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Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

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.

healing false prophecy pastoral care
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

When at a liberal university with false Bible teaching, prepare to refute — don't fight every battle prematurely

Question from Nathaniel at a liberal Christian university where Scripture and the gospel are consistently undermined.

discernment wisdom Christian education
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

The elect are not a closed group from which some are necessarily excluded; election involves foreknowledge and preserves both God's and humanity's free choice

Question from Threads of Hope about whether the doctrine of election means some people simply cannot be saved.

election soteriology free will
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Catholic claim that marriage outside the Church is invalid is wrong — it is not sacramental but is still a real marriage; the Catholic doctrine of 7 sacraments is historically late

Question from Lindsey whose husband's Catholic family claims they are not really married because they were not married by the Catholic Church.

Roman Catholicism church history marriage
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

1 Timothy 2:12-15 restricts women from the pastoral/authority role in the church, but does not prohibit co-ed Bible study or women's ministry generally

Question from Seanya about whether 1 Timothy 2:12-15 makes co-ed Bible studies unbiblical and how it affects women's ministry.

1 Timothy 2:12-15 women in ministry hermeneutics complementarianism
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Christians are not under the Mosaic Law including the Sabbath; they are under the law of Christ and walk by the Spirit

Question from Cetl P about why Christians do not keep the Sabbath even though it is in the moral law and written by God's finger on stone.

Galatians hermeneutics Galatians Sabbath
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Matthew 21 has two animals at the Triumphal Entry while Mark and Luke have one; the young donkey points to Jesus's sacrificial nature

Q from Flora about why Matthew 21:1-8 mentions both a donkey and a colt while other Gospels only mention one animal.

Mark Luke Matthew 21:1-8 Gospel harmonization Mark Luke
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Rapture at the Feast of Trumpets: possible hint from typological fulfillment of feasts, but undermined by "no one knows the day or hour"

Q from Andrej about whether there is reason to think the Rapture will occur during the Feast of Trumpets.

Matthew 24:36 typology no one knows the day or hour eschatology
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Michael Heiser: highly commended as a scholar-communicator; divine council theory (Deut 32, Ps 82) personally rejected but engagement required

Q from David Hinnebog asking for comment on Michael Heiser and his divine council theory.

1 Samuel 28 Deuteronomy 32 Psalm 82 Michael Heiser monotheism 1 Samuel 28
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Evidence for the Exodus exists and is growing; Inspiring Philosophy preparing a detailed video on the topic

Continued response on OT historical reliability, specifically the Exodus.

Exodus biblical inerrancy Exodus archaeology
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

College professors often repeat thin secondhand claims about the Bible; a little research can expose the shallowness

Aside to Folky about the professor making claims about the Bible being borrowed from surrounding cultures.

apologetics Martin Luther Reformation
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

God's "regret" in Genesis 6 and 1 Samuel 15 is addressed in Mike's dedicated video; open theism is a problematic response to this

Q from Floatydoc about how God, who knows all things, can make decisions he later regrets (Gen 6; 1 Sam 15).

Genesis 6 1 Samuel 15 Genesis 6 1 Samuel 15 divine repentance
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Christians must align with Christ first, not a political party

Broader point about Christian political engagement during social unrest.

Christian witness political allegiance Christ above politics
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Women and pornography: the church's silence stems from greater shame; solutions come from women who have found victory speaking out

Response to viewer asking for Christian resources for women struggling with pornography and why the church focuses more on men.

church culture sexual sin shame
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

The Enneagram lacks true ancient origins and was developed by a modern mystic with dangerous theology

Response to Katrina asking about the Enneagram and its origins (desert fathers vs. Catholic origins).

discernment Enneagram mysticism
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Romans 10:9 — confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the heart involves personal yielding and trust, not merely intellectual assent

Response to Ryan Hasty asking how to know if one believes in the heart versus merely thinking the evidence points toward Christianity being true.

Romans 10:9 confession Romans 10:9 lordship
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

1 Corinthians 13:10 does not teach cessationism — the perfect refers to seeing Christ face to face at the second coming, not the completion of Scripture

Response to Brandy Medved asking about 1 Corinthians 13:10 and whether the perfect means the Bible, therefore ending spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 13:10 spiritual gifts second coming cessationism
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

The Book of Enoch is historically interesting but not canonical and was never part of the Jewish or Christian canon

Response to Spider-G asking about the Book of Enoch.

Jude Jude Book of Enoch canon
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 2020-09-11

Christians may read and study the Quran for education and evangelistic purposes; avoid it only if it causes personal spiritual instability

Response to Sarah Nordberg (Denmark) who feels convicted reading the Quran for a required university religion class.

evangelism Islam Christian liberty
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was not about wisdom or knowledge in general but about moral autonomy through sinful rebellion

Response to Adriano asking why the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was bad if wisdom is generally a good thing in the Bible.

Genesis 2-3 wisdom Genesis 2-3 Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Timing argument: blessings purchased at the cross are not all present realities — healing is partially now, fully later

Disagreement with hyper-charismatic "claim healing now" theology, despite agreeing healing is in the atonement.

healing eschatology Holy Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Catholicism as doctrinal development — novel doctrines added over centuries, not apostolic teaching

Continuation of Fatima discussion; Mike's broader critique of Catholicism.

church fathers apologetics Catholicism
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

The witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16) — an internal truth-awareness of being God's child, not an emotion

Question from John Butterfield about what the witness of the Spirit is and how to obtain it.

