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Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Strange or odd passages in Scripture deserve careful attention

Introducing the Parable of the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-13)

Luke 16:1-13 hermeneutics biblical interpretation Luke 16:1-13
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager: Jesus uses a bad actor to illustrate one positive quality — shrewd urgency about the future

Reading and explaining Luke 16:1-13

Luke 16:1-13 parable interpretation Luke 16:1-13 Parable of the Dishonest Manager
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Luke 16:9 — "make friends by means of unrighteous wealth" may refer parabolically to using all earthly resources for gospel proclamation

Interpreting the command to "make friends by means of unrighteous wealth" so they receive you into eternal dwellings

Luke 16:9 parable interpretation gospel proclamation stewardship
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Western churches may not give adequate attention to caring for the poor

Discussing the almsgiving interpretation of Luke 16:9

Galatians 2:10 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 early church care for the poor church responsibility
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Luke 16:10-13 reframes the parable: the master is money itself — be a faithful steward so God controls you, not money

Reading Luke 16:10-13 as commentary on the parable

Luke 16:10-13 stewardship Luke 16:10-13 money and wealth
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Anxiety about eschatology (pre/mid/post-trib) is unnecessary — Christians are called to live ready for a full lifetime of service

Responding to a question about hoping Jesus does not return until after the questioner has died, due to eschatological anxiety

eschatology rapture abomination of desolation
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Claiming all biblical promises because "God is no respecter of persons" is invalid reasoning

Responding to the claim that Christians can claim all biblical promises because God is no respecter of persons or because they are grafted into Israel

hermeneutics covenant claiming biblical promises
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Being grafted into Israel does not give Christians the right to claim every promise made to Israel, especially negative or law-based promises

The second half of the question about claiming Israel's promises via grafting-in

Romans 11 hermeneutics Abrahamic covenant Romans 11
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Confirmation bias accusations are themselves prone to confirmation bias; fear of confirmation bias is not sufficient reason to disbelieve something

Responding to a young Christian worried that his theism might be confirmation bias given that most atheistic arguments seem like straw men and ad hominem

straw man argument apologetics atheism
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Changing one's mind is not required for intellectual validity; core epistemic beliefs are foundational and need no further justification

Continuing the apologetics discussion about confirmation bias

confirmation bias knowledge epistemology
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Christianity has a mountain of evidential support — fulfilled prophecy, unity of Scripture, historical verification

Closing the apologetics discussion by pointing to positive evidence for Christianity

apologetics biblical inspiration fulfilled prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

A new believer should lovingly but firmly set sexual boundaries with a girlfriend, even at the risk of losing the relationship

Responding to a 3-month-old believer whose girlfriend is hesitant to abstain from sex

obedience sexual purity Christian relationships
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Romans 8:29-30 — the Golden Chain of Redemption: foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified; Calvinist and non-Calvinist interpretations

Brief overview of the golden chain; Mike declines a full treatment and refers to his Romans series

Romans 8:29-30 election Calvinism free will
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

God does not create people destined for hell; the verb tense in Romans 9 distinguishes God's active preparation of the saved from passive endurance of the lost

Responding to the difficulty of reconciling God's glory with creating people He knows will end up in hell

Romans 9 Romans 9:22-23 Romans 9 predestination God's sovereignty
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Molinism helps explain how divine sovereignty and human free will operate together

Expanding the discussion about God creating people He knows will reject Him

middle knowledge free will divine sovereignty
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

God's glory is displayed in just judgment of sin, like a good judge rightly sentencing the guilty

Responding to the question of how God's glory comes from judging unbelievers

justice divine judgment holiness of God
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

People disagreeing about Scripture does not make Scripture contradictory — this argument has no force

Responding to the objection that different schools of thought (eschatology, Calvinism) supported by Scripture prove Scripture is contradictory

hermeneutics apologetics biblical contradictions objection
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Calvinism functionally treats faith as a work, which drives its theological conclusions toward unconditional election and regeneration preceding faith

Explaining Mike's specific critique of Calvinism in the context of why schools of thought differ

Calvinism total depravity faith as a work
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Approaching a teenage atheist: dig for motives (often sin-related) rather than just arguments, in an environment of love

Advising a mother whose 16-year-old son has declared himself an atheist and can barely defend his position

youth ministry apologetics teenage atheism
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Forgiveness: will and emotions are separate; you can choose to forgive before your heart feels it

Responding to whether one can say words of forgiveness when the heart has not yet caught up

