BibleThinker

By Mike WingerReligion & Spirituality Christianity

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BibleThinker episodes

March 18, 202320 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 95)
Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:23 {Overcoming Covetousness} Why is it so hard to be content? I've been blessed with more than most people, but I'm always wanting MORE. I drain so much money buying more "stuff" and once I see something I like, I'm bummed/stressed until I get to buy it. I don't want to be this way. Please help!
25:10 {Eschatological Timings} What effect does Psalm 110:1 and Luke 20:42-43 have on the timing or placement of the rapture of the Church in reference to the tribulation?
29:59 {How to Pray for Unbelievers} I don’t believe Calvinism is biblical, but I find that my prayers for unbelievers often sound Calvinistic: “Change their hearts, bring them to You,” etc. How should we pray for unbelievers' salvation?
32:10 {Can We Be as Close as the Disciples?} Do you think that we can have as personal and intimate of a relationship with Jesus as His twelve disciples did? I've heard 1 John 1:1-3 used to support this.
36:17 {Did God Direct Moses to Deceive Pharaoh?} Why did God tell Moses to ask Pharaoh to go "three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God" (Exodus 3:18) if it wasn't God's intention for them to return to Egypt?
42:58 {Do our Prophecies Create Reality?} Kris Vallotton cites Ezekiel 37:1-6 to claim that our prophecies create reality, rather than just foretelling the future. Is there merit to this?
52:24 {Does Jesus’ Compassion Change?} When Jesus interacts with people, He is often compassionate. However, with the 12, he most often sounds harsh. Does His relationship toward us change once we are “on the team"?
1:00:17 {Moving Forward after Church Hurt} What are your thoughts on how to best get back involved with the Church after you have had past hurts both done to you, and you toward others? Also, should a person go back to the same church, or seek a new one?
1:05:48 {Trinitarian Clarity} How is the Holy Spirit not the Son or Father (Matthew 10:20, Philippians 1:19)? These verses confuse me when I’m trying to answer this question.
1:10:38 {Warnings about False Teachings} Do warnings to Churches and believers in verses such as Jude 1:3-4 or other Epistles regarding false/heretical doctrines apply to Mormons who want a relationship with God/Jesus but are just deceived?
1:15:29 {Knowing When to Yield} My pastor wants me to obey my husband even when it hurts my mental health, triggers my eating disorder, or my sleep disorder. Is he right or wrong? He says I should “Die like Christ.”
1:19:03 {Encouragement Amid Physical Limitations} What counsel would you give a discouraged believer with a debilitating chronic illness who carries a lot of guilt for not being able to serve in the ways they want to be able to?
1:24:10 {Jesus AND the Bible = “The Word”?} What is the distinction that is to be made between Jesus and the Bible, as far as the title "Word of God" goes, which is applied to both of them?
1:28:15 {When Translations Vary} What do we do when we find significant difference between translations (such as 1 John 5:7 in the KJV vs. modern translations)?
1:33:08 {Why Did God Choose the Tribe of Levi?} Do we know why God chose the tribe of Levi to be the priesthood?
1:34:26 {Tips for Preparing Your First Sermon} I give my first sermon this Sunday. Any tips/pointers for those going through seminary/preparing for their first sermon(s)?
1:39:29 {Advice for Raising Kids in the Faith} I want to raise my two kids aged 7 and 9 in the faith. I don’t want to push too hard. Any advice? My ex-wife has left the faith, so I feel like it’s up to me (and God).
1:41:23 {Was Paul Married?} I heard a theory that the Apostle Paul was married and a widower. Do you think that’s relevant, and does it have any biblical standing?
1:45:43 {Is My Daughter’s Cancer a Punishment?} When I got pregnant from an ungodly relationship, I turned to God and know He forgave all my sins. But my daughter was born with cancer. Is this a punishment from God?
1:50:19 {Should We Call Out Others’ Sins?} Should we call out sin in the lives of other Christian friends? I had a conversation with my pastor about this in regard to cussing, and he told me if we don't have a mutual edification then it might not be my place.

