates the entire biblical narrative.

free will moral responsibility divine judgment

Without free will, punishment is morally problematic but stopping evil agents still makes sense

Mike addresses the hypothetical: if no free will, is punishment just?

Matthew 11:22-24 apologetics divine judgment Sodom and Gomorrah

Q15: Matthew 11:22-24 — If Sodom would have repented at Jesus's miracles, why didn't Jesus go to Sodom? Christians need not have an answer to every question

Viewer Lawrence H asks why Jesus did not perform miracles in Sodom to prevent its destruction, given Jesus's statement in Matthew 11.