1 John 3:20 Christian living forgiveness walking by faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Satan is not omniscient; he did not know God's plan of salvation and that is why he crucified Christ

Responding to whether the hidden mystery of salvation implies Satan's omniscience since Jesus had to rebuke Peter

1 Corinthians 2:8 Mark 1:24 Matthew 16:23 omniscience Satan crucifixion
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Matthew 10:16-24 uses Olivet Discourse language — either Jesus repeated similar words or it shows the connection between the disciples' temporary mission and the church's ongoing mission

Responding to why Matthew 10:16-24 contains Olivet Discourse wording not found in Mark 6 or Luke 9 parallels

Mark 13:9-13 Matthew 10:16-24 hermeneutics Mike Licona Mark 13:9-13
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Mindful meditation: biblical meditation means active thinking; eastern meditation's spiritual claims are concerning; neutral practices are fine

Responding to whether mindful meditation for mental health can be used by a Christian

Psalm memorization prayer meditation mindfulness
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Apologetics resources: use general resources (Got Questions) to start, then targeted in-depth resources (books) for specific issues

Recommending starting points for apologetics study

Richard Bauckham apologetics William Lane Craig
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Hebrews 12:1 — the cloud of witnesses is the inspiring example of their lives, not people watching from heaven; secular inspiring figures are fine but cannot be primary mentors

Responding to whether it is sinful to be inspired by historical people outside the Bible

Hebrews 11 Hebrews 12:1 Hebrews 11 inspiration Hebrews 12:1
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Helping a believer in mental anguish: bear burdens without requiring performance; listen and meet needs without trying to fix them

Responding to how to help and encourage a believer going through a season of mental anguish

Galatians 6:2 Proverbs 14:10 pastoral care Galatians 6:2 mental health
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Mark 8 feeding of 4000: disciples may not have expected another miracle because Jesus did not multiply food at every meal; also, Jewish messianic expectation may not have extended to feeding Gentiles

Responding to why the disciples in Mark 8 seem unaware that Jesus had already fed 5000 in Mark 6

Mark 6 Mark 8 Gentiles Feeding of the 4000 Mark 6
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

The empty tomb was verifiable: women as witnesses (embarrassing to early church = authentic), the women are named (eyewitness identification per Bauckham), Roman guards monitored it

Responding to how anyone could be sure the right tomb was checked if Jesus was beaten unrecognizably

Mark's Gospel Matthew 27:62-66 Richard Bauckham resurrection apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil: gave experiential knowledge of rebellion, not the initial ability to distinguish right from wrong

Responding to how Adam and Eve could be held responsible for disobeying before eating the fruit that gave knowledge of good and evil

Genesis 2-3 Genesis 2-3 sin nature Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Secular music: evaluate by message, not genre; wickedness set to music is still wicked, but neutral or positive messages are fine

Responding to whether it is sinful to listen to secular music and where to draw the line

Romans 14 Romans 14 Christian liberty Christian living
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Universal atonement does not guarantee universal salvation; receiving Christ requires a personal decision.

Response to anonymous question: since Jesus died for all, will all be saved like gravity works on all?

John 1:12 John 1:9-11 salvation free will universalism
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Analogies explain truth but cannot establish or create theological truth.

Critique of the gravity-salvation analogy used to argue for universalism.

hermeneutics logical fallacy argument from analogy
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

The Kalam Cosmological Argument and responses to atheist objections about eternal energy and quantum vacuums.

Colin asks how to respond to atheist objections that energy could be infinite (eternal) and that quantum fluctuations could create a universe.

apologetics atheism William Lane Craig
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

2 Corinthians 5:21 — Jesus became sin through imputation, not by sinning; understood through a Protestant doctrine of justification.

Question from "Stranger in Moscow": how can Jesus become sin if he knew no sin?

2 Corinthians 5:21 atonement imputed righteousness justification
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Jerome's Latin Vulgate mistranslated "mystery" (mysterion) as "sacrament" in Ephesians 5:32, contributing to the Roman Catholic doctrine of marriage as a sacrament.

Mark H asks about doctrinal changes Jerome introduced in the Vulgate around 400 AD.

Ephesians 5:32 Reformation Jerome Latin Vulgate
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Ephesians 5:25-32 — the mystery of marriage as a typological picture of Christ and the church, rooted in the Adam-Eve narrative.

Discussing the "mystery" Paul refers to in Ephesians 5:32 while addressing the Vulgate question.

Ephesians 5:25-32 John 19:34 Christ and the Church typology Adam and Eve
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Ephesians 5:5 — "impure" (akathartos) refers to moral impurity; the passage warns that a lifestyle of immorality, impurity, or covetousness calls salvation into question.

