Search — Theology Explorer

homosexuality compromise theological drift

Homosexuality as a watershed issue — waffling on it signals accommodation of a worldly Christianity

Winger identifies the theological stakes in avoiding the question.

Matthew Vines Romans 1 hermeneutics homosexuality Greek exegesis

Refuting the 'temple prostitution' interpretation of Romans 1 with historical scholarship

Q&A question about whether Romans 1 only condemns exploitative or temple-based homosexuality, not loving committed same-sex relationships.

discipleship homosexuality sin nature

Is homosexuality genetic? Even if it were, it wouldn't change the Christian call to self-denial

Q&A question about whether homosexuality has a genetic component and what its presence in the animal kingdom implies.

Homosexuality as a canary in the coal mine for the broader attack on Christian truth

Q&A question about whether this issue signals a wider cultural assault on truth.

truth love homosexuality

1 Corinthians sexual sin homosexuality 1 Corinthians

Sexual sins carry a unique spiritual weight — they involve the body in a mystical union

Q&A question about whether homosexuality is 'denying Christ' and how it ranks among sins.

Matthew Vines Romans 1 hermeneutics eisegesis false teaching

Matthew Vines' approach to Scripture is driven by a prior commitment to affirm homosexuality, not honest exegesis

Q&A question about advocates like Matthew Vines who try to make homosexuality fit within Scripture.

evangelism pastoral care homosexuality

How to reach someone struggling with homosexuality: one-on-one honesty with genuine love

Q&A question about practical outreach to someone in a homosexual lifestyle.

sexual ethics sin homosexuality

Pornography accelerates the corruption of the sexual mind — it does not cause but amplifies

Q&A question about whether pornography's proliferation promotes acceptance of homosexuality.

repentance gospel holiness

The real offense of the gospel is not Jesus' love but Jesus' holiness — and that is what must be proclaimed

Closing summary tying the Lauren Daigle situation back to the nature of the gospel.

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-17

Introduction: Jeremiah 10 and the Christmas tree question

Mike launches a surprise Monday livestream to address a common question before Christmas

Jeremiah 10 Jeremiah 10 Christmas trees Anachronism in Bible interpretation

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-17

Q&A: What does a Christmas tree have to do with Jesus? Brief history of Christmas tree origin

Addressing a viewer question about the theological meaning of Christmas trees

Martin Luther Christmas trees Christian tradition

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-17

Symbolism is assigned by the person, not inherent to the object — trees have no intrinsic spiritual meaning

Responding to the question about what a tree symbolizes

Christmas trees Liberty of conscience Symbolism

apologetics Matt Dillahunty Capturing Christianity

Debate preparation with Matt Dillahunty context

Mike explains this video is part of his preparation for a debate on the resurrection of Jesus with atheist Matt Dillahunty on April 11th on the Capturing Christianity YouTube channel.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 James (brother of Jesus) Paul the Apostle post-resurrection appearances resurrection creed

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 — the resurrection creed: appearances to Peter, the twelve, 500+, James, all apostles, and Paul

The full resurrection appearance list in 1 Corinthians 15 as evidence Paul knew the historical Jesus and the witnesses to his resurrection.

Romans 13:7 Mark 12:14-17 Paul echoing Jesus's teaching Romans 13:7 Mark 12:14-17

Romans 13:7 echoes the 'Render to Caesar' teaching of Jesus (Mark 12:14-17)

Paul's instruction to pay taxes parallels Jesus's teaching about taxes to Caesar, which was a highly contested political/religious issue.

Deuteronomy 25:4 Luke 10:7 1 Timothy 5:18 Deuteronomy 25:4 Luke 10:7 laborer deserves wages

1 Timothy 5:18 quotes Luke 10:7 alongside Deuteronomy 25:4 and calls both 'Scripture'

The author of 1 Timothy introduces two quotations with 'the Scripture says' — one from the OT and one from Luke 10:7 — implying canonical status for Gospel material in the first century.

Galatians 1 James (brother of Jesus) 2 Peter Galatians 1 Peter (Cephas) James (brother of Jesus)

Paul's apostolic authority confirmed by Peter and James; 2 Peter calls Paul's writings Scripture

Q&A: question about how Paul went from persecutor to authoritative apostle.

Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah 7-9 Matthew 1 virgin birth Isaiah 7:14 Old Testament fulfillment

Isaiah 7:14 — 'alma' means young maiden; the context of Isaiah 7-9 supports the virgin birth interpretation

Q&A: question about whether Isaiah 7:14 refers to a young woman or a virgin, and whether it was a sign to Ahaz.

Matthew 10:23 Acts 1:8 Second Coming eschatology Matthew 10:23

Matthew 10:23 — 'Son of Man comes' refers to Jesus's first coming during the disciples' mission trip, not the Second Coming

Q&A: question about a verse that appears to predict Jesus would return before the disciples finished preaching in Israel.

Galatians 4:4 Galatians 4:4 Jesus as Jewish born under the law

Galatians 4:4 'born under the law' consistently refers to Jews in Paul's usage

Q&A follow-up: clarification on whether 'born under the law' in Galatians 4:4 implies Jewish identity.

salvation repentance sanctification

Repentance restores relationship with God, not salvific status; analogy of marriage reconciliation

Q&A: question about whether believers must live sinlessly or must continually repent.

empty tomb resurrection of Jesus historical reliability

Empty tomb: majority scholarly agreement exists, but Mike doesn't know a compelling argument against it

Q&A: question about why the empty tomb is only majority (not unanimous) scholarly agreement.

