Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Introduction 1. 0:48 {Does Scripture Promote Evil Things?} I’ve been challenged with the accusation that the Bible “promotes killing, rape, and slavery,” quoting Numbers 31: 15-18. I don’t want to simply prove them wrong; that doesn’t address this person’s heart. Would you please help? 2. 18:36 {About the Death Penalty} As a follow up to your teaching on the death penalty, this question is from my skeptic brother: "Isn't it better to rehabilitate offenders in hopes that they may come to repentance and give their lives to God?" 3. 22:32 {About the Apostles & Judas’ Position} I’ve heard it taught that the Apostles were being presumptuous when filling Judas’ empty position. Why did they choose to apply Psalm 69: 25 and Psalm 109:8 to the situation? 4. 30:38 {Can we See God’s Face & Still Live?} Exodus 33: 20 says "no one can see my face and live.” How do we reconcile this with Exodus 33: 11 which says, "the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as to a friend"? 5. 36:02 {About the 70th Week & Seven Seals} Is there any biblical evidence that the beginning of Daniel's 70th week and Jesus opening the first of the seven seals in Revelation will occur roughly at the same time? 6. 37:44 {Why Didn’t God Rewrite Difficult Passages?} Can you explain the Holy Spirit Inspiration Doctrine? I struggle with understanding why God did not rewrite controversial Bible passages. I know I am only a man, and I seek to understand. 7. 41:35 {Advice for an Unequally Yoked Marriage} My wife is an unbeliever. The more I attend church, the more strain it puts on our marriage. Is it right to continue going to church, or should I stop? (1 Corinthians 7: 14) I pray for her every day. 8. 44:40 {About the Book of Numbers} What is the best way to read the book of Numbers? What’s some really cool stuff about it and how it ties to JESUS? 9. 47:36 {Is “Deliverance” / Demon Casting Biblical?} I'm wondering about your thoughts on deliverance. Would you consider calling and identifying demons biblical, or is it not? 10. 50:43 {Reconciling 2 Important Verses/Worldly Christians?} Can you explain Matthew 7: 21 vs. Romans 10: 13? Also, how do you spot worldly Christians (1 Corinthians 3:1) from those who are unsaved but have good works (Matthew 7: 22-23)? Shouldn't we have grace for sanctification? 11. 55:15 {Advice for Christian College Students} What advice do you have for Christians in college? 12. 59:12 {Is there Hope After Death for the Unsaved?} Can the Gospel be preached to the dead? According to 1 Peter 4:6, is there any hope for people after they die? Also, in 1 Peter 3:19-20, what does “preached unto the spirits in prison” mean? 13. 1:03:43 {About Assurance of Salvation} How can I be sure that I am going to Heaven when I die? 14. 1:06:35 {How is Satan the World’s Ruler?} Can you explain how Satan became the ruler of this world? 15. 1:09:48 {About Salvation by Grace vs. Our Efforts} If we don't have to do works to get saved, why does Jesus tell us to "make every effort to enter through the narrow door" in Luke 13: 24? 16. 1:13:07 {Help for Anxiety over Unsaved Loved Ones} How do I combat anxiety about my newborn daughter’s salvation? It’s a difficult topic for me due to my younger brother walking away from the faith as a teenager. 17. 1:16:10 {About God’s Omnipotence & Non-Contradiction} Since God can’t contradict Himself, does that mean that His power is limited in a way? I know God is all powerful, but what is the logical reason behind Him being powerful and non-contradictory? 18. 1:20:06 {About Vaccines & Aborted Fetal Tissue} What are your thought on vaccines using aborted fetal cell lines for development? I’m about to lose my job at big MN clinic if I don’t get the vaccine and struggle with this issue. 19. 1:26:26 {About being Satisfied in God} How can you know that you are satisfied in God? How does it manifest practically? Does doing Christian things mean I'm satisfied in God? Can’t I do Christian stuff and still not be satisfied in Him? 20. 1:28:59 {Is Pledging Allegiance Idolatry?} Is pledging allegiance to a country or flag a form of idolatry?
i did not watch the video yet, i will but i want to comment on the title of your VIDEO, If they said that, I KNOW without even guessing, they DID NOT READ LEVITICUS even for a minute... NOW, on with the VIDEO...🤣
Just gotta say that I cracked up when you went on the defense that cats aren't demon possessed. 😆 "Jesus is after all the lion of Judah, which is a giant cat." 🤣🤣🤣
I'm obsessed with Mike's 20 questions videos. They have blessed me so much, and I know the Lord has spoken to me through them on so many occasions. There is a definite anointing on this channel. God bless you Pastor Mike!
@@PoliticallyInCorrect1 Proverbs 11:25 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped. Plenty of verses using this sort of verbiage. It's understood Good can only come from God - unless you're intentionally trying to confuse things by omitting foundations. Hope you wake up.
I too have been very blessed by Mikes 20 questions. I listen to everyone video I see. All his videos teaching has blessed me. He helps me understand scripture more and answers many questions I have. I’d like to ask him questions personally.
This year I started reading the OT in much more detail than what I have been doing until last year and many of my misconceptions were cleared. I no longer hold on to the view that the OT God is a immoral monster but is actually very much like Jesus. This has actually even helped my prayer life because Jesus commanded us to start our prayer with "Our Father in Heaven" and after knowing how compassionate and merciful the Father is, I feel like our bond is much more intimate than it previously was. Context is 100% necessary.
1 Samuel 15 Yahweh orders the execution of every man, woman, child, slave, and livestock. Saul does not kill everyone and this angers Yahweh, who then punishes Saul for not following orders. This is very much like Jesus?
@@dahelmang Why? My question was for the OP. Is there anything in Revelations that you specifically had in mind and can you tell me why I should read it?
But i thought the OT god Was a sadistic monster? The amount of horrific crimes he inspired or demanded others commit, as well as himself drowning to death nearly every child and baby on earth, even plants and animals? He makes hitler and stalin look like amateurs...
As a university student I really appreciated your answer re college Pastor Mike. It's really allowed me to see it as not just learning but a ministry unto the Lord. I try to be an example to my study buddies but your words have inspired me to be discipled for my future endeavours and set an attitude for life. Your ministry and teaching have simply put, CHANGED MY LIFE. Thank you Pastor Mike and God bless your wife for supporting you as you serve the world. BTW I watch everything you produce from Sydney Australia and pray for your ministry for protection, resources and a far reach. I also pray for your fluffy friends Moxi and Malachi (yes I'm a crazy cat lady in my spare time too). Your website is phenomenal so thank all your team for making it so easy to access your exemplary research tools.
Always struggled with if I'm deceiving myself or not, I never really thought about the difference between "Jesus is Lord" and "Jesus is MY lord". This really put it into perspective for me and I feel like I know the answer now. Thank you for pointing that out.
“You’ve gotta have integrity, which means you can’t follow the lemmings off the bridge…” Great line Mike; I will totally be using that one. Thanks for hard work, and blessings!!
Hey Mike. Thank you so much for all the hours that you put in studying and making these teaching videos. I'm in a different time zone (South Africa) and I can't wait until Saturdays to catch this 20 questions video. I have also watched most of your other teaching videos as well and learned so much and I have been saved since I was 9 yrs old (now I'm a granny). May God bless you and your wife tons.
Pastor Mike, when you talked about the experience of going to a Christian college, it reminded me of my experiences. I was expecting people to be a little more pious. My Religion professors were fantastic. Some of the others not so much. I expected too much. Growing up, I heard how people would make excuses for not attending church because it was full of hypocrites. Why would they? My answer to that is that people are human and make mistakes. After all, David was a man after God’s own heart. I Samuel 13:14ff. And he did everything under the sun. But when I got to college and had classes with people who were heading for ministry, I expected More. There were definitely good strong Christian people. There were also people who had questionable behavior. I admit, I am a prude. I have high standards and know people have called me a goody two shoes. I have no idea how it got that name, but we all know what it means. I was shocked at a lot of the behavior committed by people headed to ministry. A lot had positions in a church. Others were what we called PKs. Preachers’ kids. I went to a baseball game at a church that a fellow student and his preacher father was playing. They were cussing and yelling. Now in my view, cussing includes words that used to be prohibited on television. They were mild but still shouldn’t be said for all to hear if you are representing God. When I went to Seminary, things were much better, but still not what I expected from people in the ministry. A doctrinal student from Singapore commented on how different my behavior was from the other women she knew in her dormitory. I was kind of shocked. I hadn’t really realized I did anything different. I was just doing what I was supposed to do. I can’t say that I always behaved the way I should and am ashamed of that. I had my dark time from which I learned a LOT about what can take me from God’s path. I guess what I am saying is that we determine what we get out of education and the experiences, both good and bad. Just know that a Christian school is going to be a little more worldly than you may expect. God put me in these places for his purpose. It was up to me to make sure that I learned as much as he wanted to.
Mike, I just want to say that I love your genuineness. I especially love that you talk to us like a regular person and don’t have this motivational speaker thing going on. This is why you’re my favorite pastor on RUclips. You’re so relatable and your work is thorough, and it’s clear you have a heart for God without being extra about it. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.. I just prefer listening to people that talk like everyone else when they preach and stuff. Thank you for all your hard work, Mike! God bless you and anyone reading this!
You would struggle to find someone more disingenuous than this apologist. He is not ignorant of what the bible says, he just picks and chooses the bits he cites and the bits he misrepresents 🤢🤮
I agree with you I love listening to Mike’s channel. He’s humble and down to earth. He’s not scared to teach the truth. I love how he puts God in our hearts that helps convict us and keep us on the proper path. He does it in such a humble way. 😊❤ God bless you!
You can’t be serious. Mike is such an obvious phony you can spot it from a mile away. One of the most phony apologists. Your raydar is seriously damaged if you can’t tell Mike is lying to you through his teeth every time he talks. Which he demonstrably is.
I've never thought God owed me anything' but death and hell!!! When I see how humanity is - God has been more than gracious and merciful beyond measure!!!!!!
I have always loved the fact that though we talk of the 12 tribes of Israel, there were actually 13 because Joseph had a double portion (Manasseh and Ephraim). Levi became a tribe for all to minister to all and teach the law for the other 12. I love that God had planned a 13th apostle that would be used in a unique way in church history.
You make an interesting point, but God does not have anything of his own that adds up to thirteen. Jesus distinctly speaks of twelve apostles and twelve tribes that will be in heaven (Matt. 19). He also said one of the original Twelve was a devil, so Judas was therefore rejected and replaced by either Matthias or Paul, not both as there can be only Twelve. I 'd love to say Paul, but Paul clearly separates himself from the Twelve (1 Cor. 15) . There were, however, other apostles (Gal. 1; Acts 14), and imo Paul is the greatest apostle of them all. As for the twelve tribes, in Rev. 7 where Jesus Himself chooses twelve men from each of the twelve tribes, again one tribe, Dan, is rejected, Levi is included, and Joseph is counted as one. That adds up to twelve. :) READ MORE
@@danstewart3319 thought Benjamin got rejected back in judges when the priest send pieces to the tribes of his murdered concubine? Where is initial rejection of Dan?
