Search — Theology Explorer

Christian liberty music and spirituality entertainment culture

Q3: Is it wrong for a Christian to enjoy New Age music? Genre itself is not inherently sinful; lyrics and spiritual content matter

Viewer Linda Caswell asks whether listening to relaxing New Age piano music is wrong for a conservative Christian.

testing prophecy charismatic movement false prophecy

Q5: How to view false Trump prophecies — identified as wrong, traced to pride, competitive prophetic culture, and spiritual dysfunction

Viewer Crystal Peck asks about Christians who falsely prophesied Trump's 2020 electoral victory.

sola scriptura repentance false prophecy

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.

Paul the Apostle church authority baptism

Q11: Who can perform baptism? Scripture gives no explicit rule but establishes community precedent; a parent can baptize a child

Viewer 'Skirt Bobcat' asks who is authorized to perform baptism and whether a parent can baptize their children.

1 Corinthians 12 Luke 10 Pentecost spiritual gifts charismatic movement

Q14: Is the authority Jesus gave the 12 and 70 disciples different from spiritual gifts? Mike distinguishes pre-Pentecost authority from post-Pentecost Spirit-enabled gifts

Viewer Silas Bourner asks whether the authority Jesus granted the Twelve and Seventy to heal and cast out demons is different from spiritual gifts.

obedience sanctification spiritual apathy

Q19: Advice for spiritual apathy — do not be apathetic about your apathy; obey whether or not you feel it

Viewer Hugh Seeger asks for advice on struggling with spiritual apathy.

Psalm 91 1 Samuel 16:23 David exorcism Psalm 91

David's music drives away Saul's harmful spirit — a type of exorcism

David is summoned to play the lyre and the harmful spirit departs from Saul, suggesting an early OT proto-exorcism.

Gerasene demoniac Satan spiritual warfare

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 spiritual warfare salvation history

First century as the ultimate spiritual battleground for all creation

Summary conclusion on demonic activity question: the first century was uniquely intense because it was the decisive battleground of salvation history.

Acts 2:24 resurrection hypostatic union death of Christ

Christ's human nature died; his divine nature explains the resurrection

The two-natures framework resolves the death/deity tension: humanity accounts for his death, deity makes his resurrection inevitable.

spiritual gifts planning and providence vocation

Plan according to your God-given gifts, not just desires or vague calling

Practical guidance for Christian life planning: identifying gifts rather than merely desires or claimed callings.

eschatology prophetic fulfillment futurism

Rebuilt temple does not need to be ritually valid — prophecy requires existence, not divine approval

Clarification of what prophetic fulfillment requires regarding the third temple.

Ephesians 6:10-18 spiritual warfare Ephesians 6:10-18 armor of God

Question: Run through the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Viewer Spazzy Jazzy asks for an explanation of the full armor of God from Ephesians 6.

Ephesians 6:14 imputed righteousness sanctification armor of God

Breastplate of Righteousness — holy living as protection from spiritual attack

Second piece of armor. Mike argues this is about the believer's conduct rather than imputed righteousness.

Ephesians 6:15 evangelism witness armor of God

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace — evangelism as spiritual protection

Third piece of armor: footwear as readiness to go with the gospel.

1 Peter Ephesians 6:16 1 Peter Ephesians 6:16 armor of God

Shield of Faith — confident trust that quenches fiery darts

Fourth piece of armor: faith as shield against fiery trials and spiritual attacks.

Ephesians 6:17 identity in Christ assurance of salvation armor of God

Helmet of Salvation — remembering your identity in Christ as foundational protection

Fifth piece of armor. Helmet protects the head; salvation protects the believer's identity and eternal standing.

Psalm 121 Song of Ascents hermeneutics Israel divine protection

Question: Does Psalm 121:6 protect against sunburn? Analysis of the psalm as an Israel protection psalm

Viewer Brunette Family asks in a lighthearted way whether Psalm 121:6 permits skipping sunscreen.

spiritual disciplines confirmation bias listening prayer

Question: Is it okay to sit quietly and write down what you hear from God (journaling/listening prayer)?

Viewer Mackenzie McEwan asks about the practice of trying to hear God and writing down what comes.

1 Kings 19 spiritual disciplines still small voice listening prayer

The still small voice (1 Kings 19) is not a model for seeking God through hints and whispers

Common proof-text for listening prayer misapplied.

Prayer life Christian service Spiritual disciplines

Organizing prayer life: mindset matters more than rigid structure; serving God during quarantine requires ambitious creativity.

Question from Ian Becker about organizing prayer life and serving God during COVID quarantine.

Bethel Church Holy Spirit Listening prayer

Listening prayer is not condemned in Scripture but formulizing the Holy Spirit's work is dangerous and can produce fabrications.

Question from Susan Krieg about whether the Bible endorses listening prayer.

