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All (433) Mike Winger (433)
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike answers a question about the race of Jesus, concluding that Jesus was Jewish by lineage but that racial categorization is not meaningful since he holds there is only one human race; he notes Jesus likely had a medium skin tone.

Response to viewer question about the race of Jesus

Jesus Rahab Jewish identity
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike briefly comments on the Abomination of Desolation, describing it as a future event in a literal rebuilt Jerusalem temple involving an Antichrist figure setting up an image and declaring himself God, occurring in the middle of the Tribulation.

Response to viewer question about the Abomination of Desolation

Daniel 9 Daniel 9 eschatology Antichrist
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike comments on Jeff Durbin of Apologia Radio, praising him for having a solid gospel and effective outreach to cults but disagreeing with his strong Calvinism; he also notes controversy around a debate Durbin and James White did against a Mormon.

Response to viewer question about Jeff Durbin

James White Mormonism theodicy James White
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike comments on Ben Shapiro, affirming that his biblical worldview on moral values is refreshing but warning Christians not to imitate his sarcastic and vitriolic tone toward those he disagrees with.

Response to viewer question about Ben Shapiro

politics Ben Shapiro Christian behavior
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike advises Christians to witness to Jehovah's Witnesses as they would to anyone, noting the advantage that JWs already want to talk about God, and encourages boldness in gospel witness with all people.

Response to viewer question about engaging Jehovah's Witnesses

evangelism Jehovah's Witnesses gospel witness
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike wrestles with whether the American Revolution violated Romans 13 (submission to government), concluding he cannot make a confident judgment but personally sympathizes with the revolutionaries and affirms his current submission to the established American government.

Response to viewer question about the American Revolution and Romans 13

1 Peter Romans 13 1 Peter just war Romans 13
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike articulates a Sola Scriptura position by arguing from Galatians 1 that the Apostles themselves placed their written gospel above any future authority — including apostles or angels — making all church fathers mere commentators with no binding theological authority.

Response to viewer question about the authority of early church fathers

1 Corinthians Galatians 1 Galatians 1:6-10 biblical authority Paul 1 Corinthians
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike examines 2 John 1:11 in context, explaining it refers to hosting traveling teachers and not to general social contact with heretics, then defends William Lane Craig's nuanced view on Catholics — acknowledging a false Catholic gospel while allowing that some Catholics may be genuinely saved.

Response to viewer question about whether to separate from William Lane Craig over his statements about Catholics

2 John 1:11 salvation false gospel works-based salvation
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike advises a youth pastor that discipleship of willing students produces more fruit than constant outreach programming, drawing on his own early ministry failure when he focused on students who did not care.

Response to youth pastor viewer about ministry focus

Hebrews youth ministry evangelism spiritual maturity
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike rebuts a viewer's accusation that Christians believe only because of family pressure or weakness, sharing his own testimony of coming to faith alone in a non-Christian home and listing multiple philosophical reasons he holds for God's existence.

Response to skeptical viewer claiming Christians believe due to social conditioning

apologetics atheism moral argument
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike offers pastoral advice on controlling anger in traffic, recommending a practice of redirecting the impulse to complain into prayer, focusing on controlling one’s own reactions rather than others’ behavior.

Response to viewer asking for counsel on road rage/anger

prayer sanctification pastoral counsel
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike declines to comment on Coptic/Oriental Orthodox theology due to insufficient knowledge, but raises concerns about Eastern Orthodox extra-biblical tradition and recounts a personal experience of a woman who left his church for an Eastern Orthodox group and could no longer articulate the gospel.

Response to viewer question about Coptic/Oriental Orthodox theology

Eastern Orthodoxy gospel Sola Scriptura
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike argues that killing in self-defense is clearly permitted by Scripture, citing Old Testament law which imposed no penalty for legitimate self-defense, and Jesus’ instruction to the disciples to carry swords the night of his betrayal.

Response to viewer question about whether killing in self-defense is wrong in God’s eyes

Luke 22 Christian ethics just war Old Testament law
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike addresses the morality of soldiers killing in war, arguing that just war is a real category but that individual soldiers must personally discern whether a given war is just rather than simply following orders.

Follow-up response on killing in the context of military service

Romans 13 Christian ethics just war Romans 13
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike argues that the best approach to the question of hell is not direct empirical evidence but rather a two-step argument: establish the trustworthiness of Jesus through the resurrection and fulfilled prophecy, then accept his teaching on hell as credible.