"You guys just dont get it, they're only committing genocide and sex slavery against people who wouldn't convert to my religion." The fact that Mike thinks that makes it better is frightening.
Part of the regular worship to Baal included sacrificing their babies by placing them in the arms of a metal idol and lighting a fire so that the baby slowly burned to death. Baal worship had all kinds of things wrong with it.
@@OrizellaWare And that makes the genocide and slavery okay because... ? And that’s before we consider that you’re doing the equivalent of taking N-zis at their word about what Jews are like.
I'm in a Christian college, but that doesnt mean that I dont run into strange college things. My professor upset me with his need for official definitions, so I disregarded my last assignment in his class to turn in a paper giving out reasons why we cant always use official definitions, but objective ones as according to God's Word. I thought I was gonna fail it. I got a 70 😂😂😂
Thank you for answering the issue on slavery/killing so clearly! It is something that I hear often and I'm feeling more confident in how to approach the topic. However, as you mentioned ( and as I can already see in the comment section) it is ultimately a heart issue.
It is a heart issue. And my heart cannot tolerate condoning slavery or genocide of babies and children. Nor can my heart accept the rationalization of such acts.
Pastor Mike has went into detail on question 1 so I will not try to add to what was answered in detail. I'll just say that scripture tell us the heart is deceitful above all things. We are so incredibly lead by our own feelings, but those feelings change so rapidly. Scripture also tells us His ways are not our ways. To be honest Barbara - this is a very HARD teaching. It is. But too many times in my life something has happened, something horrible, and I've wondered...Why? Father, how can there possibly be anything good come out of this?!...BUT GOD. Then I look back and realize I couldn't see what He doing at the time, but it was for the ultimate good. I will be praying for your heart because the very fact you chose to watch this video means He is calling you. ❤
@@CarmenH-e3l it is a heart issue Carmen. Thus how I feel I came here because I wish for the truth to always take precedent. I used to believe as well, and I can no longer defend this
@@CarmenH-e3l How could you listen to Mike's answer and abandon what you know about God's goodness? How could you so quickly abandon the words and teachings of Jesus in favour of the words and teachings one preacher? I will be honest and tell you that I no longer believe in God, but there is still a part of me that loves the God I knew: all-loving, all-forgiving, all-merciful, all-good. That part of me has an interpretation requiring far less detail than Mike's: the authors of the Old Testament were fallible, and they mistakenly claimed that God had commanded them to do things that He had not commanded them to do. Yes, it still breaks my heart that people would go to such great lengths to distort and defame His character, to place him on par with Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, all for the sake of their own perverted interpretation of scripture.
@@CarmenH-e3l What do you say about 1 Samuel 15? Yahweh orders the execution of every man, woman, child, slave, and livestock. Saul saves some livestock and goods to sacrifice to Yahweh, which angers Yahweh because he did not kill everything as instructed.
Thanks Pastor Mike you really helped me out! I got ambushed with question #17 this afternoon while discussing the Gospel with an atheist, and I wasn’t able to give a solid answer. I’ll have to continue the conversation the next time I see him and bring up some of your points.
Oh man. As a woman who is married to a non believer I appreciate the wisdom you gave to that husband. It was also timely for me as I was not a good example to my husband today. Thanks for your timely words!
I can relate to this and, boy can it be hard to work your faith around your marriage. I am glad that my husband hasn't been giving me a hard time about attending church but today it came up "hey, did you make some sort of a payment to TriCity Church of Christ on Sunday?" And I explained how there are multiple ways to offer a monetary gift these days and as I didn't have cash I made a payment on the church's website. Talk about making a skeptic more skeptical 😔
Thank you so much for using God’s word to answer these questions. I’m so glad there are people like you who stand by the Bible. It really does help. God Bless.
Thanks for all your hard work. Your videos have helped me immensely. I had turned away from God and had begun to think like many of the atheists, even with the same arguments that you spoke about in your first question. You are absolutely correct about the attitude of the heart that feels entitled and that God owes us and should do things the way we think they should be done rather than trusting Him. But on February 5, 2020 as I was wondering why I couldn't make myself believe anymore the Holy Spirit convicted me about exactly that. I was wanting God to be a god of my own making. I immediately fell on my knees in repentance and was transformed. I can now look back grateful for even my suffering because it was through it that He showed me who He really is and that He is trustworthy. I pray that you always be encouraged by the work our Lord Jesus is doing in the hearts of those who see your videos, even those whose hearts have been hardened. The Holy Spirit is using your words to soften the hearts of those who are lost, even those who heap discouragement on you in the comments now, they are not beyond hope just as I wasn't 2 years ago. Thanks, from the bottom of my heart for continuing to be obedient to Christ.
Thank you Mike and team! These quick, experienced answers are often more encouragement than long sermons with all the caveats. Today the answers on church attendance being different for those of use whose spouses aren’t so involved, and that proof of salvation being a simple as, how different my life would be if I wasn’t being satisfied in Christ. Proof of salvation is not something a stranger can determine.
Thank you so much for your ministry and willingness and dedication in the literal years it must have taken to become so well Biblically educated. It is helping me so, so much. I thank the Lord for your reverence and clear love and respect for God. It’s evident in how you teach and rightly divide the word with care.
Hey Mike I really enjoy listening to you so much. I listen to you at work all the time. As a young man in the construction field it's nice to have you to listen to when surrounded by the world. I know you don't care but I totally disagree with you on vaccines but I still like listening to you. But Maybe you could research it some more! And thank you so much for putting this content out on RUclips brother!
Pastor, this understanding is vital today, especially for the younger generations, building or falling into the ranks of progressive Christianity, for while the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, the love of God is it’s end. (Perfection…completion)
Just finished watching through number 10, and while the verses were on screen I noticed another aspect of the wording in Romans 10:13. It speaks of "calling on" His name. That is different than just identifying Him. You are calling for Him to save you. Couple this with a few verses earlier, where we are told we must not only declare/confess with our mouth, but also believe in our heart that He was raised from the dead.
12 minutes in and I thank you for clearing up this misunderstood scripture and false accusations people use. I too have had trouble understanding it and the context it was written. You cleared up my misunderstanding about this.
Yes so many people always use these specific verses in the comments when they say God is evil and they hate the Bible, but they don't look into the full Bible in context and don't even think about the culture back then as well. We still have plenty of learning to do
So the horrors referred to in Numbers and Deuteronomy must be excused and justified by being taken 'in context'. Like Hitler's ravings in 'Mein Kampf' should be taken 'in context'? The first 15 minutes of this was enough for me. Couldn't go any further.
He didn’t clear anything up, he just said “nuh uh” and moved on. Deeply disturbing, disgusting defense of forcing young women into marriage after committing genocide against their people. The text is quite plain.
We are too hard on ourselves when we have doubts in our faith. Imagine a man worried about his doubts about God on his knees in a room by himself praying desperately to God about that very issue. Sometimes our own actions are the answer to our own thoughts.
This happens a lot. Trying to show them the actual scripture is impossible. People who think that, have no desire to learn different, well most of them.
"About your men and women slaves: You may get men and women slaves from the other nations around you. Also, you may get children as slaves if they come from the families of the foreigners living in your land. These child slaves will belong to you. You may even pass these foreign slaves on to your children after you die so that they will belong to them. They will be your slaves forever. You may make slaves of these foreigners. But you must not be a cruel master over your own brothers, the Israelites." Leviticus 25:44-46
@Yvonne you did not read the quoted scripture above: 1. In Leviticus you can... * Purchase human beings * Own them as property * Pass them down to your children as property * Own them forever 2. In Exodus 21, yes the Hebrew slaves would be released at the 7th year but you are missing a most cruel loophole in that scripture. If the master marries the slave, then at his release at the 7th year if he cannot leave his family (because his wife and children are the masters to keep) then that Hebrew slave will become the masters property forever and he will be marked on his ear with an awl. How cruel a biblical rule that forces the slave to choose between his family and his freedom.
@Yvonne Perhaps slavery was better than dying of starvation, but that’s quite a low bar and I would expect better from a god who claims moral perfection. Servitude would have been a better option, but that’s not what’s outlined in the text. Slaves from other nations were for life and they could be beaten with the only limit being death and lasting physical impairment. Also, what about the ones who were forced into slavery such as the women and children as prisoners of war?
@@HarryNicNicholas which god does not "condone" slavery? Because YHVH does not "condone" slavery at all... Next your gonna say something about "selling your daughter as a slave" (stupid interpretation of what is actually written) You have no foundational opposition. Your opposition is created by sloppy translation and hateful retoric NOT BASED IN ANY SCRIPTURE!!!!
@@HarryNicNicholas and atheist got a body count of 200m over the course of 60 years from nations they are in charge of such as the soviet union. using slave labor and mass genocide. so high pot meet kettle.
God bless your ministry Mike, I continue to pray for God’s protection over you so that you may continue to pursue your calling with all boldness, faith and truth. I thank God for what you help bring to my Christian worldview. May God continue to give you wisdom. Amen 🙏🏼
I love Mike (as a fellow Christian) and have been following the channel since near its beginning. Concerning vaccine, I understand why Mike has avoided jumping into that issue as it was asked in the past in different forms. If you delete the channel because of what was said, your feelings are too emotional to have a dialogue. A vaccine should be a personal decision on whether one should get one or not. Some vaccine is made with fetal DNA and some are made with something else, like egg process. You should know what's in them whether you are for or against the fetal type. It is a moral issue I've struggled with myself (I have a conscience). I don't like injecting myself with aborted fetal DNA and other fragments (it's on the ingredients of the vile). MMR, COVID and others have this. The moral question is valid. The question asked was specific to the COVID vaccine. Which adds the extra layer of corrosion. Generally forcing someone to do something (not guilty of a justifiable crime) is inherently wrong. A vaccine only helps the one taking it. If the vaccine doesn't stop you from getting that "disease" it's ineffective. Forcing it on someone else to protect you, if you are vaccinated and should already be protected, is not using logic but feelings and fear. Furthermore the last vaccine developed for a SARS COVID virus was shut down after 50 deaths. This one has far far exceeded that threshold but because of fear is still being forced on people. Also no RNA vaccine has ever made it through clinical trials. The type of side effects are often quite random. The current RNA vaccines are not expected to have clinical trials completed for a couple years. (Even the FDA approved one which actually isn't available in America yet) Meaning we are taking a vaccine and just seeing what happens. It is wrong to force this on someone. Even though as a child I took the MMR and other vaccines, I will not comply with mandatory (meaning without an actual law) vaccine for covid! Even if society deems it necessary to destroy my life as a result. At which point Liberty, Freedom, will mean as much to me as it did to slaves in early America. May God give moral wisdom. May God continue to bless Pastor Mike's ministry.
Thank you so much, pastor Mike! your response gave me clarity that I was looking at this the wrong way. At that time I was conflicted about the idea that God wanted all people to be saved but then we would be robbing them of the opportunity to be saved if we do execute the offender. Turns out it's not that they're prevented from any more opportunities of receiving Christ but rather their decision to accept Jesus has been accelerated (so they're not losing anything they're just moving at a faster rate). Again thank you for your ministry, God bless you all!