Links I mentioned:
The funny St. Patrick's video
Video addressing the "Name It and Claim It" Bible verse: CLICK HERE
Video on the passage where Jesus was speaking to Moses in the burning bush: CLICK HERE
My analysis of the mass divorce God seems to approve of in the book of Ezra: CLICK HERE
My explanation of why we shouldn't confuse Jesus with the Bible: CLICK HERE
Resources for parents:
natashacrain.com (great books and articles I highly recommend)
foundationwordview.com (video curriculum that I highly recommend)
1 hr 57 min
March 04, 202320 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 94)
A worthwhile ministry to support right now….

"Restoring Faith" is a ministry that helps bring aid to people in crisis. They are sending funds to Syria to assist victims of the recent earthquake. 100% of the money donated goes to aid for the victims: http://restoringfaithinc.org/

Today's Time Stamps:
0:29 What does it mean to worship God “in Spirit and in truth”?
14:14 Is Hebrews 1:1 a reasonable proof text for cessationism in relation to prophecy? It says God spoke to our ancestors through prophets, but "in these last days," He has spoken to us through Christ. Are we in the "last days" Paul refers to?
21:23 At my age and health, it’s hard to manage my long hair. May I cut it chin length as long as I keep it looking feminine and still relatively longer than a man’s? Is simply maintaining that gender distinction the important part?
23:16 Coming from a “2 works movement” (CHM), I’ve always heard 1 Thessalonians 5:23 taught as calling people to a second work of Grace, or an experience of entire sanctification. What is Paul actually saying there?
29:42 How much do my efforts influence situations when God is sovereign and in control? For example, my hard work vs. God blessing my business, improving my health to "extend" my life vs. God setting the number of my days, etc.
33:25 What does the harvest refer to in Luke 10? I've always heard it talked about relating to evangelism, but a harvest implies that the work has already been done and you're able to get the fruit of your labor.
37:01 Can Satan stop God's plan? I had to cancel a mission trip at the last minute due to something I couldn't control, but doors had opened and things had fallen into place for us to go, so it seemed like it was God's will.
41:47 1 Timothy 3:4-5 and Titus 1:6 seem to indicate if someone desires to be an elder they are disqualified by unbelieving children. Does this include adult children? The wife? What do these verses mean?
48:19 How are we to relate to fallen brothers in terms of fellowship, and to cult members with hospitality according to 1 Corinthians 5:11 and 2 John 1:10?
55:56 If I have a friend who is not saved and I have tried to evangelize them and have only been met with resistance, do I need to stop hanging out with them?
58:41 Why does God allow success for celebrities that don’t follow Him?
1:02:17 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 says that someone should not speak in tongues unless there is an interpreter, but how are they supposed to know if there is an interpreter present?
1:04:19 What is a correct approach to reach someone you care about who is dealing with suicidal thoughts?
1:06:18 In the KJV, 2 Kings 8:26 and 2 Chronicles 22:2 give two completely different ages for Ahaziah when he took the throne. How can we account for this?
1:14:43 I am a new Christian and my brother is an atheist. He has brought up the question of “What if God is lying about everything and this all a big cosmic joke?” How do I combat this thinking?
1:19:55 Ephesians 5:5 says that the sexually immoral will have no place in the Kingdom of God, yet later, Ephesians says we’re saved by grace through faith. Is this contradictory?
1:25:20 If all meats were made clean, then how do Christians interpret Isaiah 66:15-18, as that passage, I believe, refers to Christ’s second coming, and in it He “destroys” those who eat unclean meats?
1:28:48 When is the right age to evangelize? I'm 15 and I used to evangelize and many believed, but I also got into trouble with the police and at my school. My pastor told me to wait until I’m more mature and I’ve learned more of God’s Word.
1:31:09 How do I help my dad (an unbeliever) who thinks religion is used to control us? He also says, “If God exists, where was He when my father was beating my mother and I, and I cried out to Him?”
1:38:24 What's the biblical response on what a Christian should do if they move into a haunted house? I know "hauntings" are demonic, and I've been there before for 3 years. What do I do if it happens again?

