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All (58) Mike Winger (58)
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-14

Craig Blomberg's nuanced view: 'ezer' means the one being helped bears primary responsibility -- Mike disagrees, citing Psalm 146:3-7 as a counter-example.

Blomberg's complementarian take on 'ezer'

Two Views on Women in Ministry ezer Craig Blomberg
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Both egalitarians and complementarians can learn from surveying OT women in leadership; complementarians tend to minimize these women.

Setting up the survey of OT examples

John Piper John Piper Deborah complementarianism
Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

Egalitarians treat their position as a moral mission, not just a theological view

Mike describes the activist nature of egalitarian scholarship.

egalitarianism scholarly methodology social justice
Mike Winger idea 2018-02-14

Bill Johnson's 'superior and inferior truths' teaching: the judgment of God is true but the mercy of God is 'more true'; anything not seen in Jesus is an inferior truth

Mike plays and deconstructs a specific Johnson video on the hierarchy of truths

Psalms 85:10 Bill Johnson hermeneutics superior and inferior truths
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-17

The 'eye for an eye' passage (Exodus 21:22) establishes proportional justice, not revenge, and further proves that sins are not equal in God's legal framework.

Mike unpacks the lex talionis principle, which is commonly misquoted as a license for personal revenge.

Exodus 21 sin Old Testament law eye for an eye
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-17

Deuteronomy 25 provides a catch-all principle: punishment is to be 'in proportion to the offense,' explicitly grounding proportional justice in God's law.

Mike examines a general sentencing passage in Deuteronomy to show that the proportionality principle is not limited to specific crimes but is a foundational legal principle.

Deuteronomy 25 sin Old Testament law hierarchy of sin
Mike Winger idea 2018-12-01

Q&A: Having favorites is not the same as favoritism — favoritism is the sinful distortion of justice based on preference, not the innocent preference itself

Question from Christian Harold Harrison about favorites and favoritism in sports

sin ethics Christian living
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-20

Q&A: Salvation of severely mentally handicapped people — accountability proportional to awareness

Q&A segment begins; first question about soteriological edge cases.

Matthew 11:21-24 salvation mental disability and accountability Matthew 11:21-24
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Top apologetic questions Gen Z is actually asking, per Barna research: science/faith, exclusivity of Christ, LGBTQ issues, problem of evil, injustice done in the name of Christianity

McDowell lists the specific apologetic questions Gen Z raises

inclusivism Generation Z Barna Research
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Why mainline churches are dying: no meaningful difference from wider culture gives people no reason to attend

McDowell gives the bottom-line diagnosis for mainline church decline

biblical authority cultural accommodation church attendance
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-01

The prior probability of the resurrection cannot be assessed by counting how many people have naturally risen — category error

Mike drills into the specific error of applying natural-process probability to a theistic miracle claim.

Resurrection of Jesus Miracles Prior probability
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

Why was Jesus bound to the law? God's holiness requires punishment for sin; Jesus satisfies both justice and mercy

Q&A: Christina Hunt about why Jesus had to die

Psalm 85:10 atonement Jesus under the law holiness of God
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

Objection 5 stated: double jeopardy / double payment

If Christ paid for everyone's sins, it is unjust to punish anyone further.

hell divine justice limited atonement
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

Double jeopardy objection answered: Ephesians 2 proves the elect were under wrath after the cross, i.e., already "double payment" on limited atonement

Mike turns the double payment argument against limited atonement.

Ephesians 2:1-3 divine justice limited atonement double jeopardy / double payment
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

Legal pardon analogy: a rejected pardon does not eliminate the sentence

Mike uses a legal illustration to support his double payment response.

divine justice unlimited atonement double jeopardy / double payment
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Conclusion: Jesus is the only way because he alone paid the full price for sin; Christianity makes real sense of human suffering

Final summary and invitation

Holy Spirit atonement grace
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Christians are called to non-retaliation; violent protest contradicts following Jesus

Continuing the discussion on whether Jesus clearing the temple justifies violent protest.

Matthew 5:38-48 Romans 12:14-21 Christian ethics nonviolence retaliation
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Biblical justice requires impartiality; modern social justice errs by elevating group rights over equal standards

Response to viewer Kara Gordon asking whether caring for the marginalized should look different for a Christian than secular socialism or communism.