@@HarryNicNicholas I actually was looking at just the perspective of one side before so my point of view was skewed a while ago. God is good, He's a judge, and He would be just if every criminal gets what they deserve. But Jesus came and gave us a pardon if we want it. He didn't need to, He wanted to. God bless you, and I'll be praying for you.
@@HarryNicNicholas Would you defend your family against an armed invader, yes or no? God kills and puts the wicked and unclean in eternal prison. Of course you don't like it. No guilty person likes to be brought to justice. Here's the thing, though: Unlike any human judge, God gave his Son's life for yours. So if you reject so great a salvation, you will live with your folly in prison for all eternity.
@@firstachristian856 He drowned to death practically every child and baby, including plants, trees and animals. If you call this Good, i'm afraid to even ask what bad is.
@@adriangeh6414 I began to understand this when I witnessed how often evil runs in families. The devil starts with one man who then becomes his willing tool to create a family stronghold. Eventually, if left unchecked, Satan takes over a city, a state/region and so on. Germany is an example of how Satan can come to possess an entire nation. Satan's goal is to subjugate the whole world, and that will finally happen under the Antichrist. Thankfully, there IS a God. If God had not stopped the rapid spread of evil at the time,, there would have been no way to bring the Savior into the world. You have it backwards. The worst thing that can happen is for God NOT to act b/c his people have turned away from Him and evil prevails.
Hi @@adriangeh6414 Here are some thoughts, I hope it helps: - it was judgment for a world that had gone incredibly wrong. -- Now I think it's important to work under the assumption that God isn't just some guy that has a skewed view of the world, and the reason why I'm saying this is that I don't know how bad it is that fallen angels have come to cause corruption in the world. - When God kills people (where God is the giver and source of their life), is He unjust for taking what is His? -- If you lent me your car and I had a lot of fun, would it be unfair of you to take it back anytime you want? ( especially if I'm harming others with your car?) - When people die under the assumption that Christianity is true, do they cease to exist? or do they just change locations? -- so if we worry about children and babies, I think it's safe to assume God has moved them from earth to be with Him( age of accountability)
22:32 re: The choosing of Mathias by lots rather than waiting for the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost dismisses the fact that God’s will was seen in the casting of the lots. Proverbs 16:33: "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.”
@@JamesRichardWiley pretty sure they had free will to reject their nomination as well as reject the position if the lot fell on them or to walk away from the position or the faith at any point afterwards. We always have the right to refuse God’s will.
@@JamesRichardWiley in reality voting is nowhere in scripture. It imposes our will over God’s. Ideally one would pray and seek God’s will in a vote, but we will choose the person based on how their beliefs align with ours rather than the will of God. It is in and of itself a self righteous act. The casting of lots leaves the choice up to God.
@@adriangeh6414 I’m quite positive that Stalin and Kim Jong Ill, both extreme atheists, would not approve of seeking God’s will. Stalin achieved leadership by eliminating all his opponents by either replacing them with his supporters or having them murdered. Kim achieved leadership by being his father’s son and maintains leadership in the same way all dictators do, by killing or imprisoning his opponents. Quite a far cry from trusting God to choose the leader. In fact it is the antithesis of it.
@@annette8770 that makes them even More similar to this god character actually. Stalin, Kim Jong Il, and Him are All atheists. All 3 of them are dictators whose rule is absolute, and their subjects are expected to have blind and unquestioning Faith, loyalty, and obedience to them. All 3 of them will not tolerate Any form of dissent, and those who do will be imprisoned and tortured indefinitely. All 3 cannot be voted out (their subjects can't vote period) and all 3 are free to commit all manner of crimes against humanity and nature, which they have.
Regarding Question #1: The mindset which most people who raise questions such as 'God is a dirty bully' and 'The Bible promotes murder, rape, and slavery' bring to the discussion is that of theological liberalism (e.g., Bart Ehrman), which views the Bible not as special revelation from God but as invented mass-control material soley produced by the ancient Jewish priest class to ensure that class' dominance over others via 'invented' religion. Specifically, in this mindset: God doesn't really exist in any objective way Postmodernism-the idea that there is no absolute truth that's objectively evident for EVERYONE-is the order of the day. The Bible was ONLY written by power-hungry/war-mongering humans This life is really all there is, and so human rights in the here and now are obviously the most important thing. This in turn creates the mindset that human standards of behavior and fairness toward each other ARE REALLY ALL THAT'S IN PLAY and so prominent human rights issues such as feminism, gay rights, racism (which is also a pet football of the Marxists in the U.S.A. for divide-and-conquer), slavery, etc. are THE WHOLE FOCUS and the benchmark for measuring evil in the (liberal) world. ('Cancel culture's' favorite and most useful ploy is the accusation of 'RACISM!' and it is hauled out anytime they need a 'quick fix' to shut someone up and marginalize them. )Thus, the most powerful way to oppose the IDEA of God is to accuse God of these very evils and to snidely paint Him as both unfair and evil. The apex atop the humanists' pyramid of morality is not a righteous and almighty Judge of His own creation-the very idea of God is removed from their pyramid entirely-but their currently-favored code of human rights, which the Marxists keep evolving over time in order to defeat their political enemies systematically. People in our modern world like Pastor Mike who believe the Bible IS special revelation from God (as well as having been authored by humans) are therefore viewed/portrayed as menaces to the human rights of non-believers, who are seen as (actually or potentially) oppressed by biblical morality. The Roman Catholic Church is a primary, if not always cited, example of what the humanists have in mind for what their conception of Christianity is, and the RCC manifests all the worst features of what they mistakenly think is wrong with biblical Christianity itself on account of assuming that the RCC's theology, policies, and operations are quintessentially biblical, when they are not. And so with the RCC you have a dictator at the top (the Pope), a ruthlessly authoritarian priest class which traditionally demands conformity and obedience, an overall dangerous programme of world domination, and even a Gestapo-like 'hit squad' (the Jesuits). So whenever the humanists need a black sheep example of why biblical Christianity is dangerous they haul out the RCC as their example. What they don't realize is that the RCC doesn't represent or embody biblical Christianity and has been singled out for her own special judgment in advance, and so far in advance that she's even mentioned in symbolic passages on the pages of the New Testament. Sarcasm-conditioned humanists/atheists/Marxists/anti-Bible people are among the hardest to reach because they SWIM in their hatred and intolerance on the one hand, and devote themselves at all costs and to any possible extent to their political action activities on the other. Marxists in particular keep fooling nonMarxists, who stand amazed at instance after instance of Marxist hypocrisy and inconsistency, because in Marxism the only actual morality is this: Whatever advances the cause of Marxism worldwide is moral. Biblical Christianity's system of morality and ethics has been TOTALLY DISCARDED by the Marxists and so OF COURSE they aren't ashamed to be hypocrites, or to lie, steal, murder, or do anything else that advances their cause. Theirs is a wholesale worldview and mindset that DOESN'T include God (righteous or otherwise), the Ten Commandments, loving your neighbor as much as you love yourself, and a sense of fair play, plus their political obsessions and hunger for power swamp out all other considerations. All that matters to them is 'their team' and achieving its political goals. Politics is EVERYTHING to them and they tend to be at it 24/7 because that's how Marxism thinks, works, and pursues its goals. So that's the context and mindset of such people. They are hard-indoctrinated with an opposing worldview. A few might be willing to LOOK at evidences (e.g., prophecy, correct science in the Bible) for the divine inspiration of scripture, but such people derive their sense of emotional self-worth and purpose from identifying with their 'team' rather than from approaching the world logically and examining evidence in order to discern what's true and what's false. Remember: In postmodernist thinking, there IS NO TRUTH OR FALSEHOOD, but only 'what's true for you' and where the criterion for truth is WHATEVER I LIKE AND WANT IT TO BE AT THE MOMENT. Does the phraseology 'self identify as' ring any bells here? It should.
Keep repeating this argument so you can continue to believe it. Otherwise you might notice that no god has ever made a public appearance to settle the debate. Hold on, I see Jesus coming in the distance on clouds of glory.
There's a Psalm that used to confuse me about Yahweh when I was young, but now, in light of the many atheists I have met, makes complete sense: "With the clean You show Yourself clean; And with the wicked You show Yourself twisted." (Psalm 18:26 )
The problem with a purely rehabilitation/correctional form of justice is that it ultimately treats the victimizer as a victim and the victim as collateral damage (or some scenarios even as an victimizer)
A victimizer can simultaneously be seen as a victim, such as with upbringing, mental development, brain damage, etc. This of course does not negate what they did, and in most cases does not absolve them, but it should make us more compassionate. It should also gear us towards finding how to make that person learn to stop their negative behavior in a healthy way and figure out how to reduce the occurrence things that can lead up to such behavior. This obviously doesnt mean, "don't incarcerate people", but instead means "we still have to seperate dangerous people from society but let's find ways to rehabilitate them so they can rejoin society, even if under moderate supervision".
Thanks for these. I listen to every word. I appreciate you addressing Numbers at the start of the video. My biggest concern with the changing abortion laws is that evil men will use them as a chance to violate women with no consequence. Justice is ultimately the Lords, but it’s comforting to know there’s is no Scriptural basis for condoning the rape of women. I appreciate you. May God and Jesus Christ continue to work on my heart. Bless you.
Haven't watched this yet, but just read the description. These are all fantastic questions that I have grappled with at one time or another. I'm excited to watch this stream and see what I learn. Thank you.
For Ben who posted the question about anxiety over the salvation of his newborn daughter--I think Mike answered your question very well! And as a mom of two little ones-I totally hear you♥️. I just started reading the book Mama Bear Apologetics, and I think it could be a great resource for you as far as pointing our children to Jesus and being able to answer their tough questions. If anyone can tag Ben (Kerchoff??) On this post, I’d appreciate it.
To ‘Let’s Have a Laugh Together,’ regarding salvation assurance, I love how Mike explains things!! I would add this: check for the Fruit of The Spirit. I would recommend all of Galatians 5, but in verses 22 & 23 we are told, ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When you belong to Jesus, The Holy Spirit begins to change you from the inside, and these things begin to show up. Not all at once, but gradually. Watch for the fruit. Sooo many blessings to you for asking that question in the first place, and to Mike for choosing to answer it!
22:32 #3 I love your videos Pastor Mike, they always help me think deeper about Scripture. Thank you for what you do. This came to mind when you were answering question #3 and were talking about the Apostles appointing Matthias to replace Judas. Here it is. Could the reason for the need to appoint a new Apostle be to show that the position of an Apostle is God ordained and not self proclaimed?