CLICK HERE for the “Jesus in the Old Testament” series

Here is the “Got Questions” article I read during the stream.
1 hr 43 min
February 28, 2023 Did Pharaoh Have Free Will When "God Hardened His Heart"?
CLICK HERE for the full study on this topic from my verse-by-verse teaching through Romans.

This is my best understanding of this topic and I think that it fits really well with a wide variety of Scripture that speaks to the issue. For a fuller defense of my own view, please see the video I have linked above.
My website: https://BibleThinker.org
7 min
February 18, 202320 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 93)
0:15 {Do We Pray For or Against our Enemies?} How do you reconcile the New Testament's clear teachings to love and pray for our enemies with Psalms like Psalm 69:22-28? Is there ever a time when we should pray against our enemies?
23:44 {Gospel Patterns?} Is Genesis 1:1-6 a foreshadowing of the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? John 1:1, Luke 1:1, Mark 1:1, Matthew 4:17, and 1 John 1:1 all speak of beginning, then water, light, and darkness.
29:25 {Unhealthy Associations w/Gratitude} Growing up, I had people expect me to show gratitude as a way to ignore abuse. Now, I want to be thankful for blessings in my life, but I associate gratitude with abuse. How do I separate that?
33:24 {Prophecy Fulfillment, or Just Staged?} People quote prophecy as evidence of Jesus’ deity. Couldn’t He have deliberately fulfilled some prophecies, such as bribing men to divide His clothes, or purposefully riding a donkey into Jerusalem?
37:38 {Why Physical vs. Spiritual Blessings?} What is the significance of God promising physical blessings to nations (thinking particularly of the promise to Ishmael), when, in light of eternity, physical blessings are nearly insignificant?
39:38 {About the Septuagint & Masoretic Text} Is the Greek LXX (Septuagint) considered a flawed copy? The genealogy of Shem adds hundreds of years which is quite significant. Is the Masoretic Text inerrant, or am I misunderstanding inerrancy?
44:38 {Thoughts on the Asbury Revival} What are your thoughts about what is happening at Asbury?
48:04 {Is there a Proper Format for Church Services?} Is the current way we do church services prescribed in the Bible? Where did this current style of worship come from?
51:34 {Was Aaron Punished for the Golden Calf?} Why didn't Aaron get punished for making the golden calf in Exodus 32?
1:00:38 {Butterfly Effect/Multiple Universes?} What are your thoughts on the butterfly effect and the possibility of multiple universes?
1:06:31 {Galatians 5 – Heaven or Rewards?} In Galatians 5:19-21, is the “kingdom of God” a reference to Heaven itself, or a reference to rewards? A local pastor says it is about rewards, but I am skeptical.
1:14:17 {Did God Permit Child Sacrifice?} Why did God allow child sacrifice in Judges when the man said he will sacrifice anything that walks through the door, and then his daughter walks out? Aren't the other nations judged for this action?
1:19:22 {Can Killing a Leader be Justified At Times?} We know that self-defense is biblical, but what about assassinations like Project Valkyrie (Hitler) or times when killing a leader might save other lives? Are we still bound to their authority?
1:23:50 {Bible Reading Schedule – Required?} Do you think it's wrong if I don't read the Bible regularly? I do read and study it, but I don't have a consistent schedule.
1:26:36 {Parable of the Minas} I was just wondering what your interpretation of the parable in Luke 19: 11-27 is. Specifically, what do you think the slaves and the minas represent?
1:34:07 {Must We Always be “Nice”?} Is it biblical to be nice? My boyfriend is extremely honest and it rubs a lot of people the wrong way. Does he have a biblical obligation to be nice with his words?
1:35:57 {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.
1:42:01 {Dancing as a Form of Worship?} Is dancing allowed in church? Can it be considered worship?
1:44:15 {Works-Based Salvation?} Does Matthew 7:21 tell us that works are necessary to get saved?
1:46:25 {Are Men’s Beards Prideful?} What do you think about beards? I heard a pastor say that it is a prideful thing to wear a beard, and therefore wrong to have one. I don't really agree. I don't think you do either, as you have one.

