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All (22) Mike Winger (22)

Mike Winger idea 2022-03-14

Mary Conway's alternative approach to naming: it's an act of discernment, not authority, based on George Ramsey's 1988 paper.

Alternative egalitarian argument on naming

Discovering Biblical Equality Mary Conway naming as authority

Mike Winger idea 2022-03-14

Mike's four problems with Ramsey's paper: (1) ignores Genesis 1-2 context, (2) confuses WHY a name was chosen with WHY Adam does the naming, (3) argues against magical naming instead of actual complementarian claims, (4) ignores that namers consistently have authority over the named.

Critique of Ramsey's paper on naming

Gen 2 false dichotomy naming as authority

Mike Winger idea 2018-02-07

Q&A: Mark 7:32-34 and Jesus spitting/making mud — Mike lacks a definitive interpretation but shares a missionary anecdote about a tribe that attributed magical powers to shamans' spit, making Jesus' spitting highly significant for them.

Viewer question from TruthandGrace about the theological significance of Jesus using spit in healing.

Mark 7:32-34 John 9 hermeneutics Mark 7:32-34 John 9

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-18

David Mead's third Scripture abuse: Genesis 7:4 'seventeenth day of the second month' read as the year 2017

Mead takes Noah's ark entry date from Genesis 7 and treats it as a numerological code predicting the year 2017.

Genesis 7:4 false prophecy David Mead numerology

Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Leviticus purification rituals were quarantine protocols, not magic healing spells

Ra claims the Bible teaches that ritual spells can purify and cure illness, when diseases are actually caused by pathogens

Leviticus 14 Leviticus 14 Purification rituals Quarantine laws

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-24

Q&A: Playing magical characters in video games is a separate question from Halloween and depends on conscience

Viewer asks whether abstaining from Halloween would be inconsistent with playing a mage or shaman in a video game

Conscience Video games Magic

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

The criteria of authenticity are not magical — they are common-sense principles: prioritize early sources, eyewitness reports, unsympathetic sources, multiple independent attestation

Explaining what the criteria of authenticity actually are

multiple attestation eyewitness testimony criteria of authenticity

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Christians playing RPG video games: Romans 14 gives space for different convictions

Q&A from Gwen Gazette about RPGs and fantasy magic in video games

Romans 14 Romans 14 Christian liberty Christian ethics

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

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

Christian ethics video games witchcraft

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Exodus 7: Pharaoh's magicians reproduced some of Moses's signs — two possible explanations: sleight of hand or demonic power

Q&A from Garrett De Jong about how the magicians duplicated the signs

Exodus 7 Satan Exodus 7 Pharaoh's magicians

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Pharaoh's magicians' inferior reproductions reveal lesser power than Moses — turning fresh water to blood instead of reversing the Nile

Evidence that the magicians operated with limited power

Exodus 7 Exodus 7 Pharaoh's magicians demonic power

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

"In Jesus's name" is not a required formula but a meaningful expression of mediation

Practical application of praying in Jesus's name

prayer Jesus as mediator prayer in Jesus's name

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

False signs and wonders: miracles do not authenticate a religion; Satan has real but limited supernatural power

Question from 'spazzy jazzy' about a Japanese friend who believes a false religion because of a miraculous healing her mother received.

Exodus 7 Mark 13:22 discernment evangelism Exodus 7

Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Q&A: How to test if a financial blessing is from God. Look at whether it came through godliness, follow biblical prayer principles (asking in God's will, not selfish motives), and use money to seek God's kingdom first.

Q&A — financial blessings and stewardship

prayer prayer financial stewardship

Mike Winger idea 2020-04-08

What to do to be saved (Romans 10:9): (1) "Believe in your heart" = intellectual belief PLUS reliance/trust (Greek pisteuo = entrust). Know the resurrection is true AND rely on Christ for salvation. (2) "Confess Jesus is Lord" = honest commitment to his authority, not just saying words. Lordship means he's your boss, king, authority. Repentance = turning from rebellion to yielding to God.

How to respond — belief and confession

Romans 10:9 repentance repentance Romans 10:9

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

First-century magic (witchcraft) forced the gods' will to obey the practitioner. A distorted Mark 11 teaching that sources miracles in MY will rather than God's will moves into the realm of magic, not prayer.

Historical context: prayer vs. magic in the first century

Word of Faith Word of Faith magic vs prayer

Mike Winger idea 2022-05-13

How are Miracles Proof if Satan Can Also Do Them?: One of the proofs you've put forward that the Bible is from God is miracles and prophecy. If we see that Satan is also able to do miracles, like Pharaoh's magicians, then why are those things proof it’s from God?