These topics are fraught with intense feelings. God raised you for this service at this time. You have a way about you that is non threatening. When you engage someone you entreat, offer background, bring history and offer differing views before you delineate your position . May the Most High continue to use you in your ministry. Please keep yielding n remain 'small in your own eyes'. You have the heart, the verbiage, the knowledge n the understanding . We have points where we differ...who doesn't? Thank you for giving people the room to grow n to change their thinking and to even disagree with you. ❤🙏🕊️🌿
Ouch. Mike, I highly respect your take on so much scriptural teaching. What follows does not negate that, but I find myself disappointed in your defense of using aborted fetal cells in medical research. Some could argue that it’s a conscience issue. As it is. Yet I think scripture is pretty clear on God’s disposition on murder, one, and not abusing the defenseless (which is actually a separate issue than murder where some could attempt to defend her/himself ), two. But what also of the widespread Scriptural practice of the honorable burial of the dead? Those aborted babies have not been given an honorable or timely burial in respect to them being made in the image of God. Those fetal cell lines of those people have been exploited (the physical bodies of dead human souls), tampered with, for going on years now. They have not been respected/honored by being put to rest in the glorious expectation of the 2nd resurrection. Which is a tradition of both OT & NT believers. Not to mention that if you open the door to the idea of using fetal tissue in research you are going to have the practice of harvesting babies explicitly for research. I can not see how the character and nature of our God could ever condone such a practice- or cloning cells or organs from baby parts could ever be considered justifiable when that child had his/her life taken from them unjustly when they were utterly defenseless. Grieving and a timely honorable burial seem to follow the precedents of honoring the dead and honoring God in death.
Modern science and medicine is continuously working to try and save lives and ease suffering, by coming up with better ways to treat more diseases. It has no time to be concerned with what a particular deity likes or dislikes. Priorities.
I see what you mean, but those fetal cells will be made regardless of whether I take the vaccine or even if vaccines didn’t exist at all. They will always be used in research because it’s convenient and works really well. I just don’t see how me personally not taking the vaccine, or even if the vaccine was banned, would impact these fetal cells. It’s not personally a conscious issue for me. I’m helping people by getting this vaccine, and me not getting it wouldn’t do anything to stop the use. You could argue that we could show that vaccines made with fetal cells won’t be used, but I guarantee the cells will still be used in other areas of study. If just decreasing the amount of cells used or grown at any period of time is the goal, I suppose I could see what you mean. But when it comes to the problem of them just existing in general, us not taking the vaccine won’t help that in my view. You’d have to make propagating the cell lines illegal. And that’s beyond the point that we aren’t even sure that some of the cell lines came from abortions. And we also don’t know how God really feels about this, assuming they were from abortions. Maybe the cells are so disconnected from the original people that they don’t even count as part of the person anymore, therefore burial isn’t necessary. Maybe God thinks saving lives would be worth it. We really just don’t know. That’s why I don’t think it’s fair to say we know what God thinks. I very well could say the nature of God wouldn’t want to see people die, so why wouldn’t we get the vaccine? You just can’t use that as an argument
People can start researching more this way: Look up the deposition of Stanley Plotkin. 9 hours online. Look up the excerpts. He alone, in one study, used over 70 babies. Also tested on orphans, etc. Stanley Plotkin is considered the grandfather of vaccines.
Very true Mike we can sometimes think like God owes us or we deserve better. That's a very bad mindset as we are rebels and sinners.. what we honestly deserve is not something we'd want
@danlopez.3592 My comment wont post on the other video. Hear me out on this one. Why are you taking the ACCUSATIONS of the Pharisees towards Jesus as truth. They are they biggest liars and they killed Jesus. He called them liars all the time! DID John the Baptist have a devil because that is what they said in the previous verse? The PHARISEES say winebibber in the KJV which makes more sense because of the connection he is making to John the Baptist in the previous verse and chapter. That word in Greek simply means someone who drinks wine, OINOS....the question is, which type of wine because there are 2 types. New, fresh and old, corrupted. Here it is. Luke 7:33 (KJV) For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. This is speaking of all wines in general. John could not drink or eat of any wine because he must have been under a Nazerite vow permanently. Luke 1:15 (KJV) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. Mark 1:6 (KJV) And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; This is explaining the vow in the OLD Testament Numbers 6:3-4 (KJV) He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the VINE tree, from the KERNALS even to the husk. John lived seperated from everyone in the wilderness. This is how the people under a Nazerite vow lived. The PHARISEES said he had a DEVIL because of his strange eating and living habits. The man lived off of locust and honey yet Jesus called him the greatest man who ever lived after him. The point is the wine John was not supposed to drink his whole life was ANY wine (juice). Not even raisens could be eaten. Jesus than compares himself to John saying, I eat meat and drink wine (juice). The pharisees call him a gluton and winebibber. That makes sense when you read the whole entirety and the Bible. The word winebibber can refer to someone who drinks juice which is called wine or Oinos. That is the opposite of how John the Baptist lived and Jesus was just making the point to these Pharesees.
Works validates faith. I totally agree. It’s in all honesty the same as being spiritual and religious. Your religious commitment shows how strong your spiritual health is. They both coexist. You can’t truly have one without the other. Christ said “if you love me, you would keep my commandments. John 14:15”
When it comes to worry, a man kept track of all his worries and waited until a particular day of the week to worry about them. He found that only a small amount of his worries (0.2%) actually came true and were a significant problem. Many of them were resolved even before his day of worry. I guess you could say that we should worry, but there's two things we should do when we have worries: prepare for them as best we can and also pray that God either prevents them from coming to pass or helps us get through them unscathed. Being stuck in the process of worry itself doesn't benefit us in any way, though, unfortunately.
21:00 In the Bible in cases of death penalties, there is a process wich take time: This time could serve as the rehabilitation for the person knowing his death is approching. And, I think facing death could even be a stronger for peoples repentance than just going to prison knowing you'll get out in a few years. Anyway, I think that if the criminal really has some conscious that just need a good wake up call to repent, he'll repent ; A good example would be the two thiefs at the cross : one repent while being executed, the other doesn't.
@@JamesRichardWiley Rightnow you are not stressed as Jesus was in the garden of gethsemane; This is the difference between the "facing death" that I spoke about and the "facing death " that you speak about.
Hi Mike..I always remember Father andJesus know us from an embryo(psalms 139)..He is merciful towards what some people have been through ;what they do or do not understand(I think of Jonah,of Job's wife aswellas many others).I absolutely believe He/they deal with us individually-Even when we may have anger or questions...I have personally experienced this....Yes,"the fear of Father is the beginning of wisdom.'""But we need to know things about Him first.Iam not trying to teach anyone-merely pointing out His/their compassion . I often think of the long term genetic problems from nuclear testing and bombs,from pesticides etc etc..That would have to effect brains...Psalms 139 is a comfort....and can be for any..Also Isaiah 55:6-11... Thank you for your work..Greetings from Sydney
If you are going to suggest people look at the words in context...at least have the intelligence to read and understand the words in context. Huge FAIL!
“When you approach a passage where God punishes sin, there are 2 diametrically opposed responses where people stand. 1. ‘Wow, sin must be really bad’, or 2. ‘Wow, God must be really bad’” Amazing insight pastor!
When "punishes sin" means ordering the execution of men, women, and male children and saving virgin girls "for yourselves", THAT doesn't make Jesus sound bad?
@@friedrichrubinstein Numbers 31 1 Samuel 15 is similar, except they are ordered to execute everyone and everything, instead of saving virgin girls and women for themselves.
Great stream as usual Pastor Mike! My deepest apologies but I do want to ask a somewhat off topic question here. I did not ask it during the stream as it is not scripture related per-se and I did not want to distract from Bible-based questions. So, oftentimes, people who are letting their hearts cloud their judgement will object to the Biblical idea of "the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ" via bringing up Gandhi. Since Gandhi famously rejected Christianity, but many (foolishly) see him as a "good person" who must've "earned it". As such my question is: do you know of any good materials/resources that showcase how Gandhi was a flawed and sinful human being, the same as the rest of us? I know that he would sleep with other men's wives in order to "tempt himself", but I would like to have a complete, unbiased picture of the man in order to fully refute this "some people are good enough to earn it" nonsense. It's just hard to find such resources as 99% of what comes up is propaganda.
Ghandi beat his wife and was a horrible human being, you can Google it. The people quoting ghandi about fake Christians is not because ghandi is so awesome, he's not, but because cultural Christian's do not live in faith of Christ. Instead they live for their culture or their empire, specifically the British empire that tried to spread Christianity while claiming to be it's sole representatives AND committing atrocities, trying to take their country, and trying to erase their culture for the economic gain of the British empire, it's an appropriate quote in current America, especially in American politics.
@@normajeanray It does because he doesn't understand why ghandi is being quoted. If he did, he would realize he doesn't need to attack the idea that some people are good enough to earn it because that's not what's being said. In proper context Ghandis quote about Christianity WAS an attack on the "good enough to earn it" idea being spread by British Christian empire. They, the British, thought they were good enough because they paid Christ lip service while trying to earn it by being "good citizens" of the empire because the church of England represented Christianity to the British citizens and the British culture had replaced true faith shown by charity with mindless obedience to authorities, the same way the Roman Catholics did. Literally he's trying to attack a quote he agrees with if he believes you can't earn it because he thinks the earning it part is implied, it isn't.
If people think that any man can earn their way in to heaven, whether ghandi or a monk, they clearly don’t understand Christ’s reason for coming nor do they understand humanity. Let me try to explain this the best I can. There are 2 perspectives on what’s good enough. One is the human perspective and the other is Gods law perspective. 1. Human perspective sees life and creates its own standards or morals. Humans judge themselves based on what they think is good and bad. So they may think that because they never murdered nor committed adultery nor anything else “majorly evil” according to human standards, that they are “good enough”.. but 2. Gods ways and perspective are sooooo above our ways and understanding! God has his standard for good and evil and what we think is no big deal is actually a very very very big deal to God. So God holds a standard so high and righteous and perfect that most people can’t even understand it. It’s so perfect that the scripture says even if we lust in our minds, it’s adultery. So we can’t even think bad things or it’s a sin. So thinking something evil is still evil and unacceptable in Gods eyes. No man can enter the kingdom of heaven in sin. And that means all sin, big or small. So even someone with very little sin or sins that aren’t “that bad” are still evil enough to go to hell because God is just that good and perfect. And there is no way ghandi can enter heaven for being good enough because no man is good enough or perfect. Only God/Jesus is. That’s why we need Jesus because he took the punishment on himself that was actually due to us. So, in other words God is so perfect that he’s also perfectly just. Which means he punishes every being that sins because that brings justice. So punishment must be poured out on all those that sin.it’s like a human judge in a courtroom nowadays.. they must charge everyone that’s guilty of a crime and brought before the judge. The judge can’t say to a person that they are let free because their crime was that they stole fm a food cart and not a store. Theft is theft and sin is sin no matter which way we look at it. And sin is sin because it is the opposite of true love, which is what God is. And if we truly loved one another, then we would not steal fm any person, no matter who or the reason because love does not harm another person nor God. And instead of God punishing his human creation, he sent his Son and punished Christ instead so we could be let off scotch free and not end up in hell. Only if we accept the gift though . That’s how much he loves us, that he didn’t want to see us punished so Jesus took it upon himself so that he paid our fine and so that the judge can now see us as set free because our charges and fines have been paid by Christ. And still even though it’s free, people don’t want the gift. And that’s sad. So no, we don’t earn anything. We aren’t good enough because we all sin, even little old sweet ladies and even pastors and the apostles sinned. Every human to ever exist has sinned! And lesser sins are still sins. So we all need the Savior to save us and give us a new life. That’s why the Bible says we must be reborn. Cus the first time was no good. So next time someone says ghandi is so good he earned his way to heaven, lead them to Ray Comforts RUclips channel lol. Think it’s called “living waters” And explain to them that no man is “too good”. I can’t even believe anyone would claim he was too good or good enough to earn his way into heaven!?? Some things just blow my mind. Some people just live in such deep sin and live in it so long, they’re lines and standards are blurred and there is major confusion because there is no Holy Spirit to direct them. Blessings to you tho and pray for them, that they may accept Christ one day. Hope this helps. :) P.s. the more time you spend with God, the deeper he speaks and the more he reveals. So up your Bible game. It’ll bring you much joy, peace and wisdom, I promise.