CLICK HERE for my video on when to rebel against Government.

CLICK HERE for my “Evidence for the Bible” playlist. Lots of support for Scripture here, including explanations of how we got our Bible books and why they are reliable representations of the originals.
1 hr 53 min
February 14, 2023 What I got wrong about Heaven.
I probably shouldn't have gotten my theology from cartoons. Here are specific, common, false beliefs about Heaven and a number of things we can know about Heaven based on the Bible.
My website: https://BibleThinker.org
22 min
February 07, 2023 Explaining EACH piece of "The Armor of God"
Christians, you are in a spiritual battle every day. You need the armor of God, lest you fall victim to the schemes of Satan.
This reality should stir us up and make us very serious about our spiritual well-being and preparation for the daily battle we face. Put on the armor of God, not just a short video about it. Seek practical application of these principles in your life today.
My website: https://BibleThinker.org
What each piece means.
We are in a war.
8 min
January 31, 2023 HIGHLY intelligent atheists used to worry me. This is why.
I remember feeling like I might have reason to doubt if introduced to a really smart atheist, like a very accomplished scholar and philosopher, such as Graham Oppy. I don't feel that way anymore.
Here's the debate I mentioned, between Graham Oppy and Ed Fesser. It's a very academic debate that will be quite difficult for most people to follow.
My website: https://BibleThinker.org
7 min
January 31, 2023Bethel and Bill Johnson’s Bridge to the New Age and Spiritual Fakery.
I have been wanting to make this video for quite a while. It's based on the teaching in the book The Physics of Heaven, which is very much a "Bethel book." It is sold in their bookstore, it's endorsed by their leaders, it's written by people from Bethel, including their two lead pastors, Bill Johnson and Beni Johnson. The book is a very open appeal to Christians to embrace New Age beliefs and practices. I truly wish I was exaggerating.

In today's video, I'm going to share quotes from the book to demonstrate the problems with its teachings and show its dangers. I'll address the way they misuse Scripture to support these teachings. I'll also be sharing content from a physicist who has weighed in to demonstrate how fake the "science" of the book is. Finally, I'll share some shocking details about the deceptions in the book related to the supposed credentials of the "quantum physicist" who they lean on as an expert. Spoiler: he's not.

