Search — Theology Explorer

spiritual discernment New Age syncretism

Christian adoption of New Age practices is "a forgery of a forgery"

Conclusion of New Age syncretism argument

Christian liberty Thanksgiving gratitude

Thanksgiving as a biblical holiday in practice though not in name

Applying the holiday criteria to Thanksgiving

prayer Jesus as mediator prayer in Jesus's name

"In Jesus's name" is not a required formula but a meaningful expression of mediation

Practical application of praying in Jesus's name

Revelation 2 Revelation 2 church of Ephesus first love

Renewing love for God — Revelation 2 letter to Ephesus: remember, return, repeat

Question from Trippy Penguin about renewing love for God when faith feels commonplace

Revelation 2 spiritual disciplines Revelation 2 first love

Spiritual dryness — returning to first works as the remedy

Continued application from Revelation 2

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Unconditional Election — Mike partly affirms, partly rejects

Second point of TULIP addressed.

Calvinism Molinism TULIP

Matthew 25:1-13 Holy Spirit salvation parable interpretation

Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) — a warning about authentic faith, not about percentages of saved vs. unsaved

Question from Gloria Urban about whether Matthew 25:1-13 teaches that half the church will not be saved.

Isaiah 6 Romans 9 Genesis 25 election Moses Abraham

God's choices of Jacob, Abraham, Moses, prophets — not favoritism but purposive grace for non-salvific roles

Question from Ryder Ness, a "struggling Calvinist," about divine favoritism in biblical election.

1 Corinthians 3 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 salvation judgment 1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3 — believers are judged at the Bema for their works (gold/silver/precious stones vs. wood/hay/straw), not for salvation

Question from Emily Bain about how forgiveness of sins relates to judgment day.

evangelism gospel proclamation social action

Evangelism through good works must be coupled with verbal proclamation of the gospel

Question from Samuel Nelson about extravagant mission trips vs. evangelizing by acting good in the world.

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Lordship salvation: repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin, not moral prerequisites for merit

Responding to Sally Richardson's question about what lordship salvation is

John MacArthur John MacArthur repentance salvation

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Matthew 5:20 — Righteousness exceeding the scribes and Pharisees

A viewer asks what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:20 about righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Matthew 5:20 imputed righteousness righteousness Sermon on the Mount

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

1 Corinthians 14:22 — tongues are a sign for unbelievers only when interpreted; the apparent contradiction explained

Question about the apparent flip in 1 Corinthians 14:22-23 where tongues are a sign for unbelievers yet unbelievers will think speakers are mad.

1 Corinthians 14:22-23 spiritual gifts tongues 1 Corinthians 14:22-23

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

If aliens are sinful and redeemable by their own works, that contradicts the nature of the cross; God's holiness is the same across the universe.

Theological decision tree: sinful aliens who can self-redeem

atonement works righteousness holiness of God

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

The Documentary Hypothesis (JEDP theory) has largely died out in scholarship; the old version attacked in apologetics works like Evidence That Demands a Verdict is mostly obsolete.

Question about the Documentary Hypothesis

Genesis Genesis Elohim Evidence That Demands a Verdict

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Romans 8:28 is the biblical basis for saying "good things are coming" in hard times; the phrase is fine if stripped of materialistic or time-specific implications.

Is "good things are coming when you face struggles" biblical or prosperity gospel?

Romans 8:28 suffering providence prosperity gospel

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Critical distinction: what God directly causes versus what he sovereignly allows and guides — God is not morally culpable for the actions of the enemies he permits; he works all things together for good.

Theological synthesis drawn from the Saul discussion.

Romans 8:28 Romans 8:28 Divine Sovereignty and Evil God Uses Enemy Nations / Agents

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Practical guidance on reading church fathers: read whole works from start to finish rather than isolated quotes — this prevents the proof-texting problem the same way it prevents biblical proof-texting.

How to read the church fathers responsibly.

Proof-texting Hermeneutics Church Fathers

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Typological reading of Cain/Abel: works vs. faith — valid typology but not the cause of rejection

Analysis of Cain's offering rejection

Genesis 4 Hebrews 11:4 typology works-righteousness Genesis 4

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Rahab's deception of those seeking the spies is commended in Hebrews 11, suggesting not all deception is sinful

Biblical case study on deception and the ethics of intelligence work

Hebrews 11:31 Joshua 2 faith Rahab Christian ethics

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Enoch is actually multiple composite works; early Jewish tradition rejected its canonical status

Continued discussion of the Book of Enoch in relation to Jude

Jude canon Jude Book of Enoch

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Revelation 3:15-17 -- Jesus's rebuke of Laodicea used as evangelism tool to show Jesus is not like his unfaithful followers

Mike reads Revelation 3:15-17 as a concrete example of Jesus rebuking church representatives who misrepresent him.

lukewarm Revelation 3:15-17 evangelism lukewarm Laodicea

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike examines 2 John 1:11 in context, explaining it refers to hosting traveling teachers and not to general social contact with heretics, then defends William Lane Craig's nuanced view on Catholics — acknowledging a false Catholic gospel while allowing that some Catholics may be genuinely saved.

Response to viewer question about whether to separate from William Lane Craig over his statements about Catholics

2 John 1:11 salvation false gospel works-based salvation

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

God's jealousy and anger are not sinful because jealousy and anger are not inherently sinful — only their corrupt expressions in fallen humans are.

Question from A.D. Chan about how God can be jealous or angry if these are listed as sins of the flesh in Galatians 5.

James 1 Galatians 5 Ephesians 4:26 James 1 Galatians 5 God's wrath

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q10: Galatians 4:27 — who is 'the desolate one'? Mike leans toward not forcing the Hagar/Sarah identification; Paul draws on Isaiah 54:1

Viewer Zoe Abundant asks whether the 'desolate one' in Galatians 4:27 refers to Sarah or Hagar.

Galatians 4:21-27 Isaiah 54:1 typology Paul the Apostle New Jerusalem

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q14: Is the authority Jesus gave the 12 and 70 disciples different from spiritual gifts? Mike distinguishes pre-Pentecost authority from post-Pentecost Spirit-enabled gifts

Viewer Silas Bourner asks whether the authority Jesus granted the Twelve and Seventy to heal and cast out demons is different from spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12 Luke 10 Pentecost spiritual gifts charismatic movement

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

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.

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

justification Catholic soteriology Protestant-Catholic debate

Catholic apologetics tactic: confusing initial justification with final justification

A key source of confusion in Protestant-Catholic dialogue is the conflation of two distinct Catholic doctrines.

church unity Calvary Chapel secondary issues

Question: Thoughts on the ecumenical movement — should I leave a church that is part of it?

Viewer in Finland asks about ecumenism, since most Finnish churches are officially part of the ecumenical movement.

Galatians 1 repentance false gospel church discipline

Lines Mike will not cross for ecumenism: false gospel and sexual ethics compromise

Where qualified ecumenism ends — the gospel and moral compromise that hinders repentance.

John 8:30-38 John 8:58 Abraham John 8:30-38 John 8:58

John 8:30-58 — Jesus rebuking those described as believing in him; claim to deity (I AM)

Viewer from the Czech Republic asks why Jesus spoke so confrontationally to those described as believing in him in John 8.