@@ruthboaz7749 well I wouldn't say 'scotch free'. We must lay down our lives for His sake. 1 John 3:16-18 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. Luke 9:24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. James 2:14-26 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe-and they shudder. Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead. Wasn’t Abraham our father, so also faith without works is dead.” 1 John 3:10 "By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother." The bible tells us to count the cost for a reason. We must obey. Matthew15:8 said,"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Hebrews10:26 says," If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left". Romans 6:3"do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death"? Acts 2:41 - "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Matt7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Matt7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ It's important to know that these were people who truly thought they were going be with Jesus eternally. Note they prophesied in Jesus's name and cast out demons, but apparently didn't know their bibles and follow God's instructions. It's not only important to repent, accept Jesus's sacrifice, be baptized and recieve the Holy Spirit to help guide us by reminding us of God word- we must KNOW His word in order to follow it and not what others say about it. We must know for ourselves to be sure of what it tells us to do, so on that last day we'll rejoice.
Paul himself, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, lists the 12 as a group that is separate from himself, that he is not a part of. Why people continue to argue against this, truly baffles me, and I think shows that most people aren't interested in what the Scriptures have to say, but only what they can try to make them say. :(
It's all very well shouting the usual Christian defence of "but read the context", but it's not so good when you don't point out the context by referring to what is actually written in the Bible! The context around slavery in the Bible shows it to be condoned, not forbidden!
I came across this statement today, and it made me think of you, Mike Winger. Thank you, not only for what you do online, but more importantly, what you do offline! "Ministers of the gospel should not be novices, 1 Timothy 3:6, raw and ignorant men; but men mighty in the Scriptures, well acquainted with the writings of the Old and New Testament, and the sense of them; men that have a stock of spiritual knowledge, able readily to speak a word to the weary, and to speak to men and women's particular cases and questions." (Matthew Poole 1624-1679)
Winger, you are a deeply disturbing person. You’re either willfully ignoring what the text plainly says because you simply cannot look at what it actually says, or you’re lying for money. Either way… ooooof 😖
4:28 answer to this question. Ive started suggesting to people. If they truly want to know an answer to a biblical question for the sake of clarity and confusion and not for the sake of argument and judgment. Them I've suggested to meet online one on one and discuss the question, not argue or debate. Its ok to agree to disagree. Or job is not to turn hearts and save people. Let scripture speak for itself and get out of the way. This is truly trusting in God to give you the words and to remain meek, gentle, compassionate, merciful, and grateful for their time. Show them the love of God.
Not that Mike's wrong, but the answer to #14 seems to be simple logic. God made Adam and Eve the rulers of the world (gave them dominion). Adam and Eve gave their allegiance to Satan when they believed him over God, thus giving their power him. They put their faith in Satan when they believed what he said over what God said.
Mike, the exclusion of The Book of Enoch makes the Old Testament look like a mess. If you read the Book of Enoch all of a sudden your eyes are opened and you go "Now I get it, why God had a chosen people and had them destroy other nations.", it was in the Torah Christ read from and without it the Old Testament is hard to justify. It's the missing link that connects what appear to be acts of cruelty on the part of God. God bless, Mike.
To be honest, this concerns me. Not only do you consider canonical a book rejected from the canon by the church at large throughout time, you also say this book radically impacts the way you interpret and understand the rest of Scripture. That seems really concerning.
You want a square circle? I’ll give you a square circle. Get a square piece of cardboard and spin it really fast. What shape is the cardboard and what shape do you see now? (A square making a circle ⭕️)
Hi! Quick question on something that has confused me a couple of times. At times the Pharisees seem to act as if they don’t have the authority to kill someone that is a threat to them or has violated their Law. On at least one occasion it appears that they tried to kill Jesus before the cross but eventually settled on a different course of action by having the Roman government kill Him for them. I’m not sure if this was because of Jesus’ large following and the feared response by His followers. But then in the epistles it seems like they suddenly don’t have a problem killing people. Starting with the killing of Stephen, who was killed in public, the Pharisees do not seemed worried about killing people they deem to be a threat. By some accounts Paul killed some Christians and later they even attempted to kill Paul. So what changed or how do we understand how much authority the Pharisees had when it came to their form of capital punishment?
They had authority to do so. Israel negotiated with Rome to keep their powers of self governance. Rome agreed so that Israel would not riot. Death-penalty came from ancient times and continued, (perhaps even to modern times). It was part of their laws at the time. Capital punishment was only recently abolished in the west, so it's not an unusual human precedent. Re Paul, it is not, "by some accounts", that Paul killed "some Christians", you make it sound like an accident. This is by Saul's own testimony. He was Israel's top Court Executioner. Graduate in Law, at the highest merit, 1 out of a 1000. Elite hit squad. A pharisee that kept every single law. His main authorised and mandated job was to hunt, kill and exterminate by any means, the emerging threatening "cult" that were called "christians", showing no pity and no mercy. Only an intervention by Jesus Himself stopped him from his 'holy' mission of 'purging the cancer from Israel.' Jesus changed Saul's name to Paul, and taught him to spread the Gospel, becoming the very thing he despised and killed.
@@ericnieves1541 Sorry. My phrasing needs work. What I objected to was the making light of Saul's expertise, ("killed some christians" vs "exterminate them everywhere you find them") "Accident" is going offtopic distraction and I could've used better words.
@@chovynzchovynz6291 Nice o worries. I didn’t mean to minimize what Paul did by saying some Christians. I only meant that it appeared that he mostly imprisoned them and I don’t recall him ever saying that he specifically killed someone, only that he supervised the killing of Stephen and persecuted the church, which could also mean to kill but I’m not sure. I’m always looking to learn more. Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. All the best.
Question 6 is a great question! It just so happens I was speaking to someone the other day that claimed the God I believe in is set out to confuse people and was pointing out supposed contradictions..... which btw were very easy to resolve answering to them within the surrounding context. This person claimed to be an ordained priest.
I haven't seen the video yet, but I already know that the Torah says that rape (in God's eyes) is the same as murder, and that rapists are to be put to death. In regards to slavery, servants, according to Torah, had the option of who they become servants to, much like how we choose our employers. According to Exodus 21, servants that remain in the household for more than 7 years are commanded to be given adoption into the house and receive a portion of the inheritance as if they were a natural born son.
1. In Leviticus you can... * Purchase human beings * Own them as property * Pass them down to your children as property * Own them forever 2. In Exodus 21, yes the Hebrew slaves would be released at the 7th year but you are missing a most cruel loophole in that scripture. If the master marries the slave, then at his release at the 7th year if he cannot leave his family (because his wife and children are the masters to keep) then that Hebrew slave will become the masters property forever and he will be marked on his ear with an awl. How cruel a biblical rule that forces the slave to choose between his family and his freedom.
@@reality1958 One crucial part you forgot to mention is that Exodus 21:3 says that at the beginning of the his enslavement, if he came in with a wife, he can leave with her. But if his master GAVE him a wife, meaning the master gave him something that belonged to him, he can leave her there or he can stay with her.. It’s actually not that cruel. Slavery is a hard concept to grasp no matter how you look at it but it’s been apart of our human existence from the beginning. Also, these people that God was commanding had not long before been slaves in Egypt themselves.
I’d be careful with Barbara Bond, I’ve debated her in the past and she completely misinterpreted Scripture. I remember saying that we couldn’t get to Heaven on our own because our good works are like filthy rags when compared to God (as He is completely pure, clean and holy whilst our good works are still stained with sin that must be punished) and she accused me of condemning good works as filthy rags, completely missing the point of what Scripture was saying.
@@reality1958 You are assuming it would be cruel to the wife and children who would have no home. To pierce someone's ear is cruel? I have pierced ears. You're not looking at circumstances realistically. You just want to be your own god, right? That is the real point.
In the beginning of this video you mentioned something that I read recently from Proverbs that I think more people should be aware of. It would be great if you did a video about Proverbs 9: 1-18. More specifically Proverbs 9: 7-9 Where it talks about correcting “the scoffer” vs “the wise man”. It says that we shouldn’t rebuke the wicked because they will hate us and gain no wisdom, but rebuking the wise man will make him wiser and he will love us for it. Proverbs 9: 7-9 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Thank you, Mike, for your very sensible approach to the vaccine question. You laid out the issues involved clearly and thoughtfully. I especially appreciate your explaining the nature of the fetal cell lines and how widely they have been used. I know Christians who seem to think this is exclusive to the Covid 19 vaccines. One person I know is prepared to give up a job over the vaccine mandate, but seems unaware that even over-the-counter drugs are tested the same way. Thanks for sharing your love of God and His Word!
Each person has to stand before God. I took the vaccine. I hope it was not wrong to do so. To me this is not different than a question about drinking, smoking a cigarette or dancing. Each person has to search their heart on this. To be forced or shamed by others, especially Christians, is a disgrace IMO. In addition to the spiritual side of it the federal government over reach concerns many. The fed has no authority to do this but they have done it anyway. I am terrified of a Federal government that can, by the word of a single man, take away freedom of travel, commerce and livelihood of over 300 million. Anyone that doesn’t see the dangers is quite frankly not using the brain a God gave to them.
With question 13: I think that we should have an absolute assurance that we are saved and will spend eternity with the Lord! Living a life unto Him 🤎. Seeing a fruitful lifestyle... If there is uncertainty, or fear that we may not be saved... Maybe there is some sin issue that needs to be dealt with...
Vaccine Q 18 My wife and I had the exact same logical approach you did and we too are glad, surprised and gentle about taking the Vaccine. You and Greg Lorie are among the very few who speak helpfully about this. Thanks much.
17. 1:16:10 {About God’s Omnipotence & Non-Contradiction} Since God can’t contradict Himself, does that mean that His power is limited in a way? I know God is all powerful, but what is the logical reason behind Him being powerful and non-contradictory? God's limitlessness, infiniteness, and perfectness is limiting him because he can't be limited, finite, and imperfect. We limit and summary things to our own finite understanding, we forget that infinite always exISts. God IS: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM THAT I AM hath sent me unto you. -Exodus 3:14
@@whatyouseeisjustillusions5842 “but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.”-Leviticus 16:10 Is this the verse you meant?
@@whatyouseeisjustillusions5842 To answer your question as I best I can. I don’t see anything in this verse, or it’s near context, that says anything about DNA or putting blood in our bodies. It only says that Israel shouldn’t eat animals without first draining the blood.
