Search — Theology Explorer

Exodus Gospel of John Calvinism Exodus

Divine hardening in John's Gospel as a challenge to Calvinist Total Depravity

Mike argues divine hardening is inconsistent with Total Depravity.

Unconditional Election — Mike partly affirms, partly rejects

Second point of TULIP addressed.

Calvinism Molinism TULIP

Calvinism TULIP Total Depravity

Irresistible Grace — Mike rejects it as the mirror image of Total Depravity

Fourth point of TULIP addressed.

Oneness Pentecostalism Marriage Trinitarianism

Trinitarian-Oneness Christian marriage — Mike counsels against it

Q from Ash Cash about whether a Trinitarian Christian should marry a Oneness Pentecostal.

Judges Judges Just War Pacifism

Just War theory — Mike affirms it; pacifism in all scenarios is evil

Q from Dan Dan about whether an Armenian Christian can go to war in defense against genocide.

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

John 1:18 further exposes JW inconsistency — theos without article used twice but not rendered "a god"

Mike shows a second example from John 1 that undermines the JW argument.

John 1:1 John 1:18 Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation Deity of Christ

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Eschatology is a secondary issue — Christians should not divide over it

Mike closes his Matthew 24 exposition with an appeal for unity.

Matthew 24 hermeneutics secondary issues eschatology

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Three arguments against drunk-in-the-spirit theology: self-control is a fruit of the Spirit; accusers were unsaved; Scripture describes the gifts

Mike's comprehensive rebuttal of drunk-in-spirit theology.

Acts 2 Galatians 5:23 Acts 2 self-control charismatic gifts

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Lordship salvation: repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin, not moral prerequisites for merit

Responding to Sally Richardson's question about what lordship salvation is

John MacArthur John MacArthur repentance salvation

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Rejecting the deity of Christ is a salvation issue -- John 5 says dishonoring the Son dishonors the Father

Responding to Isaac Floyd's question about whether denying the deity of Christ is a salvation issue

John 5 mediator salvation Christology

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Cessationism vs. continuationism — Mike holds continuationism but respects cessationists

A viewer asks what Mike thinks about cessationists.

word of wisdom word of knowledge prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Is Donald Trump a genuine Christian? — Mike's cautious non-assessment

A viewer asks if Mike thinks President Trump is a true believer.

assurance of salvation Donald Trump Christianity and politics

personal testimony divine calling ministry

Mike's personal testimony: a burden from God that led to his YouTube ministry

Mike illustrates genuine individual divine communication with personal experience.

Romans 5:12 Romans 8:20-22 young earth creationism Fall of Man Romans 5:12

Death before the Fall: Romans 5 and 8 address human death, not animal death

Question about whether macro-evolution is consistent with Scripture given death entered through sin.

1 Corinthians 14:22-23 spiritual gifts tongues 1 Corinthians 14:22-23

1 Corinthians 14:22 — tongues are a sign for unbelievers only when interpreted; the apparent contradiction explained

Question about the apparent flip in 1 Corinthians 14:22-23 where tongues are a sign for unbelievers yet unbelievers will think speakers are mad.

evangelism prayer witnessing

Evangelizing resistant family members: heart attitude must precede strategy

Question from someone whose parents think religion is stupid and who fears being judged for sharing their faith.

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

UFO sightings: the Christian worldview has a third explanatory option beyond aliens or government - angelic/demonic activity.

UFO sightings and Christian worldview

Ezekiel Ezekiel demonology apologetics

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Some people abandon faith over UFO sightings because they do not consider alternative explanations like demonic activity; alien existence is not a defeater for Christianity.

Spiritual danger of UFO-driven deconversion

spiritual warfare apologetics UFOs

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Sexual passion within marriage is good and to be celebrated; the fire/fireplace metaphor: sex in marriage is beautiful like fire in a fireplace, destructive outside it.

Affirming marital sexuality

Song of Solomon Hebrews 13:4 marriage Song of Solomon sexual ethics

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Brian Simmons (Passion Translation author) has uttered false prophecy on record — Mike found hours of footage while researching for his Passion Translation project and plans to release a video exposing this.

Announcement during Q&A transition.

Brian Simmons Passion Translation False Prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Worship leaders bear collective responsibility to their congregations: presenting music in corporate worship is like preparing a meal for everyone — songs known to cause stumbling should be avoided.

Application of the meat-in-marketplace analogy to congregational worship leading.