Exodus 23:2-3 Leviticus 19:15 abortion social justice biblical justice
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Christians can serve God faithfully under any form of government; government structure is a secondary issue

Part of the discussion on socialism vs. biblical justice.

sin nature government political theology
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Degrees of judgment in hell: God factors in knowledge when judging — sinning in ignorance vs. sinning with full knowledge results in different severity of judgment

Expanding the Hebrews 10 discussion to address differentiated eschatological judgment

Luke 12:47-48 judgment unevangelized hell
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

God's choices of Jacob, Abraham, Moses, prophets — not favoritism but purposive grace for non-salvific roles

Question from Ryder Ness, a "struggling Calvinist," about divine favoritism in biblical election.

Isaiah 6 Romans 9 Genesis 25 election Moses Abraham
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Mike affirms free-will salvation against Calvinism but insists rejection of Calvinism must be theological, not emotional

Mike gives his own position on Calvinism while counseling the questioner.

election Calvinism free will
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Jesus did not come to "dismantle systems of oppression" — projecting modern political terminology onto Jesus creates an idol

Question from Steph T about the claim that Jesus came to dismantle systems of oppression.

hermeneutics social justice impartiality
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

No single biblical form of government; Christianity fits any system through principles

Question about biblical support for monarchy and the Christian attitude toward it.

Romans 13 theocracy justice Romans 13
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Psalm 37 presents future divine justice as the basis for present contentment amid the prosperity of the wicked

Continuing contextual walk through Psalm 37

Psalm 37 Matthew 5:5 anxiety divine justice Psalm 37
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 objects to using the word "torture" for hell because it implies morally wrong treatment; he argues hell is perfectly just measured punishment that varies according to each person’s sins and revelatory opportunities, citing Jesus’ own statements about different degrees of judgment.

Continuation of discussion on hell and how to explain it

judgment divine justice hell
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Matthew 5:38-42 addresses personal vengeance, not self-defense or courtroom justice — and does not require total pacifism.

Question from Adriano about the Sermon on the Mount passages on non-retaliation and self-defense.

Matthew 5:38-42 Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:38-42 Turn the other cheek
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

God's glory is displayed in just judgment of sin, like a good judge rightly sentencing the guilty

Responding to the question of how God's glory comes from judging unbelievers

justice divine judgment holiness of God
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Christians can and should serve in government; Romans 13 and Romans 12:17 are not contradictory — private morality and governmental justice operate on different principles.

The Brunette Family asks whether a Christian can be a governing authority given Romans 13:1 alongside Romans 12:17 ("repay no one evil for evil").

Romans 13:4 Romans 13:1 Romans 12:17 Romans 13:4 Romans 13:1 Romans 12:17
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Can we anger God to the point where he will never forgive us?

Question from Dominique Cohn about whether God's anger can make him permanently withhold forgiveness.

Luke 23:34 Ezekiel 18:23 Luke 23:34 Ezekiel 18:23 God's wrath / anger
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

How to biblically grieve the death of an unsaved loved one: grief is good, blame is bad

Q1 from Megan Chan: How do we biblically grieve the death of a loved one who was not saved, and how do we respond to those who offer to pray for the dead?

Isaiah Isaiah purgatory God's goodness
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Psalm 82 gods (elohim) most likely refers to earthly rulers ironically addressed as divine beings, not literal supernatural deities.

Question 10 from RaHR17 about who the gods in Psalm 82 are; engages Michael Heiser's divine council worldview.

1 Samuel 28 John 10 Psalm 82 Michael Heiser 1 Samuel 28 John 10
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-18

Q: Will we be sad in heaven about people in hell? No — because of resolution, not memory loss. "Former things not remembered" means not dwelling on them or worrying, not literal amnesia. In God's presence with his perspective, we'll understand his justice is right. The glory will outshine all grief.

Q&A — sadness in heaven over hell

hell memory in heaven hell
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-08

Consequences of sin: (1) relational separation from God (Isaiah 59:2, Adam and Eve expelled from Eden, Colossians 1:21 — alienated and enemies in our minds); (2) future judgment — God is a just judge who must deal with sin. Romans 6:23: wages of sin is death (separation, judgment, hell). Our goodness can't fix it — we've already failed.

Consequences of sin — separation and judgment

Romans 6:23 Isaiah 59:2 Colossians 1:21 Romans 6:23 wages of sin Isaiah 59:2
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-29

Q&A: Death penalty is biblically valid. Genesis 9:5-6 (pre-Mosaic, given to all humanity): whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed — because man is made in God's image. Society has a mandate to execute justice. Romans 13:4: government bears the sword as God's servant/avenger. The sword = general governmental authority, which includes capital punishment for murder under certain conditions.