Q&A question: How are Miracles Proof if Satan Can Also Do Them?

Satan prophecy miracles

Mike Winger idea 2022-07-01

Are Illusionists’ Tricks Sinful?: Is there anything wrong with learning sleight of hand magic or using it in evangelism?

Q&A question: Are Illusionists’ Tricks Sinful?

angels

Mike Winger idea 2022-07-29

Is it Wrong to Handle Ungodly Items?: I work in a warehouse handling every item imaginable. How should I handle satanic/"magic" items? Should I refuse to handle such things?

Q&A question: Is it Wrong to Handle Ungodly Items?

Satan

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-19

Can Satan Heal People?: In view of the magicians in Exodus potentially getting their power from Satan, can Satan and demons heal, and are these potentially healings that don't last?

Q&A question: Can Satan Heal People?

Satan healing demons

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-13

Are Drugs OK if they’re Grown Naturally?: Is Genesis 1: 29 allowing us to smoke weed and to eat magic mushrooms because they’re found naturally? Hasn’t sin surely had a big impact after the fall, on vegetation?

Q&A question: Are Drugs OK if they’re Grown Naturally?

Genesis Genesis 1 Genesis Genesis 1

Mike Winger idea 2023-07-21

DND, Harry Potter, etc.: The Bible is clear about its stance on sorcery and witchcraft. My husband and I play DND and some people were having an issue with this and potentially also with books containing magic. What are your thoughts?

Q&A question: DND, Harry Potter, etc.

marriage

Mary Conway's alternative approach to naming: it's an act of discernment, not authority, based on George Ramsey's 1988 paper.

Mike's four problems with Ramsey's paper: (1) ignores Genesis 1-2 context, (2) confuses WHY a name was chosen with WHY Adam does the naming, (3) argues against magical naming instead of actual complementarian claims, (4) ignores that namers consistently have authority over the named.

Q&A: Mark 7:32-34 and Jesus spitting/making mud — Mike lacks a definitive interpretation but shares a missionary anecdote about a tribe that attributed magical powers to shamans' spit, making Jesus' spitting highly significant for them.

David Mead's third Scripture abuse: Genesis 7:4 'seventeenth day of the second month' read as the year 2017

Leviticus purification rituals were quarantine protocols, not magic healing spells

Q&A: Playing magical characters in video games is a separate question from Halloween and depends on conscience

The criteria of authenticity are not magical — they are common-sense principles: prioritize early sources, eyewitness reports, unsympathetic sources, multiple independent attestation

Christians playing RPG video games: Romans 14 gives space for different convictions

Fantasy magic vs. actual witchcraft: the distinction matters for whether a video game element is spiritually dangerous

Exodus 7: Pharaoh's magicians reproduced some of Moses's signs — two possible explanations: sleight of hand or demonic power

Pharaoh's magicians' inferior reproductions reveal lesser power than Moses — turning fresh water to blood instead of reversing the Nile

"In Jesus's name" is not a required formula but a meaningful expression of mediation

False signs and wonders: miracles do not authenticate a religion; Satan has real but limited supernatural power

Q&A: How to test if a financial blessing is from God. Look at whether it came through godliness, follow biblical prayer principles (asking in God's will, not selfish motives), and use money to seek God's kingdom first.

First-century magic (witchcraft) forced the gods' will to obey the practitioner. A distorted Mark 11 teaching that sources miracles in MY will rather than God's will moves into the realm of magic, not prayer.

How are Miracles Proof if Satan Can Also Do Them?: One of the proofs you've put forward that the Bible is from God is miracles and prophecy. If we see that Satan is also able to do miracles, like Pharaoh's magicians, then why are those things proof it’s from God?

Are Illusionists’ Tricks Sinful?: Is there anything wrong with learning sleight of hand magic or using it in evangelism?

Is it Wrong to Handle Ungodly Items?: I work in a warehouse handling every item imaginable. How should I handle satanic/"magic" items? Should I refuse to handle such things?

Can Satan Heal People?: In view of the magicians in Exodus potentially getting their power from Satan, can Satan and demons heal, and are these potentially healings that don't last?

Are Drugs OK if they’re Grown Naturally?: Is Genesis 1: 29 allowing us to smoke weed and to eat magic mushrooms because they’re found naturally? Hasn’t sin surely had a big impact after the fall, on vegetation?

DND, Harry Potter, etc.: The Bible is clear about its stance on sorcery and witchcraft. My husband and I play DND and some people were having an issue with this and potentially also with books containing magic. What are your thoughts?

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