Romans 14 James (brother of Jesus) Acts 21:17-26 circumcision Nazirite vow Romans 14

Acts 21:17-26 — Paul participates in a Nazirite vow to demonstrate continued Torah observance as a Jewish believer

Q&A: question about Paul's behavior in Acts 21 and what it tells us about his relationship to Torah.

Christian ethics sinlessness of Jesus Temple cleansing

Jesus overturning tables in the Temple — anger is not inherently sinful, but it creates temptation to sin

Q&A: question about whether Jesus's table-turning in the Temple constitutes sinful anger.

salvation Orthodox Judaism Ben Shapiro

Introduction: Ben Shapiro asks Bishop Robert Barron whether he will go to heaven

Mike introduces the premise — an Orthodox Jew asks a Catholic bishop about his eternal destiny

salvation Ben Shapiro 613 commandments

Ben Shapiro's actual question: he observes 613 commandments and does good in the world — does that earn him heaven?

Mike carefully scopes Ben's question to exclude 'those who have never heard the gospel'

John 5:45-47 revelation Moses parables Torah

John 5:45-47 — if you believed Moses you would believe me: encountering Jesus reveals whether one truly believed Moses

Mike addresses the logical question: what about Ben, who has heard of Jesus but rejected him?

Council of Trent Vatican II inclusivism

Q&A: When did inclusivism/relativism become prevalent in the Catholic Church? Vatican II was deliberately vague

Answering viewer question from Michael Cato

Mormonism Christology soteriology

Q&A: Core doctrines vs. peripheral doctrines — spiderweb illustration; Mormonism example

Answering viewer question from Jacob Inglot about when doctrine becomes heresy

1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11 Aristotle transubstantiation

Q&A: On communion — Mike agrees it is more than a symbol but rejects transubstantiation

Answering viewer question about 1 Corinthians and dying from receiving communion wrongly

Genesis 12:3 Abraham covenant Messiah

Q&A: Were Jews chosen as an ethnic or religious group? — ethnic bloodline with a missional purpose

Answering viewer question from T. Kua

Holy Spirit fruit of the Spirit faith

Q&A: What does it mean to believe? — Faith is a choice to trust, not a blind leap

Answering viewer question about the nature of faith vs. fruit

Romans 1 Romans 1:18-32 atheism conscience Romans 1

Q&A: Can atheists be saved? — Romans 1 and the hardening process of rejecting God

Answering viewer Sarah Beauchamp's question about Barron's statement that even atheists can be saved

Hebrews 11:1 hermeneutics faith Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1 is a description of what faith looks like, not a definition of why or how we believe

Mike's core exegetical argument about the nature of Hebrews 11.

faith apologetics methodology sloppy thinking

Why Christians accept the bad definition: 'sloppy thinking' — illustrated by the peanut butter sandwich experiment

Mike explains how well-meaning Christians end up using imprecise language that harms their apologetic position.

Holy Spirit personal testimony apologetics methodology

Q&A: How to explain to non-believers that the Holy Spirit's presence is a reason for faith

Viewer question from Cam 94.

John 13:2 omnipotence Satan spiritual warfare

Q&A: Can Satan, as a non-omnipotent being, put thoughts into people's minds?

Viewer question from Joy Chintons.

John 3:36 obedience hermeneutics faith and works

Q&A: Connection between belief and obedience in John 3:36 — belief leads to obedience; lack of obedience implies lack of faith

Viewer question from Jacob Englet about John 3:36 and James 2:14-26.

James 2:14-26 faith James 2:14-26 faith and works

James 2:14-26 — faith without works is dead; Mike references his dedicated video on Catholic vs. Protestant interpretations

Part of Jacob Englet's question on faith and obedience.

Dr. Ragnar study Dr. Rosenfeld family instability

Q&A: Response to atheist videos on the Dr. Ragnar study and the lurking variable of family instability

Viewer question from Brian Stevens about a sociological study and atheist video responses.

hermeneutics biblical interpretation contextual reading

Q&A: How to know you have the proper interpretation of Scripture — hermeneutics and contextual reading

Viewer question from Eric Seagardia.

epistemology evidence apologetics methodology

Q&A: Distinction between 'evidence' and 'proof' — Mike is skeptical that they must be rigorously distinguished

Viewer question from Martin Gradwell.

Isaiah 53 Bible as historical document Isaiah 53 Pontius Pilate

Q&A: How to use the Bible as evidence with non-believers who don't accept it as God's word — the prophecy approach

Viewer question from Kate about apologetic method.

evidence-based faith faith trust

Closing summary: faith is simply trust; the reasons for faith are a separate discussion from the nature of faith itself

Mike's concluding definition and summary of the session.

Greg Koukl abortion human rights

The central question of abortion: 'What is it?' — using the analogy of a child asking 'Can I kill this?'

Mike's foundational framing of the entire abortion debate

reductio ad absurdum abortion human rights

Abraham Lincoln's anti-slavery argument applied analogously to abortion — differences do not justify denying rights

Historical parallel between pro-slavery arguments and pro-choice arguments about arbitrary distinctions

abortion zygote contraception

Contraception vs. abortion — the moral question is whether conception has already occurred

Q&A — question about whether normalizing contraception contributes to disregard for infant life

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) — moral issues around discarding or permanently freezing fertilized embryos

Q&A — question about IVF and its connection to killing unborn children

abortion zygote embryo

cultural engagement eschatology Christian ethics

Christian call to defend the fatherless — abortion as a moral mandate for Christians regardless of eschatological timeline

Q&A — question about whether abortion can be abolished given worsening culture as end times approach