Nero Manser asks what Paul means by "impure" in Ephesians 5:5.

1 Corinthians Ephesians 5:5 BDAG lexicon 1 Corinthians assurance of salvation
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Waiting on the Lord is an active, not passive, posture — characterized by seeking first the kingdom in whatever capacity is available now.

Derek Beeler asks for advice on a season of waiting to discern God's calling.

Matthew 6:33 Chuck Smith Matthew 6:33 pastoral counseling
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Christians can and should serve in government; Romans 13 and Romans 12:17 are not contradictory — private morality and governmental justice operate on different principles.

The Brunette Family asks whether a Christian can be a governing authority given Romans 13:1 alongside Romans 12:17 ("repay no one evil for evil").

Romans 13:4 Romans 13:1 Romans 12:17 Romans 13:4 Romans 13:1 Romans 12:17
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Idolatry ancient and modern: literal idol worship still exists; covetousness is idolatry; some Catholic practices parallel ancient idolatry; smartphone use threatens prayer life.

Al Naps asks about modern-day idolatry and whether excessive Christian YouTube consumption is problematic; also asks if Winger worries about being idolized.

Ephesians 5:5 Colossians 3:5 Roman Catholicism prayer idolatry
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Mark 7:14-19 — Jesus declares all foods clean by distinguishing ceremonial uncleanness from moral defilement; the Levitical purity laws were pedagogical, not moral.

Tabitha Littman asks why Jesus seems appalled that Jews believed touching/eating certain things made them unclean given God instituted those laws in Leviticus.

Acts 15 Leviticus 11 Mark 7:14-19 Acts 15 Pharisees Leviticus 11
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

2 Samuel 12:8 does not endorse polygamy; the phrase "I would have given you more" is a figure of speech for God's provision, not a promise of additional wives; God explicitly forbids polygamy for kings in Deuteronomy 17:17.

Joshua Bambrick asks whether 2 Samuel 12:8 refutes the claim that God does not affirm polygamy.

Deuteronomy 17:17 2 Samuel 12:8 David Nathan marriage
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

When were angels created? Scripture does not say explicitly, but Job 38:7 implies angels were present and rejoicing during the creation of the earth.

Joanne Garabe asks whether angels were created on Day One, citing Nehemiah 9:6.

Genesis 1 Nehemiah 9:6 Job 38:7 Genesis 1 creation angels
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Matthew 18:15 and Galatians 6:1 both emphasize going to restore a brother — the onus for reconciliation rests on the one who was sinned against or who observes the sin.

David Dufty asks why Christian culture focuses on reasons not to confront sin rather than on the biblical imperative to do so.

Matthew 18:15 Galatians 6:1 Matthew 18:15 church discipline reconciliation
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Self-hatred often functions as a mismanagement of guilt — projecting sin onto an "other self" to adopt victim mentality instead of genuine repentance.

Gabriel Martinez says he hates himself sometimes and asks how to love himself biblically.

Genesis 4 2 Samuel 13 (Amnon and Tamar) repentance pastoral counseling guilt
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 2021-03-26

Birth control and vasectomy: contraception that prevents conception is morally permissible for Christians; abortifacient contraception is morally equivalent to killing a human life.

Lucas Eileen asks for a biblical perspective on birth control and vasectomy, mentioning Genesis 38 and Psalm 139.

Psalm 139 Genesis 38 (Onan) hermeneutics abortifacient Psalm 139
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Satan in the Garden: God did not place Satan there; Satan's presence does not negate human free will responsibility for the Fall.

Brian Harper asks why a God who hates evil would place evil incarnate (Satan) in the Garden knowing it would lead to human corruption.

Genesis 3 Genesis 3 Satan free will
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Matthew 19:28 — the promise of 12 thrones for those who followed Jesus does not necessarily include Judas; Matthias' replacement and the symbolic nature of the number 12 both resolve the tension.

Robo King asks whether Judas still has a throne since Jesus promised 12 thrones to the Twelve in Matthew 19:28.

Acts 1 Matthew 19:28 Luke 22:28-30 eschatology Judas Iscariot Acts 1
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Isaiah's monotheistic declarations that God alone is Savior and Rock are not contradicted by Jesus being called Rock and Savior — Jesus is God.

Taylor Paris asks why Isaiah declares God knows of no other rock/savior while Jesus is called a rock.

Isaiah 40-48 John 1:3 Colossians 1:16 Trinity monotheism deity of Christ
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