Response to viewer demanding evidence for hell

apologetics resurrection of Jesus hell
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike identifies the naked young man fleeing in Mark 14:51-52 as likely the author Mark himself, explaining this was a common ancient biographical convention of embedding the author’s presence discreetly in the narrative.

Response to viewer question about the identity of the young man in Mark 14:51-52

Mark 14:51-52 Mark the Evangelist Peter Mark 14:51-52 Gospel of Mark
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike reconciles Colossians 1:13's statement that Christians have been transferred into Christ's kingdom with premillennial teaching by distinguishing between the kingdom as an internal present reality (God reigning in the heart) and the future global, political kingdom established at the second coming.

Response to viewer question about how premillennialism handles Colossians 1:13

Colossians 1:13 Luke 17:21 John 18 eschatology second coming premillennialism
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike dismisses the claim that Jesus was a socialist, arguing that caring for the poor is universal and the political question is how to do so, not whether to; he says Jesus' kingdom is a theocracy that no human government can imitate.

Response to viewer question about whether Jesus was a socialist

theocracy poverty Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike gives an extended reading and defense of 1 Corinthians 11 on head coverings, arguing the text is about role differentiation within a framework of equal personal value, not about female inferiority, and that charging God with sexism reflects moral overreach toward the Creator.

Response to viewer asking about 1 Corinthians 11 and the charge that the Bible is sexist

1 Corinthians 11 Galatians 3:28 Ephesians 5 headship head coverings Trinity
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike shares his personal testimony: he came to faith at age 12 through the 10 Commandments convicting him of sin, then heard the gospel at a youth group he attended to get out of the house, believed immediately, and later pursued apologetics to verify his faith.

Response to viewer asking about Mike’s testimony

Holy Spirit apologetics gospel
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike argues it is philosophically irrational to charge God with immorality because God’s character is the very grounding of moral goodness, making the question of whether God could do something immoral logically incoherent, analogous to asking if a circle could be a square.

Response to non-believer asking whether there is anything God could do that would lead Mike to consider him immoral

apologetics atheism moral argument
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike addresses the canonicity of Hebrews despite unknown authorship, arguing that inspiration does not require apostolic pen but apostolic teaching, and that the New Testament canon formed organically as first-century texts with apostolic content were recognized by the early church.

Response to viewer question about how Hebrews can be inspired if we do not know who wrote it

Hebrews Paul Apollos Barnabas
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Exodus 4:24 interpreted: God's threat on Moses's life is a warning to leaders who are hypocrites — faithful in ministry but unfaithful in personal obedience.

Interpretation of why God sought to kill Moses before he led Israel out of Egypt.

Exodus 4:24 Moses Exodus 4:24 Circumcision
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Opening announcement about Ravi Zacharias scandal — video promises a detailed Monday response

Mike opens the Q&A livestream by noting he woke up at 4:20 AM thinking about the Ravi Zacharias report. He announces a dedicated video on Monday at 1 PM to address the scandal in depth.

Ravi Zacharias Christian celebrity scandal wolves among sheep
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Christians must stop following those who prophesied falsely about 2020; those prophets should repent and abandon their prophetic status

Mike gives practical counsel on what to do in response to the false prophecies.

sola scriptura repentance false prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Demonic activity in first century as messianic confirmation and spiritual battleground

Jesus's authority over demons served as a sign to the Jews confirming his messianic identity; the concentration of demonic opposition is explained by Satan's forces mobilizing against the Son of God.

Gerasene demoniac Satan spiritual warfare
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Accepting Jesus is the only way to heaven, but those who never heard the gospel may be saved through faithful response to lesser revelation — analogous to Abraham.

Question from Jack Bradley about salvation for those who never heard or only heard harmful versions of the gospel.

Abraham Old Testament saints Salvation exclusivism
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Why God creates people he foreknows will reject him

Our Fish asked why God would create people he knows will not choose him.

Matthew 13:24-30 free will theodicy problem of evil
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 2021-03-26

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

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 2021-04-09

Intrusive/unwanted thoughts: possible demonic origin and the Philippians 4:8 remedy

Question from Turka Orenzova about horrifying thoughts that pop into her head unbidden.

Philippians 4:8 John 13:2 Ephesians 6 Peter Philippians 4:8 Satan
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

The Mandela Effect cannot explain the disciples' confidence in the resurrection

Hypothetical question from Ethan Hawking about whether the Mandela Effect could account for disciples' resurrection belief.

