Search — Theology Explorer

Jesus mythicism Zeitgeist (film) Religulous (film)

The Zeitgeist film and Bill Maher's Religulous cited as catalysts for the modern Jesus myth movement

Identifying pop-culture sources of Jesus mythicism

Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus early Christianity

The rapid genesis and spread of the Christian movement is hard to explain if Jesus were fictional and not within living memory

Sociological argument for historical Jesus

early Christianity dying and rising gods pagan mythology

First-century Christians were pious, Torah-observant Jews who debated minutiae of Jewish law — making wholesale borrowing from pagan myths implausible

Cultural argument against the pagan parallels theory

argument from silence oral tradition historicity of Jesus

Lack of contemporary accounts of Jesus is explained by low literacy rates (~10%), oral transmission culture, and early Christian expectation of imminent return

Responding to the objection that no writings about Jesus exist from his lifetime

epistemology Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus

Red flags for mythicists: fringe scholarly support + primarily internet bloggers = gullibility warning; comparable to moon landing denialism and Holocaust denial

Warning signs that a position may be a conspiracy theory

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Teresa Dedmon / Bethel: selling art as a vehicle for "spiritual impartation" and prophetic clothing that enhances God's presence is false teaching and commercial exploitation.

Second specific example from Bethel: the creative arts director's website claims her paintings and clothing impart heaven's presence.

Bethel Church false prophecy discernment

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Warning against seeking comfort in progressive or unorthodox theology as a false catharsis; such teachers typically demonize biblical Christianity to wedge in their reinterpretations.

Q&A response about walking with a friend questioning traditional beliefs, specifically mentioning Greg Boyd.

biblical authority apologetics discernment

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-17

Tuesday livestream purpose: Meeting online-specific needs rather than local church needs

Winger explains the distinct function of the Tuesday livestream format within his overall ministry strategy.

verse-by-verse teaching Tuesday livestream Bethel Redding

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-17

Q&A: Egalitarianism vs. complementarianism — Winger's position

Question from a listener whose Biola-educated cousin introduced egalitarianism, which conflicts with what the listener has been taught.

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Consequence 6 of denying wrath: trivializes sin and produces narcissism

Mike draws on his counseling experience to illustrate the practical danger of removing wrath.

sin God's wrath theological error

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Q&A: Seventh-day Adventism — Winger defers, recommends GotQuestions.org

A viewer asks for Winger's take on Seventh-day Adventism. He declines to answer without fresh study, acknowledging he taught on it years ago but would need to revisit.

GotQuestions.org Seventh-day Adventism cult studies

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Q&A: Is it wrong to wear a cross necklace? No, unless it becomes an idol or icon for protection

A viewer asks whether wearing a cross necklace is sinful. Winger says no in principle, but warns against specific misuses.

atonement Islam idolatry

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Upcoming content: critique of The Physics of Heaven (Bethel/Bill Johnson-connected book)

Winger previews his next Tuesday topic: a critique of The Physics of Heaven, a book promoted by Bethel Church, Bill Johnson, and Jesus Culture. He has read it without advance reviews and found the content disturbing.

Bill Johnson Bethel Church Jesus Culture

apologetics exclusivity of Christ religious pluralism

Introduction: "All roads lead to God" is simultaneously the most common and one of the worst objections to biblical Christianity

Opening segment where Winger frames the topic and establishes his thesis

religious pluralism tolerance cultural Christianity

The emotional appeal of pluralist slogans: kindness, avoiding anger, hope, tolerance

Winger demonstrates empathy with why people hold pluralist views before critiquing them

reductio ad absurdum cults religious pluralism

Refutation of "all religions work": Jim Jones and the Jonestown Massacre as a test case

First reductio ad absurdum argument against religious pluralism

imago Dei comparative religion suffering

Buddhism's fundamental claims contradict Christianity: impersonal reality, illusion, no enduring self, cessation as goal

Detailed comparative religion analysis of Buddhism vs. Christianity

gospel proclamation exclusivity of Christ cultural Christianity

Fire alarm analogy: even if the messenger is a jerk, truth remains truth — cultural taboo vs. actual wrong

Further defense of proclaiming Jesus as the only way

original sin human nature total depravity

Slogan 6: "God knows our hearts and good people will be okay" — people are not actually good

Final and most substantial of the six slogans

2 Kings 2:23-24 apologetics Hebrew exegesis 2 Kings 2:23-24

Q&A: Why did God allow bears to kill 42 children for mocking Elisha? (2 Kings 2:23-24)

Viewer question from Pedro Jr.

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Acts 16:15: Lydia's household baptism — likely no infants present given her context as a traveling businesswoman

Examination of the Lydia household baptism passage and contextual clues.

Acts 16:15 Acts 16:14 Lydia Acts 16:15 Acts 16:14

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Three additional passages show "household" belief language does not imply infants: John 4:53, Acts 18:8, Philippians 4:22

Winger broadens the argument to show that household believing/greeting language consistently excludes passive infants.

John 4:53 Acts 18:8 Philippians 4:22 faith infant baptism John 4:53

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Q&A: Women receiving Communion — implied by context of 1 Corinthians and the general gathered assembly

A viewer attempts a parallel argument: women are not explicitly shown receiving Communion in Scripture yet no one denies it.

1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians discipleship Communion

1 Timothy 2:9 cultural context 1 Timothy 2:9 IVP Bible Background Commentary

Braided hair in 1 Timothy 2:9 refers to hair braided with gold as a display of wealth, not ordinary styling

Drawing on IVP Bible Background Commentary to explain the cultural meaning of braided hair in 1 Tim 2:9.

1 Timothy 2:9 cultural critique women's ministry 1 Timothy 2:9

Culture's gospel of external beauty is antithetical to the Christian emphasis on inner godly character

Application of the 1 Tim 2:9 principle to contemporary women's ministry and culture.

1 Peter 3:3-4 1 Timothy 2:9 Sarah Abraham gentle and quiet spirit

1 Peter 3:3-4 reinforces 1 Tim 2:9: true adornment is the gentle and quiet spirit, not external appearance

Reading and brief exposition of 1 Peter 3:3-4 as a parallel to 1 Timothy 2:9.

Genesis 1 Genesis 1 biblical inerrancy Enuma Elish

Parallelomania: ancient Near Eastern parallels (flood, creation) do not prove the Bible borrowed; similarities are explained by common events or themes

Q from Folky about how to respond to claims that the OT is not true because the Bible copied surrounding cultures (flood, Exodus).

apologetics Martin Luther Reformation

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.

Romans 5:1-2 justification by faith grace Sean McDowell

Closing: upcoming videos announced; call to rest in grace through faith (Romans 5:1-2)

Closing announcements and benediction.

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 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 2020-09-18

Are marriage contracts biblical? — Yes, with wisdom; keeping one's word is a biblical principle

Question from Mahit (likely from India) about whether signing a pre-marriage contract is biblical.

Psalm 15:4 marriage covenant contracts

Genesis flood apologetics Inspiring Philosophy Genesis flood

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)

Christian ethics same-sex marriage sexual ethics

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 video games witchcraft

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