Bethel Church in Redding, California has presented itself to the worldwide body of Christ as a guide for deeper and more miraculous spiritual experiences. Since they have such a wide impact and reach, and their teachings on these issues are, I am sad to say, not only reckless but dangerous and unbiblical, I feel this video is worth making.
A physicist reviews the wacky science claims in The Physics of Heaven. Special thanks to Dr. Martin Krause for providing this analysis for free.
Do you want my notes from today's video? Here they are, with all book references.
CLICK HERE for my video showing that James Goll (used a source in the book) pretended to prophesy while just reporting commonly held political speculation.
CLICK HERE for my original video on Bill Johnson and Bethel Church's theology and practice. I would be harsher today, though I will leave this video up because I believe it has a good analysis of problems.
1 hr 57 min
January 27, 202320 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 92)
Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:19 {Can a Christian Have a Demon?} Can a true Christian be “possessed” or have demons?
12:33 {About Plagiarism in Preaching} Plagiarism in preaching seems to be on the rise. In Philippians 1:15-18, Paul seems to be saying the end justifies the means when preaching. Is this an accurate interpretation, and applicable to plagiarism?
20:09 {Should Pastors Discuss Politics?} Should pastors avoid discussing current political issues with their congregation?
24:19 {How Smart Must We Be to Evangelize?} I often get overwhelmed because it seems that I need to know EVERYTHING about EVERY topic (history, science, linguistics, etc.) to be able to defend the faith. Do you have any advice?
27:35 {Jesus’ Sacrifice Contradicted?} Does Deuteronomy 24:16 contradict Jesus' sacrifice?
33:26 {When Will Every Tongue Confess?} When do you think Philippians 2:10-11 will be fulfilled? At the end of the millennium, at Armageddon, or throughout the future at different stages? I think Romans 14:10-12 gives us some insight.
36:24 {Sharing Truth with a Defensive Person} My husband doesn't believe in the Trinity and gets so defensive when I try to talk to him about the true God. Should I not bring it up anymore and just live as an example?
40:01 {How Old Will We Be in Heaven?} How old will we be in Heaven?
44:09 {About the “Church of Christ”} Do you have any insight on Church of Christ doctrine? I have a friend I'm planning to open a dialogue with who is in the Church of Christ. I see works based salvation emphasized, but need help.
46:05 {Are Believers Still “Sinners”?} I was wondering, when we get saved, are we still “sinners”? I know that after being saved we sometimes sin. But does that still label us as sinners? I thought we were new creations.
52:27 {Is the Senior Pastor Role Biblical?} Why do so many churches have a “head” pastor that does mostly all the teaching when God gives teaching gifts and words to many people?
57:27 {Cowardice in the Book of Jonah?} Were the mariners and shipmaster selfish cowards and Pagans in Jonah 1:5-15? Even with drowning in a stormy sea, I sense hesitation to discard Jonah to save their own lives.
1:04:43 {Mercy vs. Sacrifice} What does Jesus mean when He says, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” in Matthew 9:12-13?
1:08:17 {Can Coffee be Addictive?} Does proverbs 25:28 apply to coffee? A lot of people are addicted to coffee, and without drinking coffee they get headaches and other problems. Does that mean it is sinful?
1:13:38 {About the Nicolaitans} Isn't Jesus hating the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2:6 out of character? Also, who were they? I hear they were a cult from the Nicholas of Acts 6, one of the 7 deacons.
1:20:32 {The Destruction of Jerusalem} Do you think that Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70? Or do you think the passages people refer to are only about end times events that have not been fulfilled yet?
1:23:26 {Living Together if a Couple Abstains?} Is living together without being married while abstaining living in sin? I don't know how to deal with so many Christians that think it's OK, in light of 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.
1:27:34 {Parental Guidance – Sexual Identities} HELP! My wife and I have access to our kids’ text messages. We discovered our daughter texted a friend that she wants to tell us that she's "coming out as bi-sexual.” What do we do?
1:33:37 {Can Christians Serve in the Military?} I was curious what your thoughts are on the modern American military and if Christians can/should serve in it.
1:36:15 {Are there Additional Spiritual Gifts?} Are there more spiritual gifts than those talked about in the Bible?

CLICK HERE for my video explaining 6 different views of Revelation/end times.

I also referenced THIS VIDEO explaining what Jesus meant in the prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD as well as His second coming.

To ask a question in a future session, just wait until after the you see me live on screen and send your question in through the live chat with a "Q" at the beginning. If possible, include specific verse references and write your question as clearly as possible. Thanks!
1 hr 40 min
January 24, 2023 Atheism vs Christianity
If I was an atheist, I would be logically compelled to conclude we have no true purpose, no ultimate meaning, and no genuine morality, beauty, or value. I’m not alone in this view. Many atheists have made the same devastating conclusion. Interestingly, this seems to push against common human perception and my own incredibly strong intuitions of these things (it most likely goes against yours, as well). This alone is a strong reason to challenge atheism.
On the other hand, Christians have a clear purpose, meaning, and concepts of morality, beauty, and value.
My website: https://BibleThinker.org

16 min

About BibleThinker

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Learn to think biblically about everything! Teaching theology, apologetics, and verse-by-verse Bible studies. Mike Winger teaches with clarity, doesn't shy away from controversial topics, and always…