I am going to be honest I still am struggling to see how Deuteronomy 21:10-14 is not a matter of sex slavery in even the loosest terms. Firstly it is speaking of beautiful “women” that are taken for their own, purely out of a desire? Is that a sexual desire? But also in Numbers 31:18 it specifies the “young girls” not “beautiful women.” I know that seems pedantic but the Bible is very specific in both of these instances I’d assume so as not to be misinterpreted. Secondly the Deuteronomy passage speaks of the relationship as a marriage making the captive the wife. But after you have “gone in to her” or “dishonored her” as it refers to it later, there is no other justification needed to set her free other than dissatisfaction with her. Ignoring the fact that the holy union of marriage is completely dissolved based solely on a lack of satisfaction (and is this satisfaction a sexual type being as it directly follows the passage that permits the sexual relation?) Yes she is not a slave or to be sold but she may be acquired, violated, then left all while operating within the parameters given by God. This seems a weak rationalization and I don’t like being the only one in the comments that sees this as such.
On number two, restorative justice practices DO actually take into account the person who committed a crime, and the person victimized by the crime. It's all crime prevention through community support systems, making amends when a crime is committed, figuring out why the crime was committed and meeting those needs if possible, mental health care for everyone involved (separate and tailored to specific needs, of course), building skills to prevent future crimes, and treating people like people who matter through the whole process. And if a person is a danger to themselves or society, we can keep them away from others while still providing them with care and dignity. Problems can be solved with compassion, growth happens when people are treated as valuable people, and how we treat people who don't deserve our kindness and compassion says more about us than about them
Punishment isn't the only way to bring justice, and I think a case can be made that Biblical justice is primarily restorative, not punitive. And I'd even go so far to say that punishment doesn't actually bring healing to anyone.
Pastor Mike, I appreciate your teachings very much. In regards to question 18...if you were in severe financial debt and some person gave you money that they got from stealing, would you accept it? It runs on the same logic of "yeah, something bad happened, but at least it's helping others." I respectfully ask that you give your answer some more thought.
Taken from another comment on here because it applies to your comment as well. *You misunderstand Mike’s point. He said the logic only works because the desire for a vaccine didn’t cause or promote the abortions (the stem cells used in this case came from pre-born infants in the 70s who were going to be murdered one way or another). If I choose to do evil because something good might result, then the desire for something good did cause or promote the evil (which is how your examples are listed). Mike said that’s not okay. Think of it this way. If someone you loved, who was an organ donor, were murdered, would you be okay with someone benefiting from the organs, the result of the murder. I would say, “Yes,” as long as it doesn’t promote murder.*
Thank you Mike for your take on the vaccine and fetal line issue. I got my first dose of the shot last Monday for employment, and then I found out about this after the fact. So I am supposed to get my second shot in two weeks but I have been back and forth with that that same issue. At the moment I also lean towards your take as well, but my wife is completely against it for the same reason and I support her decision as well. We live in a scary, confusing world. Thanks again for your content! God Bless.
Full Church Ahead… I would encourage you to make every effort, in humility, to listen to your wife to try to better understand her concerns. I know this is out of context, but there are times when you may be seeking an answer and God directs to “listen to your wife” because she may not be wrong… like God directed Abraham to listen to Sarah about her discernment concerning Hagar & Ishmael. It requires humility- but please don’t rush ahead without careful thought and prayer to these things.
@@LadyJaneJolene This is very good advice, but I think you misunderstood me lol. I am just speaking on the matter of weather or not it is immoral to get the vaccine depending on what they are doing or have done with the fetal tissue. I flop on both sides but lean toward what Mike is saying but tomorrow I might agree with my wife on the topic again but either way I understand what she is saying and fully support her decision for not wanting the vaccine.
The bible instructs you have to treat slaves as human beings that was documented in job 31:13-15 and dueteronomy 23:15-16 Job31:13-15 13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; 14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? 15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? If you look up job 31:13 on blueletterbible and look at the cross references to it is a cross reff to verses such as exodus 21:20-21, 21:26-27 and colossians 4:1 and ephesians 6:9 which confirms it is talking about equal rights for slave and master
Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 - Introduction
1. 0:48 {Does Scripture Promote Evil Things?} I’ve been challenged with the accusation that the Bible “promotes killing, rape, and slavery,” quoting Numbers 31: 15-18. I don’t want to simply prove them wrong; that doesn’t address this person’s heart. Would you please help?
2. 18:36 {About the Death Penalty} As a follow up to your teaching on the death penalty, this question is from my skeptic brother: "Isn't it better to rehabilitate offenders in hopes that they may come to repentance and give their lives to God?"
3. 22:32 {About the Apostles & Judas’ Position} I’ve heard it taught that the Apostles were being presumptuous when filling Judas’ empty position. Why did they choose to apply Psalm 69: 25 and Psalm 109:8 to the situation?
4. 30:38 {Can we See God’s Face & Still Live?} Exodus 33: 20 says "no one can see my face and live.” How do we reconcile this with Exodus 33: 11 which says, "the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as to a friend"?
5. 36:02 {About the 70th Week & Seven Seals} Is there any biblical evidence that the beginning of Daniel's 70th week and Jesus opening the first of the seven seals in Revelation will occur roughly at the same time?
6. 37:44 {Why Didn’t God Rewrite Difficult Passages?} Can you explain the Holy Spirit Inspiration Doctrine? I struggle with understanding why God did not rewrite controversial Bible passages. I know I am only a man, and I seek to understand.
7. 41:35 {Advice for an Unequally Yoked Marriage} My wife is an unbeliever. The more I attend church, the more strain it puts on our marriage. Is it right to continue going to church, or should I stop? (1 Corinthians 7: 14) I pray for her every day.
8. 44:40 {About the Book of Numbers} What is the best way to read the book of Numbers? What’s some really cool stuff about it and how it ties to JESUS?
9. 47:36 {Is “Deliverance” / Demon Casting Biblical?} I'm wondering about your thoughts on deliverance. Would you consider calling and identifying demons biblical, or is it not?
10. 50:43 {Reconciling 2 Important Verses/Worldly Christians?} Can you explain Matthew 7: 21 vs. Romans 10: 13? Also, how do you spot worldly Christians (1 Corinthians 3:1) from those who are unsaved but have good works (Matthew 7: 22-23)? Shouldn't we have grace for sanctification?
11. 55:15 {Advice for Christian College Students} What advice do you have for Christians in college?
12. 59:12 {Is there Hope After Death for the Unsaved?} Can the Gospel be preached to the dead? According to 1 Peter 4:6, is there any hope for people after they die? Also, in 1 Peter 3:19-20, what does “preached unto the spirits in prison” mean?
13. 1:03:43 {About Assurance of Salvation} How can I be sure that I am going to Heaven when I die?
14. 1:06:35 {How is Satan the World’s Ruler?} Can you explain how Satan became the ruler of this world?
15. 1:09:48 {About Salvation by Grace vs. Our Efforts} If we don't have to do works to get saved, why does Jesus tell us to "make every effort to enter through the narrow door" in Luke 13: 24?
16. 1:13:07 {Help for Anxiety over Unsaved Loved Ones} How do I combat anxiety about my newborn daughter’s salvation? It’s a difficult topic for me due to my younger brother walking away from the faith as a teenager.
17. 1:16:10 {About God’s Omnipotence & Non-Contradiction} Since God can’t contradict Himself, does that mean that His power is limited in a way? I know God is all powerful, but what is the logical reason behind Him being powerful and non-contradictory?
18. 1:20:06 {About Vaccines & Aborted Fetal Tissue} What are your thought on vaccines using aborted fetal cell lines for development? I’m about to lose my job at big MN clinic if I don’t get the vaccine and struggle with this issue.
19. 1:26:26 {About being Satisfied in God} How can you know that you are satisfied in God? How does it manifest practically? Does doing Christian things mean I'm satisfied in God? Can’t I do Christian stuff and still not be satisfied in Him?
20. 1:28:59 {Is Pledging Allegiance Idolatry?} Is pledging allegiance to a country or flag a form of idolatry?
50:28 - "It's always good to follow up a discussion of demons with a cute little kitty"
-Mike Winger
@@klarag7059 I spit on my phone laughing when Mike said “the lion of the tribe of Judah and a lion a just a giant CAT 🐈”
@@klarag7059 😂😂 🐈🐈
@@Star-dj1kw eww!
i did not watch the video yet,
i will but
i want to comment on the title of your VIDEO,
If they said that,
I KNOW without even guessing,
they DID NOT READ LEVITICUS even for a minute...
NOW, on with the VIDEO...🤣
Just gotta say that I cracked up when you went on the defense that cats aren't demon possessed. 😆 "Jesus is after all the lion of Judah, which is a giant cat." 🤣🤣🤣
Name me one place in the Bible where Jesus calls Himself by a dog's name. I'm waiting...
Lol
The best argument why to not be an atheist or agnostic or whatever. XD (has 3 cats *_*)
Devil is a roaring Lion
Aslan 🦁
I'm obsessed with Mike's 20 questions videos. They have blessed me so much, and I know the Lord has spoken to me through them on so many occasions. There is a definite anointing on this channel. God bless you Pastor Mike!
So he blessed you, not God? Are you idolizing
@@PoliticallyInCorrect1 it’s people like you that keep the Pharisee spirit alive. She didn’t say what you accused her of
@@PoliticallyInCorrect1 Proverbs 11:25 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
Plenty of verses using this sort of verbiage. It's understood Good can only come from God - unless you're intentionally trying to confuse things by omitting foundations. Hope you wake up.
I too have been very blessed by Mikes 20 questions. I listen to everyone video I see. All his videos teaching has blessed me. He helps me understand scripture more and answers many questions I have. I’d like to ask him questions personally.
Obsessed is not the word you shouldn't use for Mike being blessed is a more appropriate word for this comment, just a thought.
This year I started reading the OT in much more detail than what I have been doing until last year and many of my misconceptions were cleared. I no longer hold on to the view that the OT God is a immoral monster but is actually very much like Jesus. This has actually even helped my prayer life because Jesus commanded us to start our prayer with "Our Father in Heaven" and after knowing how compassionate and merciful the Father is, I feel like our bond is much more intimate than it previously was. Context is 100% necessary.
1 Samuel 15
Yahweh orders the execution of every man, woman, child, slave, and livestock. Saul does not kill everyone and this angers Yahweh, who then punishes Saul for not following orders.
This is very much like Jesus?
@@whatwecalllife7034 take a look at Jesus in Revelation.
@@dahelmang Why? My question was for the OP.
Is there anything in Revelations that you specifically had in mind and can you tell me why I should read it?
But i thought the OT god Was a sadistic monster? The amount of horrific crimes he inspired or demanded others commit, as well as himself drowning to death nearly every child and baby on earth, even plants and animals? He makes hitler and stalin look like amateurs...
@@adriangeh6414 that's what you thought. It isn't reality. God brings judgment. He has that aurhority.