1 Corinthians 8-10 — Meat Offered to Idols 1 Corinthians 8-10 — Meat Offered to Idols Christian Liberty / Conscience Worship Music and Discernment

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Announcement: upcoming deep-dive study on women's roles and gender in the church

2021 ministry plans

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

John 18:36 Peter kingdom of God Christian political engagement

Christians should not use political grievances as justification for storming government or causing violence

Closing thought on political question, referencing the January 6, 2021 Capitol events contextually

Psalm 37:16 Psalm 37:21 prosperity gospel Word of Faith contentment

Prosperity preaching flips Psalm 37 upside down — the psalm encourages those with little, not those seeking more

Conclusion of the Psalm 37 discussion

Joshua Rahab Christian ethics deception

Whether a Christian can work for the CIA or NSA involves the question of whether all deception is always wrong

Question from Mick Making Oreo1113 about whether Christians can work in intelligence agencies where lying is part of the job

marriage lust pornography

Lust toward others outside marriage diminishes desire for your spouse — exclusivity of sexual attention is essential

Second issue addressed in the marriage/intimacy question — possible causes of diminished desire

Philippians 3:13-14 calling Paul discouragement

The feeling of "not being there yet" in Christian growth is healthy when it motivates pressing on rather than giving up

Question from Derry Draws about how to grow spiritually when the fire feels gone

Holy Spirit discernment false prophecy

A rearview mirror test for Spirit-led claims: look back at past "God told me" moments and evaluate their accuracy

Practical tool for evaluating claims of Spirit guidance

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Adult believers who were baptized as infants should consider being re-baptized — baptism is a ratification of a personal decision to follow Christ

Question from LucyQ (from Finland) who was baptized in the Evangelical Lutheran Church as an infant but came to faith as an adult.

Baptism Infant baptism Re-baptism / believer's baptism

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Visiting moments in Scripture: creation of Adam and Eve (OT); Road to Emmaus Christological exposition (NT)

Hypothetical question from Bree Herb about which biblical moment Mike would most want to witness.

Luke 24:13-35 creation Adam and Eve Luke 24:13-35

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

How to test a prophecy before it is fulfilled: track record matters more than individual accuracy; errors are disqualifying

Question from Omar Barr about testing prophecy before it is fulfilled, including the 2020 Trump prophecies.

discernment charismatic movement false prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Hosea's family as prophetic type; Ezekiel as the strongest Christ-type prophet who bears Israel's iniquity bodily

Question from Drifter 2003 about whether Hosea's children having names like 'Not Loved' is a type of Christ bearing others' burdens.

Hosea Ezekiel Ezekiel 4 typology Hosea Ezekiel

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 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 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

Exodus 4:24 Moses Exodus 4:24 Circumcision

Background to Exodus 4:24 — circumcision as covenant sign and Moses's failure to circumcise his son.

Question from Dave Baran about why God sought to kill Moses in Exodus 4:24 and what Zipporah meant by "bloody husband."

Acts 4 Acts 4 Holy Spirit empowerment Holy Spirit filling

The "upon" experience continues in the New Testament alongside indwelling: Acts 4 prayer for boldness as a second coming of the Spirit upon believers already indwelt.

Reconciling Old Testament "upon" empowerment with New Testament reality.

James 2 James 2 Christian essentials Salvation theology

Who is a brother or sister in Christ? Core doctrines required: the identity and saving work of Jesus — his real existence, death, resurrection, and forgiveness of sins through faith.

Question from Rosie A. about the minimum beliefs required to consider someone a fellow Christian.

Prayer for the dead Purgatory God's relationship to time

Praying for the salvation of the deceased: not immoral as described, but lacks biblical authorization and is questionable in effect.

Question from "Nothing Much" about retroactive prayer for someone who has already died.

Revelation Revelation dating John the Apostle Revelation burden of proof preterism

John wrote Revelation as a vision, not personal reflection — explains silence on Temple destruction; late dating supported by majority of scholars

Mike responds to why Revelation does not mention the Temple destruction.

free will divine sovereignty compatibilism

Free will and divine sovereignty are compatible — sovereignty means ultimate control, not micromanagement of every choice

Mike addresses how free will coexists with divine sovereignty.

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.

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.

2 Corinthians 4 repentance sanctification Paul the Apostle

Q20: Do we need to feel bad for sin when we repent, or is knowing it is wrong enough? Feeling is healthy but not required — emotions are the caboose of the train

Viewer Joel Larson asks whether genuine repentance requires feeling bad about sin, noting his ex-girlfriend does not feel bad about their shared sexual sin.

church leadership pastoral ethics pastoral compensation

Question: Is it wrong for a pastor to live in a huge home with a salary higher than 90% of his congregation?

Viewer JR asks whether high pastoral salaries and luxury homes are appropriate.

church unity Calvary Chapel secondary issues

Question: Thoughts on the ecumenical movement — should I leave a church that is part of it?

Viewer in Finland asks about ecumenism, since most Finnish churches are officially part of the ecumenical movement.

Ephesians 6:17-18 prayer armor of God Ephesians 6:17-18

Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) — the only offensive weapon; prayer as the capstone

Sixth and final piece of armor: the one offensive weapon in the full armor. Paul adds prayer outside the armor list.