Q&A — death penalty

Romans 13:4 Genesis 9:5-6 Romans 13:4 imago Dei death penalty
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-29

Overview: Interview with Neil Shenvi on Critical Race Theory. The culture has real racism problems, but CRT distorts the problem and offers solutions that create more injustice. The goal is to think biblically, not politically.

Introduction to CRT discussion with Neil Shenvi

biblical justice Neil Shenvi Christian politics
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-29

Critical Race Theory is a discipline within critical social theory (rooted in Marx). It emerged from critical legal studies in the 1980s. The overarching worldview: society is defined by dominant group vs. oppressed group, and the goal is dismantling oppressive systems.

What is Critical Theory and Critical Race Theory — definitions and origins

critical theory intersectionality Kimberlé Crenshaw
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-29

Biblical framework: impartiality in judgment (no favoritism for rich or poor), all humans of one blood in God's image, individual sin/accountability, Scripture as the authority over lived experience. CRT is incompatible with Christianity on every core tenet.

The biblical response to CRT

Leviticus 19:15 image of God image of God biblical justice
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-02

The death penalty is clearly supported by Scripture. Genesis 9:5-6 — given to ALL humanity (not just Israel) — establishes capital punishment for murder based on the image of God: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed."

The foundational biblical case for the death penalty from Genesis 9

Genesis 9:5-6 image of God image of God capital punishment
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-02

Objections answered: (1) Jesus's "turn the other cheek" refutes personal vengeance, not governmental justice; (2) David's pardon is a divine exception, not a rule; (3) John 8 (woman in adultery) was a mob, not a court — and the passage is textually questionable.

Responding to objections against the death penalty

John 8 woman adultery Matthew 5 eye for eye death penalty John 8 woman adultery Matthew 5 eye for eye
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-02

God's justice is BOTH restorative AND retributive — using restoration to eliminate punishment is itself unjust. The solution to wrongful convictions is to reform the death penalty, not abolish it.

Restorative vs. retributive justice, and the wrongful conviction problem

Revelation 6:10 Roman Catholicism death penalty Revelation 6:10
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-08

About Liberal & Conservative Christians: It seems like conservative Christians are biblical with respect to personal morality, to the exclusion of societal justice - and liberal ones vice versa. Why? Is one more important? How do we reconcile the extremes?

Q&A question: About Liberal & Conservative Christians
Mike Winger idea 2021-12-17

Is Luke a “Social Justice Gospel”?: The book of Luke is being described as the "social justice gospel” in Progressive circles. What do you think about Luke being described as the social justice gospel?

Q&A question: Is Luke a “Social Justice Gospel”?
Mike Winger idea 2022-09-30

God’s Judgment vs. Justice: How are God's judgment (him being a judge who carries out consequences) and His justice (establishing order) different if He uses His judgment to apply justice? Or can you explain His judgment vs. His justice?

Q&A question: God’s Judgment vs. Justice
Mike Winger idea 2022-12-09

Does 2 Kings 2 Challenge God’s Goodness?: My brother brought up 2 Kings 2: 23-25 to challenge the goodness of God. He saw an imbalance of justice when bears came to maul 40 boys for making fun of Elisha. How would you respond to this?

Q&A question: Does 2 Kings 2 Challenge God’s Goodness?

2 Kings 2 Elisha 2 Kings 2
Mike Winger idea 2023-02-17

The Holiness of God’s Justice: Any tips for how to become less opposed to God’s judgment, and to see it as holy? It can cause me to feel like God is an unloving God sometimes.

Q&A question: The Holiness of God’s Justice
Mike Winger idea 2024-03-08

Should Christians Leave Ungodly Areas?: Does the Bible say Christians should relocate their family (especially with young kids), or stop having kids altogether if evil/injustice continues to grow in their community?

Q&A question: Should Christians Leave Ungodly Areas?
Mike Winger idea 2024-04-12

Wisdom on Mercy vs. Justice: How should I balance mercy and justice as a Christian? How do you know when each one is appropriate? When is it wrong to apply mercy and grace, and when does it become unjust to do so?

Q&A question: Wisdom on Mercy vs. Justice
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