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Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Old Testament sacrifices seasoned with salt — salt as covenant symbol and godly character

Question from Molly Thompson about the spiritual/messianic meaning of salting OT sacrifices.

Mark 9:49-50 Old Testament typology discipleship
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Faith as small as a mustard seed — the call is to use existing faith, not to manufacture more

Question from Lavell Martinez about the tension between being told to have great faith and Jesus saying mustard-seed faith moves mountains.

Luke 17:5-6 faith discipleship mustard seed
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

What does the Bible teach on masturbation? — No direct address; biblical principles of lust, self-gratification, and marital fidelity apply

Question from Arvin Marlow.

marriage singleness biblical ethics
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Denominations — legitimate variety within Christianity vs. counterfeit groups

Question from Leonardo Borges about whether denominations are divisive and whether multiple Christian factions can be legitimate.

denominations ecclesiology heresy
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Apparitions of Mary at Fatima — three interpretive options; not sufficient to validate Catholic Marian dogmas

Question from Cody Skinner about Catholic apparitions at Fatima and messages to the shepherd children.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 apologetics miracles Catholicism
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

How to start reading the Bible — begin with the Gospels, Acts, Romans, Hebrews; not Genesis-to-Revelation in order

Question from Dallin Byrd about the best starting point for Bible reading.

Romans Acts Hebrews Romans Acts Hebrews
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Gethsemane — Jesus was not separated from the Father; "forsaken" means handed over to a terrible fate, not ontological separation of the Trinity

Question from Blake about whether Jesus was forsaken/separated from the Father in Gethsemane.

Psalm 22 Luke 22:44 Trinity Christology Psalm 22
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Matthew 6:14-15 — is forgiving others necessary for salvation, or evidence of it?

Question from David Ellington about whether failing to forgive others means losing salvation.

1 John Matthew 6:14-15 1 John salvation Lord's Prayer
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 2020-09-18

Addressing a church drifting from Scripture — approach thoughtfully, privately first, then through proper channels

Question from Nala about a church where the Bible is not preached and the lead pastor bulldozes people.

Matthew 18 church leadership Matthew 18 ecclesiology
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Should two Christians who fornicated marry? — Consider it, but do not treat marriage as a required patch on the sin

Question from Spazzy Jazzy about rectifying fornication through marriage.

Exodus 22:16-17 Deuteronomy 22 marriage repentance fornication
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

How to overcome long-held bitterness — pray for the person consistently; blessing them changes your own heart

Final question from Lillian McDonald about stopping bitterness held for years.

Matthew 5:44 Luke 6:28 prayer sanctification forgiveness
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Declaring tongues required for salvation is spiritually abusive and demands repentance

Mike's moral and pastoral assessment before turning to the biblical argument

pastoral care tongues and salvation spiritual abuse
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

The case for tongues-required-for-salvation rests on a few Acts passages used without context

Beginning the biblical refutation of the tongues-salvation link

Acts hermeneutics Acts tongues and salvation
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 absence of a universal prescriptive statement is the key problem with the tongues-salvation argument

Mike's core logical point about what Scripture would need to say to support the tongues-salvation requirement

hermeneutics tongues and salvation descriptive vs prescriptive
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Acts 2 purpose: inauguration of the new covenant Spirit; Acts 10 purpose: extending that work to Gentiles

Mike's theological interpretation of the Acts tongues episodes

Acts 10 Acts 2 Acts 10 Acts 2 new covenant
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 Corinthians 14:5 — Paul wishes all spoke in tongues, implying not everyone does

First Corinthians passage introduced as evidence against the tongues-salvation requirement

1 Corinthians 14:5 hermeneutics gifts of the Spirit tongues and salvation
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 Corinthians 12:30 — rhetorical questions imply not all speak in tongues

Second and final Corinthians passage used to refute tongues-salvation requirement

1 Corinthians 12:30 1 Corinthians 12:27-29 gifts of the Spirit tongues and salvation 1 Corinthians 12:30
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Critique of Bethel/Bill Johnson teaching that everyone works miracles and is a prophet

Application of the 1 Corinthians 12 argument against charismatic excess

1 Corinthians 12 Bethel Church Brian Simmons Bill Johnson
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Summary: the three Acts tongues episodes demonstrate the Spirit's work in different stages, not universal salvation proof