As a university student I really appreciated your answer re college Pastor Mike. It's really allowed me to see it as not just learning but a ministry unto the Lord. I try to be an example to my study buddies but your words have inspired me to be discipled for my future endeavours and set an attitude for life. Your ministry and teaching have simply put, CHANGED MY LIFE. Thank you Pastor Mike and God bless your wife for supporting you as you serve the world. BTW I watch everything you produce from Sydney Australia and pray for your ministry for protection, resources and a far reach. I also pray for your fluffy friends Moxi and Malachi (yes I'm a crazy cat lady in my spare time too). Your website is phenomenal so thank all your team for making it so easy to access your exemplary research tools.
Always struggled with if I'm deceiving myself or not, I never really thought about the difference between "Jesus is Lord" and "Jesus is MY lord". This really put it into perspective for me and I feel like I know the answer now. Thank you for pointing that out.
“You’ve gotta have integrity, which means you can’t follow the lemmings off the bridge…” Great line Mike; I will totally be using that one. Thanks for hard work, and blessings!!
I don't know why, but I love that the first 5 sec. are always Mike looking about, seeing everything is working.
Hey Mike. Thank you so much for all the hours that you put in studying and making these teaching videos. I'm in a different time zone (South Africa) and I can't wait until Saturdays to catch this 20 questions video. I have also watched most of your other teaching videos as well and learned so much and I have been saved since I was 9 yrs old (now I'm a granny). May God bless you and your wife tons.
Pastor Mike, I really appreciate you. This channel is great and I’m always excited to hear what you have to say. Just Thanks.
Thanks..I fell asleep so the time stamps mean I can catch up..... nothing personal Mike 🙈 sorry
Inbox
"It's always good to follow up a discussion of demons with a cute little kitty"
-Mike Winger
Almighty God creates demons and makes them do things - like puppets.
@@JamesRichardWiley chapter and verse, please.
Why stop there? What about a 'discussion' on scary ghosts? Or vampires, werewolves, bigfoot, and other things that don't exist...
@@adriangeh6414 hostile much?
@@klarag7059 forgive me?
Pastor Mike, when you talked about the experience of going to a Christian college, it reminded me of my experiences. I was expecting people to be a little more pious. My Religion professors were fantastic. Some of the others not so much. I expected too much. Growing up, I heard how people would make excuses for not attending church because it was full of hypocrites. Why would they? My answer to that is that people are human and make mistakes. After all, David was a man after God’s own heart. I Samuel 13:14ff. And he did everything under the sun. But when I got to college and had classes with people who were heading for ministry, I expected More. There were definitely good strong Christian people. There were also people who had questionable behavior. I admit, I am a prude. I have high standards and know people have called me a goody two shoes. I have no idea how it got that name, but we all know what it means. I was shocked at a lot of the behavior committed by people headed to ministry. A lot had positions in a church. Others were what we called PKs. Preachers’ kids. I went to a baseball game at a church that a fellow student and his preacher father was playing. They were cussing and yelling. Now in my view, cussing includes words that used to be prohibited on television. They were mild but still shouldn’t be said for all to hear if you are representing God. When I went to Seminary, things were much better, but still not what I expected from people in the ministry. A doctrinal student from Singapore commented on how different my behavior was from the other women she knew in her dormitory. I was kind of shocked. I hadn’t really realized I did anything different. I was just doing what I was supposed to do. I can’t say that I always behaved the way I should and am ashamed of that. I had my dark time from which I learned a LOT about what can take me from God’s path. I guess what I am saying is that we determine what we get out of education and the experiences, both good and bad. Just know that a Christian school is going to be a little more worldly than you may expect. God put me in these places for his purpose. It was up to me to make sure that I learned as much as he wanted to.
Mike, I just want to say that I love your genuineness.
I especially love that you talk to us like a regular person and don’t have this motivational speaker thing going on. This is why you’re my favorite pastor on RUclips. You’re so relatable and your work is thorough, and it’s clear you have a heart for God without being extra about it. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.. I just prefer listening to people that talk like everyone else when they preach and stuff.
Thank you for all your hard work, Mike! God bless you and anyone reading this!
You would struggle to find someone more disingenuous than this apologist. He is not ignorant of what the bible says, he just picks and chooses the bits he cites and the bits he misrepresents 🤢🤮
I agree with you I love listening to Mike’s channel. He’s humble and down to earth. He’s not scared to teach the truth. I love how he puts God in our hearts that helps convict us and keep us on the proper path. He does it in such a humble way. 😊❤ God bless you!
You can’t be serious. Mike is such an obvious phony you can spot it from a mile away.
One of the most phony apologists.
Your raydar is seriously damaged if you can’t tell Mike is lying to you through his teeth every time he talks.
Which he demonstrably is.
I've never thought God owed me anything' but death and hell!!! When I see how humanity is - God has been more than gracious and merciful beyond measure!!!!!!
Excellent answer on the death penalty. No justice - no peace.
I have always loved the fact that though we talk of the 12 tribes of Israel, there were actually 13 because Joseph had a double portion (Manasseh and Ephraim). Levi became a tribe for all to minister to all and teach the law for the other 12. I love that God had planned a 13th apostle that would be used in a unique way in church history.
You make an interesting point, but God does not have anything of his own that adds up to thirteen.
Jesus distinctly speaks of twelve apostles and twelve tribes that will be in heaven (Matt. 19). He also said one of the original Twelve was a devil, so Judas was therefore rejected and replaced by either Matthias or Paul, not both as there can be only Twelve. I 'd love to say Paul, but Paul clearly separates himself from the Twelve (1 Cor. 15) . There were, however, other apostles (Gal. 1; Acts 14), and imo Paul is the greatest apostle of them all.
As for the twelve tribes, in Rev. 7 where Jesus Himself chooses twelve men from each of the twelve tribes, again one tribe, Dan, is rejected, Levi is included, and Joseph is counted as one. That adds up to twelve. :)
READ MORE
@@danstewart3319 exactly, Dan was excluded
@@danstewart3319 thought Benjamin got rejected back in judges when the priest send pieces to the tribes of his murdered concubine? Where is initial rejection of Dan?
one thing about tribes ISSUE that still linger,
THE 10 LOST TRIBES,
@@dswysong7353That was human conflict. It had nothing to do with God.
You are by far my favorite pastor that I have ever listened to on RUclips! And I've listened to a lot.
"You guys just dont get it, they're only committing genocide and sex slavery against people who wouldn't convert to my religion." The fact that Mike thinks that makes it better is frightening.
Part of the regular worship to Baal included sacrificing their babies by placing them in the arms of a metal idol and lighting a fire so that the baby slowly burned to death. Baal worship had all kinds of things wrong with it.
@@OrizellaWare And that makes the genocide and slavery okay because... ?
And that’s before we consider that you’re doing the equivalent of taking N-zis at their word about what Jews are like.
I love it when you only cite (and not just give your own opinion) when it comes to confusing things, it keeps the answers objective and clear.
I'm in a Christian college, but that doesnt mean that I dont run into strange college things. My professor upset me with his need for official definitions, so I disregarded my last assignment in his class to turn in a paper giving out reasons why we cant always use official definitions, but objective ones as according to God's Word. I thought I was gonna fail it. I got a 70 😂😂😂
Thank you for answering the issue on slavery/killing so clearly!
It is something that I hear often and I'm feeling more confident in how to approach the topic. However, as you mentioned ( and as I can already see in the comment section) it is ultimately a heart issue.
It is a heart issue. And my heart cannot tolerate condoning slavery or genocide of babies and children.
Nor can my heart accept the rationalization of such acts.
Pastor Mike has went into detail on question 1 so I will not try to add to what was answered in detail.
I'll just say that scripture tell us the heart is deceitful above all things. We are so incredibly lead by our own feelings, but those feelings change so rapidly.
Scripture also tells us His ways are not our ways.
To be honest Barbara - this is a very HARD teaching. It is. But too many times in my life something has happened, something horrible, and I've wondered...Why? Father, how can there possibly be anything good come out of this?!...BUT GOD.
Then I look back and realize I couldn't see what He doing at the time, but it was for the ultimate good.
I will be praying for your heart because the very fact you chose to watch this video means He is calling you. ❤
@@CarmenH-e3l it is a heart issue Carmen. Thus how I feel
I came here because I wish for the truth to always take precedent. I used to believe as well, and I can no longer defend this
@@CarmenH-e3l
How could you listen to Mike's answer and abandon what you know about God's goodness?
How could you so quickly abandon the words and teachings of Jesus in favour of the words and teachings one preacher?
I will be honest and tell you that I no longer believe in God, but there is still a part of me that loves the God I knew: all-loving, all-forgiving, all-merciful, all-good.
That part of me has an interpretation requiring far less detail than Mike's: the authors of the Old Testament were fallible, and they mistakenly claimed that God had commanded them to do things that He had not commanded them to do.
Yes, it still breaks my heart that people would go to such great lengths to distort and defame His character, to place him on par with Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, all for the sake of their own perverted interpretation of scripture.
@@CarmenH-e3l What do you say about 1 Samuel 15?
Yahweh orders the execution of every man, woman, child, slave, and livestock. Saul saves some livestock and goods to sacrifice to Yahweh, which angers Yahweh because he did not kill everything as instructed.
Thanks Pastor Mike you really helped me out! I got ambushed with question #17 this afternoon while discussing the Gospel with an atheist, and I wasn’t able to give a solid answer. I’ll have to continue the conversation the next time I see him and bring up some of your points.
Blessings and THANKS 🙏 for your service to GOD and to HIS children. Blessings
Oh man. As a woman who is married to a non believer I appreciate the wisdom you gave to that husband. It was also timely for me as I was not a good example to my husband today. Thanks for your timely words!
🙏❤🙏❤🙏
I can relate to this and, boy can it be hard to work your faith around your marriage. I am glad that my husband hasn't been giving me a hard time about attending church but today it came up "hey, did you make some sort of a payment to TriCity Church of Christ on Sunday?" And I explained how there are multiple ways to offer a monetary gift these days and as I didn't have cash I made a payment on the church's website. Talk about making a skeptic more skeptical 😔
Thank you so much for using God’s word to answer these questions. I’m so glad there are people like you who stand by the Bible. It really does help. God Bless.
Thanks for all your hard work. Your videos have helped me immensely. I had turned away from God and had begun to think like many of the atheists, even with the same arguments that you spoke about in your first question. You are absolutely correct about the attitude of the heart that feels entitled and that God owes us and should do things the way we think they should be done rather than trusting Him. But on February 5, 2020 as I was wondering why I couldn't make myself believe anymore the Holy Spirit convicted me about exactly that. I was wanting God to be a god of my own making. I immediately fell on my knees in repentance and was transformed. I can now look back grateful for even my suffering because it was through it that He showed me who He really is and that He is trustworthy.
I pray that you always be encouraged by the work our Lord Jesus is doing in the hearts of those who see your videos, even those whose hearts have been hardened. The Holy Spirit is using your words to soften the hearts of those who are lost, even those who heap discouragement on you in the comments now, they are not beyond hope just as I wasn't 2 years ago.
Thanks, from the bottom of my heart for continuing to be obedient to Christ.
Thank you Mike and team! These quick, experienced answers are often more encouragement than long sermons with all the caveats. Today the answers on church attendance being different for those of use whose spouses aren’t so involved, and that proof of salvation being a simple as, how different my life would be if I wasn’t being satisfied in Christ. Proof of salvation is not something a stranger can determine.