Romans 8:16 Romans 8:15 Holy Spirit Romans 8:16 assurance of salvation
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Calvinism, Arminianism, Molinism — Mike identifies as a Molinist

Lightning-round question from Kyle about Mike's soteriological position.

election Calvinism soteriology
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 2020-09-25

Acts 2 — the inauguration of the Holy Spirit: all present spoke in tongues

First of three Acts passages cited by tongues-required proponents

Acts 2 Acts 2 new covenant gifts of the Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

The Book of 1 Enoch: not Scripture, though it may contain an accurate early portion quoted in Jude

Q&A question from S. M. Hart about the canonical status of 1 Enoch

Jude Jude 1 Enoch canon of Scripture
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

The global vs. humanity-wide flood debate is an active exegetical question, not just a science vs. Bible debate

Nuance added to the flood discussion

Genesis flood hermeneutics Genesis flood biblical cosmology
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Calvary Chapel's informal warehouse-church aesthetic is itself a tradition, not an inherently superior form

Mike's reflection on his Calvary Chapel upbringing and liturgy

Calvary Chapel tradition vs Scripture church tradition
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

In Scripture spirit and soul are sometimes used interchangeably but retain some distinction

Attempting to differentiate spirit and soul

1 Thessalonians 5:23 anthropology 1 Thessalonians 5:23 trichotomy
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Knowing the Holy Spirit: the Spirit's leading will always be consistent with Scripture

Q&A from Tia Jane about having a relationship with the Holy Spirit beyond gifts

discernment Holy Spirit leading of the Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 John 4 on love and assurance: knowing and believing God's love is the foundation for freedom from fear about the afterlife

Q&A from Taste Remains about anxiety regarding the afterlife and assurance of salvation

1 John 4:7-16 propitiation assurance of salvation 1 John 4:7-16
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 John 3:19-20 — God is greater than our condemning heart and knows everything

Additional passage addressing the fear and self-condemnation of the questioner

1 John 3:19-20 assurance of salvation fear of judgment 1 John 3:19-20
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Presuppositional apologetics requires assuming Christianity true rather than proving it — Mike disagrees

Specific critique of presuppositionalism

apologetics presuppositional apologetics epistemology
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Mike's personal experience of what he believes was genuine speaking in tongues during times of hardship

Anecdotal response to a question about scientific evidence for tongues

personal testimony speaking in tongues gifts of the Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

The Crusades: more defensible than popular narrative but also included real atrocities including use of child soldiers

Specific application of the church-history response to the Crusades

church history apologetics Christianity and violence
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Jesus mentions tithing twice but always speaking to Jews under the law; this cannot be extended to Gentile Christians

Surveying New Testament evidence for tithing

tithing New Testament ethics Mosaic Law applicability
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Hebrews 10:26-27 "sinning willfully" refers specifically to rejecting the gospel after knowing its truth, not to any deliberate sin

Question from Caleb McCurdy about Hebrews 10:26-27 and whether it implies differentiated judgment for those who never heard the gospel

Hebrews 10:26-27 judgment apostasy Hebrews 10:26-27
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Degrees of judgment in hell: God factors in knowledge when judging — sinning in ignorance vs. sinning with full knowledge results in different severity of judgment

Expanding the Hebrews 10 discussion to address differentiated eschatological judgment

Luke 12:47-48 judgment unevangelized hell
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Hebrews 6:4-6 is the most challenging apostasy passage in the Bible; Mike is not yet ready to give a definitive answer on it

Question from Folky about the warning in Hebrews 6:4-6 regarding those who seem to have experienced salvation but then fall away

Hebrews 6:4-6 eternal security apostasy Hebrews 6:4-6
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Q (Quelle) is a hypothetical source document proposed in synoptic gospel studies; its existence is unproven and theologically non-threatening

Question from New Creation Coaching about the scholarly concept of "Q" and its reception among concerned Facebook users

textual criticism inspiration of Scripture synoptic problem
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

John 3:5 "born of water and the Spirit": Mike defers to Michael Heiser's podcast work placing this in its Jewish context

Question from Jesse Crocus about whether "born of water" in John 3:5 refers to water baptism, physical birth, or something else

John 3:5 Michael Heiser Nicodemus John 3:5
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Gossip is unnecessary information that tears people down without justification — not merely sharing personal information without permission

Final question from Woolpack about the definition of gossip

Proverbs 1 Peter 4:8 Kenneth Copeland Proverbs accountability
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

"No man knows the day or the hour" — taking Jesus literally against rapture date-setting

Applying Matthew 24:36 to rapture date-setting

Matthew 24:36 false prophecy second coming Matthew 24:36
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

How Gospel writers knew what Jesus said when alone — Garden of Gethsemane example

Question from Meg Ward about eyewitness accounts for scenes where Jesus was alone

James John Matthew Peter James John
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Christmas and birthdays — Mike changed his mind about pagan origins of Christmas

Question from Rosie A., a recovering Jehovah's Witness, about celebrating birthdays and Christmas

Christian liberty Jehovah's Witnesses Christmas
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Complementarianism vs. chauvinism — Paul's teaching on women roles is not male chauvinism

Question from Proverbs 17:11 about family calling him demon-possessed and a chauvinist for holding Paul's teaching

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Freedom from the law through Christ — justified by faith, law's penalty absorbed by Jesus

Completing the Galatians 3 explanation

Galatians 3 justification by faith atonement imputed righteousness
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Baptism: no required level of knowledge — New Testament pattern is immediate baptism upon faith

Question from Dimitar Bratov about the level of understanding required before baptism

catechesis baptism discipleship