1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15 Apologetics Burden of proof
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Parting thought: eternal perspective reframes present suffering

Closing encouragement from Winger at the end of the Q&A session.

Suffering / trials Eternal perspective Faith and trust
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Classical nudity in art is not morally distinct from pornography; artistic quality does not transform the moral character of nude imagery.

Q11 from Wolfpack: how should Christians approach classical art with nudity (e.g., Michelangelo's David)? Is it okay to like it or make similar art?

sexual ethics pornography nudity in art
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Should Christians be shaken by brilliant atheist philosophers like Graham Oppy?

Listener Silas Abrahamson says he is sometimes shaken that brilliant philosophers like Graham Oppy are atheists.

Apologetics Atheism Graham Oppy
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Why is Esther in the Bible? Self-defense in Esther 8-9 is not problematic

Listener The Christian Metalhead questions the moral purpose of Esther and finds the final chapters' battle "dangerous."

Esther Ecclesiastes 3:3 Old Testament canon Typology Pacifism
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Sharing Jesus with children when an atheist spouse objects

Listener Sheila is a new believer; her atheist husband does not want her sharing Jesus with their daughter because the daughter will think he's going to hell.

Acts 5:29 Acts 5:29 Atheism Religious liberty in marriage
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

The youths mauled by bears in 2 Kings 2 were not small children but likely young adult men mocking Elisha's prophetic authority.

Question 20 from That One Christian about the children mauled in 2 Kings 2.

2 Kings 2 prophetic authority word study Elisha
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection to Premise 1: "Who made God?" (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion). Response: the premise says whatever BEGINS to exist needs a cause, not whatever EXISTS needs a cause.

Objection — who made God? (Dawkins)

Richard Dawkins who made God infinite regress
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection to Premise 1: the composition fallacy — just because every part of the universe has a cause doesn't mean the whole does. Response: this misunderstands the argument; it's about a CLASS of things (things that begin to exist), not parts composing a whole.

Objection — composition fallacy (Cosmic Skeptic)

Kalam cosmological argument Cosmic Skeptic Kalam cosmological argument
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: quantum physics shows things can come into existence uncaused. Response: quantum events are not truly uncaused or from nothing; the quantum vacuum is something, not nothing.

Objection — quantum physics

quantum vacuum quantum physics Stephen Hawking
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: the multiverse avoids the need for God. Response: everything said about our universe needing a cause applies equally to the multiverse — you're just kicking the can back.

Objection — multiverse

Matt Dillahunty Kalam cosmological argument Carl Sagan
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection to Premise 2: maybe the universe is infinite in the past. Response: an actually infinite past is impossible — you could never traverse infinite moments to arrive at the present.

Objection — infinite past

infinite past traversal of infinity JP Moreland
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection to the conclusion: equivocation between material cause and efficient cause in the premises vs. conclusion. Response: both premises and conclusion refer to efficient causation.

Objection — equivocation on "cause"

equivocation fallacy material vs efficient cause
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: the argument doesn't mention God, so it's irrelevant. Response: the Kalam is always the beginning of a case, not the end — it forces you into the conceptual analysis that points to God.

Objection — God not mentioned in the argument

Kalam cosmological argument Kalam cosmological argument conceptual analysis
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: the cause could be a teacup orbiting Saturn or universe-creating pixies instead of God. Response: they're just describing God's attributes and labeling it something else; Occam's razor reduces pixies to one being.

Objection — teacup/pixies

Matt Dillahunty conceptual analysis Occams razor
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: this is just a God-of-the-gaps argument. Response: the Kalam provides POSITIVE evidence for what the cause is, not merely an appeal to ignorance.

Objection — God of the gaps

evidence for God evidence for God God of the gaps
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: what if science one day explains the universe without God? Response: Christians welcome continued scientific inquiry; this objection is "naturalism of the gaps" — hoping naturalism will eventually explain it with no current evidence.

Objection — future science

William Lane Craig methodological naturalism William Lane Craig
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: this only gets you to generic theism, not the Christian God. Response: each attribute (spaceless, timeless, etc.) was justified, not ad hoc; the Kalam is meant to be followed by evidence for the resurrection to identify the God.

Objection — doesn't prove the Christian God

Kalam cosmological argument cumulative case apologetics Kalam cosmological argument