Assurance of salvation New Age spirituality Conversion and faith

How to find God: Christianity's goal is not emotional comfort but truth and relationship; reading and praying without trusting Christ is insufficient.

Question from an anonymous person (username 'it's me') who found comfort in the New Age but confusion in Christianity after 5 months of reading and prayer.

Evidence for God Christopher Hitchens Spiritual disciplines

Tips for an atheist starting to believe: gather intellectual reasons for God, practice spiritual disciplines, and make choices that shape belief.

Question from Emil Codrin about how to start believing after a lifetime of atheism.

1 Corinthians 12 Cessationism Baptism of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12

Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a post-salvation experience with mandatory tongues is not supported by Scripture; authentic gifts are preferred over formulaic fake ones.

Question from Lauren Breon about whether the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a separate experience with prayer language is scriptural.

1 Timothy 3 Galatians 3:28 Matthew 23:8-12 servant leadership overseer episkopos

Ministry titles and the clergy-laity distinction: what Jesus really forbade in Matthew 23

Chris Horn asked whether Matthew 23:8-12 prohibits using ministry titles like pastor or elder.

evangelism Greg Koukl apologetics

Sharing the gospel with resistant loved ones: grace, strategy, and the book Tactics

Hannah/Henry Belvall asked for advice on humbly sharing Jesus with struggling loved ones who become defensive.

Luke 11:24-26 atonement false teaching spiritual warfare

Generational curses: pastoral concern and theological rejection

Studio asked whether believers can be cursed by ancestral actions or ethnic heritage (specifically Native American bloodline).

Holy Spirit discernment prophecy

Testing whether a vision or impression is from the Holy Spirit

UK Dove Girl asked how to know whether a lucid open-eyed vision comes from the Spirit rather than the subconscious.

Hebrews 7:7 spiritual authority Levitical priesthood Abraham

Pronouncing a blessing on others: Hebrews 7:7 and mutual blessing in the body of Christ

Andrej asked whether saying "I bless you" to someone implies a hierarchical superiority that is inappropriate between equals.

1 Samuel 28 Leviticus 19:31 Deuteronomy 18:11 Samuel Catholicism afterlife

Ghosts, the witch of Endor, and demonic impersonation of the dead

Lindsay Kelso asked whether the Bible supports ghosts, and whether those who claim to see them are actually encountering demons.

marriage encouragement discipleship

Wife more spiritually mature than husband — encouragement over competition

Lil Mik Nick asks for advice when a wife is more spiritually mature than her husband who has admitted it.

repentance pride spiritual warfare

Getting close to God and overcoming demonic oppression — prerequisites and warnings

Professor of Everything asks for advice on getting close to God and overcoming demons and oppression.

Matthew 10 calling missions Matthew 10

Knowing God's will for major decisions — acting without certainty

Simply Put asks how to know if God is guiding him and his wife to move to remote Alaska for missions.

1 Corinthians 10:13 Psalm 34:18 Psalm 51:17 repentance sanctification 1 Corinthians 10:13

Hardened heart and repentance — how to break callousness and return to closeness with God

Final question: someone says their heart has become hard through continued rebellion, they no longer feel sorry, and they miss living close to Christ.

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

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 2021-03-26

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

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

Matthew 7:13-14 — the narrow gate refers to the demanding and counter-cultural teachings of Christ, not to a works-salvation effort; few receive it because most reject it.

Jilly Bean from Finland asks what the narrow gate means in practice.

Matthew 7:13-14 discipleship salvation Sermon on the Mount

Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Hebrews 10:25 and the obligation to gather: absolute or contextual?

Question from The Invisible Hand about online-only churches during COVID and whether they violate the command not to forsake assembling.

Hebrews 10:25 Hebrews 10:25 Christian conscience Corporate worship / assembly

Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Practical advice for an agnostic seeking to believe

Question from "It's Flawless," an agnostic trying to believe.

Gospel of John Apologetics Agnosticism / seeking faith

Colossians 1:13 Acts 26:18 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 Satan spiritual warfare kingdom of darkness

Christians are delivered from Satan's kingdom but remain in an ongoing spiritual battle; kingdom transfer does not eliminate all Satanic influence.

Continued Q2 discussion on Colossians 1:13 and Acts 26:18.

evangelism spiritual warfare kingdom of darkness

Evangelism framed as "Red Rover" — the goal is transferring people from Satan's kingdom to God's kingdom, not destroying people.

Closing summary of Q2 on spiritual warfare and kingdom dynamics.

spiritual disciplines spiritual dryness faith and the will

Spiritual dryness and keeping God at arm's length: the will precedes the heart; make obedient decisions and let the heart follow over time.

Q9 from Arrivederci: struggling with trusting and wanting Christ — how to stop keeping the Holy Spirit at arm's length?