Summation of the main argument against tongues-required-for-salvation

Acts 10 Acts 2 Acts 19 Acts 10 Acts 2 Acts 19
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Assurance of salvation comes from 1 John and James, not from speaking in tongues

Positive alternative answer to what Scripture says proves salvation

James 1 John James 1 John sanctification
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Jesus never spoke in tongues — reductio ad absurdum against the tongues-salvation requirement

Final closing argument in the tongues-salvation section

reductio ad absurdum Jesus tongues and salvation
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Traditions can masquerade as pure biblical faith; willingness to change one's mind is essential

Closing reflection on how unbiblical traditions take hold in communities

hermeneutics tradition vs Scripture intellectual humility
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

Jesus affirmed the Hebrew canon (Law, Prophets, Writings) — which excludes 1 Enoch and the Apocrypha

Supporting argument for 1 Enoch's non-canonical status

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

Global flood traditions across disconnected cultures support the historicity of a major flood event

Q&A question from Lindsay Pinkert about helping a friend who doubts biblical historical accuracy (flood and Exodus)

Genesis flood apologetics Inspiring Philosophy Genesis flood
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

Dr. Titus Kennedy's archaeological research supports the historicity of the Exodus

Recommended resource for the Exodus historicity discussion

Exodus historicity apologetics archaeology Exodus historicity
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Discovering gifts requires doing everything first and then observing where you excel

Practical application of gift discernment

spiritual gifts vocation body of Christ
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 Thessalonians 5:23 — Paul mentions spirit, soul, and body as distinct aspects of the human person

Q&A from Noah Bramble about the trichotomy of human nature

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

Proverbs 18:21 — death and life in the power of the tongue; verses 20-21 are a unit

Q&A from Noah Lavell Martinez about the word-faith misuse of Proverbs 18:21

Proverbs 18:21 Proverbs 18:20 hermeneutics Proverbs 18:21 Proverbs 18:20
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

Track record in discerning Spirit leading is a practical check

Additional criteria for discerning Holy Spirit leading

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

Romans 8 on the Spirit crying Abba Father: relationship with the Spirit unrelated to miraculous gifts

Resource recommendation for the relational aspect of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8 Abba Father Romans 8 Holy Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Attending a same-sex wedding generally expresses affirmation, not merely love — Christians should decline

Q&A from Joel Holmberg about attending a same-sex wedding

Christian ethics same-sex marriage sexual ethics
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 4:17-18 — perfect love casts out fear; God's love applied to judgment produces confidence

Continuing the 1 John 4 reading and application

1 John 4:17-18 atonement assurance of salvation fear of judgment
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

Anxiety about the afterlife hinders prayer and joy; confidence before God enables effective prayer

Pastoral application of the 1 John 3 text

1 John 3:21-22 prayer assurance of salvation fear of judgment
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Christians playing RPG video games: Romans 14 gives space for different convictions

Q&A from Gwen Gazette about RPGs and fantasy magic in video games

Romans 14 Romans 14 Christian liberty Christian ethics
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Video game content issues: overconsumption/obsession is a separate concern from content itself

Principles for evaluating video game engagement

Christian liberty Christian ethics self-control
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Fantasy magic vs. actual witchcraft: the distinction matters for whether a video game element is spiritually dangerous

Applying principles to the specific RPG magic question

Christian ethics video games witchcraft
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Two problematic extremes: hyper-strict rules and almost no rules about entertainment — both are spiritually dangerous

Summation of the video game and entertainment ethics discussion

discernment Christian liberty Christian ethics
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Luke 22:36 — "sell your cloak and buy a sword": Jesus wanted the disciples armed for personal protection in Gethsemane

Q&A from Micah about the meaning of Jesus's command to buy a sword

Luke 22:36 Christian ethics Gethsemane Luke 22:36
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Scripture assumes fasting is part of normal Christian life without mandating specific schedules; fasting for a single meal is valid

Scope and flexibility of fasting

spiritual disciplines fasting
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Christians are not required to tithe (give 10%), but are absolutely required to give generously

Opening question from Facebook: are Christians supposed to tithe?

tithing New Testament ethics Christian giving
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Malachi 3:8 is the most-cited pro-tithe verse but is addressed to the nation of Israel under the Mosaic law, not to Christians

Examining the primary Old Testament tithing passage used to support Christian tithing

Malachi 3:8 Malachi 3:10 hermeneutics tithing Malachi 3:8
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