I look forward to these videos every week! Such a blessing! Thank you Mike!
Thank you so much for your ministry and willingness and dedication in the literal years it must have taken to become so well Biblically educated. It is helping me so, so much. I thank the Lord for your reverence and clear love and respect for God. It’s evident in how you teach and rightly divide the word with care.
Hey Mike I really enjoy listening to you so much. I listen to you at work all the time. As a young man in the construction field it's nice to have you to listen to when surrounded by the world. I know you don't care but I totally disagree with you on vaccines but I still like listening to you. But Maybe you could research it some more! And thank you so much for putting this content out on RUclips brother!
Pastor, this understanding is vital today, especially for the younger generations, building or falling into the ranks of progressive Christianity, for while the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, the love of God is it’s end.
(Perfection…completion)
Just finished watching through number 10, and while the verses were on screen I noticed another aspect of the wording in Romans 10:13. It speaks of "calling on" His name. That is different than just identifying Him. You are calling for Him to save you. Couple this with a few verses earlier, where we are told we must not only declare/confess with our mouth, but also believe in our heart that He was raised from the dead.
12 minutes in and I thank you for clearing up this misunderstood scripture and false accusations people use. I too have had trouble understanding it and the context it was written. You cleared up my misunderstanding about this.
Yes so many people always use these specific verses in the comments when they say God is evil and they hate the Bible, but they don't look into the full Bible in context and don't even think about the culture back then as well. We still have plenty of learning to do
So the horrors referred to in Numbers and Deuteronomy must be excused and justified by being taken 'in context'. Like Hitler's ravings in 'Mein Kampf' should be taken 'in context'?
The first 15 minutes of this was enough for me. Couldn't go any further.
He didn’t clear anything up, he just said “nuh uh” and moved on. Deeply disturbing, disgusting defense of forcing young women into marriage after committing genocide against their people. The text is quite plain.
We are too hard on ourselves when we have doubts in our faith. Imagine a man worried about his doubts about God on his knees in a room by himself praying desperately to God about that very issue. Sometimes our own actions are the answer to our own thoughts.
This happens a lot. Trying to show them the actual scripture is impossible. People who think that, have no desire to learn different, well most of them.
"About your men and women slaves: You may get men and women slaves from the other nations around you. Also, you may get children as slaves if they come from the families of the foreigners living in your land. These child slaves will belong to you. You may even pass these foreign slaves on to your children after you die so that they will belong to them. They will be your slaves forever. You may make slaves of these foreigners. But you must not be a cruel master over your own brothers, the Israelites." Leviticus 25:44-46
@Yvonne you did not read the quoted scripture above:
1. In Leviticus you can...
* Purchase human beings
* Own them as property
* Pass them down to your children as property
* Own them forever
2. In Exodus 21, yes the Hebrew slaves would be released at the 7th year but you are missing a most cruel loophole in that scripture.
If the master marries the slave, then at his release at the 7th year if he cannot leave his family (because his wife and children are the masters to keep) then that Hebrew slave will become the masters property forever and he will be marked on his ear with an awl.
How cruel a biblical rule that forces the slave to choose between his family and his freedom.
@Yvonne Perhaps slavery was better than dying of starvation, but that’s quite a low bar and I would expect better from a god who claims moral perfection. Servitude would have been a better option, but that’s not what’s outlined in the text. Slaves from other nations were for life and they could be beaten with the only limit being death and lasting physical impairment. Also, what about the ones who were forced into slavery such as the women and children as prisoners of war?
@@HarryNicNicholas which god does not "condone" slavery?
Because YHVH does not "condone" slavery at all...
Next your gonna say something about "selling your daughter as a slave" (stupid interpretation of what is actually written)
You have no foundational opposition. Your opposition is created by sloppy translation and hateful retoric NOT BASED IN ANY SCRIPTURE!!!!
@@HarryNicNicholas and atheist got a body count of 200m over the course of 60 years from nations they are in charge of such as the soviet union. using slave labor and mass genocide. so high pot meet kettle.
God bless your ministry Mike, I continue to pray for God’s protection over you so that you may continue to pursue your calling with all boldness, faith and truth. I thank God for what you help bring to my Christian worldview. May God continue to give you wisdom. Amen 🙏🏼
I love your videos, Mike; praise our God.
I love Mike (as a fellow Christian) and have been following the channel since near its beginning. Concerning vaccine, I understand why Mike has avoided jumping into that issue as it was asked in the past in different forms. If you delete the channel because of what was said, your feelings are too emotional to have a dialogue. A vaccine should be a personal decision on whether one should get one or not. Some vaccine is made with fetal DNA and some are made with something else, like egg process. You should know what's in them whether you are for or against the fetal type. It is a moral issue I've struggled with myself (I have a conscience). I don't like injecting myself with aborted fetal DNA and other fragments (it's on the ingredients of the vile). MMR, COVID and others have this. The moral question is valid.
The question asked was specific to the COVID vaccine. Which adds the extra layer of corrosion. Generally forcing someone to do something (not guilty of a justifiable crime) is inherently wrong. A vaccine only helps the one taking it. If the vaccine doesn't stop you from getting that "disease" it's ineffective. Forcing it on someone else to protect you, if you are vaccinated and should already be protected, is not using logic but feelings and fear. Furthermore the last vaccine developed for a SARS COVID virus was shut down after 50 deaths. This one has far far exceeded that threshold but because of fear is still being forced on people. Also no RNA vaccine has ever made it through clinical trials. The type of side effects are often quite random. The current RNA vaccines are not expected to have clinical trials completed for a couple years. (Even the FDA approved one which actually isn't available in America yet) Meaning we are taking a vaccine and just seeing what happens. It is wrong to force this on someone. Even though as a child I took the MMR and other vaccines, I will not comply with mandatory (meaning without an actual law) vaccine for covid! Even if society deems it necessary to destroy my life as a result. At which point Liberty, Freedom, will mean as much to me as it did to slaves in early America.
May God give moral wisdom.
May God continue to bless Pastor Mike's ministry.
Let's be honest, I keep clicking on Mike's videos for the off chance I get a glimpse of his cat. Not disappointed ;-)
Thank you so much, pastor Mike! your response gave me clarity that I was looking at this the wrong way. At that time I was conflicted about the idea that God wanted all people to be saved but then we would be robbing them of the opportunity to be saved if we do execute the offender. Turns out it's not that they're prevented from any more opportunities of receiving Christ but rather their decision to accept Jesus has been accelerated (so they're not losing anything they're just moving at a faster rate). Again thank you for your ministry, God bless you all!
@@HarryNicNicholas I actually was looking at just the perspective of one side before so my point of view was skewed a while ago. God is good, He's a judge, and He would be just if every criminal gets what they deserve. But Jesus came and gave us a pardon if we want it. He didn't need to, He wanted to. God bless you, and I'll be praying for you.
@@HarryNicNicholas Would you defend your family against an armed invader, yes or no? God kills and puts the wicked and unclean in eternal prison. Of course you don't like it. No guilty person likes to be brought to justice. Here's the thing, though: Unlike any human judge, God gave his Son's life for yours. So if you reject so great a salvation, you will live with your folly in prison for all eternity.
@@firstachristian856 He drowned to death practically every child and baby, including plants, trees and animals. If you call this Good, i'm afraid to even ask what bad is.
@@adriangeh6414 I began to understand this when I witnessed how often evil runs in families. The devil starts with one man who then becomes his willing tool to create a family stronghold. Eventually, if left unchecked, Satan takes over a city, a state/region and so on. Germany is an example of how Satan can come to possess an entire nation. Satan's goal is to subjugate the whole world, and that will finally happen under the Antichrist.
Thankfully, there IS a God. If God had not stopped the rapid spread of evil at the time,, there would have been no way to bring the Savior into the world.
You have it backwards. The worst thing that can happen is for God NOT to act b/c his people have turned away from Him and evil prevails.
Hi @@adriangeh6414
Here are some thoughts, I hope it helps:
- it was judgment for a world that had gone incredibly wrong.
-- Now I think it's important to work under the assumption that God isn't just some guy that has a skewed view of the world, and the reason why I'm saying this is that I don't know how bad it is that fallen angels have come to cause corruption in the world.
- When God kills people (where God is the giver and source of their life), is He unjust for taking what is His?
-- If you lent me your car and I had a lot of fun, would it be unfair of you to take it back anytime you want? ( especially if I'm harming others with your car?)
- When people die under the assumption that Christianity is true, do they cease to exist? or do they just change locations?
-- so if we worry about children and babies, I think it's safe to assume God has moved them from earth to be with Him( age of accountability)
22:32 re: The choosing of Mathias by lots rather than waiting for the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost dismisses the fact that God’s will was seen in the casting of the lots. Proverbs 16:33: "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.”
That eliminates free will.
Now what?
@@JamesRichardWiley pretty sure they had free will to reject their nomination as well as reject the position if the lot fell on them or to walk away from the position or the faith at any point afterwards. We always have the right to refuse God’s will.
@@JamesRichardWiley in reality voting is nowhere in scripture. It imposes our will over God’s. Ideally one would pray and seek God’s will in a vote, but we will choose the person based on how their beliefs align with ours rather than the will of God. It is in and of itself a self righteous act. The casting of lots leaves the choice up to God.
@@adriangeh6414 I’m quite positive that Stalin and Kim Jong Ill, both extreme atheists, would not approve of seeking God’s will. Stalin achieved leadership by eliminating all his opponents by either replacing them with his supporters or having them murdered. Kim achieved leadership by being his father’s son and maintains leadership in the same way all dictators do, by killing or imprisoning his opponents. Quite a far cry from trusting God to choose the leader. In fact it is the antithesis of it.
@@annette8770 that makes them even More similar to this god character actually. Stalin, Kim Jong Il, and Him are All atheists. All 3 of them are dictators whose rule is absolute, and their subjects are expected to have blind and unquestioning Faith, loyalty, and obedience to them. All 3 of them will not tolerate Any form of dissent, and those who do will be imprisoned and tortured indefinitely. All 3 cannot be voted out (their subjects can't vote period) and all 3 are free to commit all manner of crimes against humanity and nature, which they have.
Regarding Question #1: The mindset which most people who raise questions such as 'God is a dirty bully' and 'The Bible promotes murder, rape, and slavery' bring to the discussion is that of theological liberalism (e.g., Bart Ehrman), which views the Bible not as special revelation from God but as invented mass-control material soley produced by the ancient Jewish priest class to ensure that class' dominance over others via 'invented' religion. Specifically, in this mindset:
God doesn't really exist in any objective way
Postmodernism-the idea that there is no absolute truth that's objectively evident for EVERYONE-is the order of the day.
The Bible was ONLY written by power-hungry/war-mongering humans
This life is really all there is, and so human rights in the here and now are obviously the most important thing. This in turn creates the mindset that human standards of behavior and fairness toward each other ARE REALLY ALL THAT'S IN PLAY and so prominent human rights issues such as feminism, gay rights, racism (which is also a pet football of the Marxists in the U.S.A. for divide-and-conquer), slavery, etc. are THE WHOLE FOCUS and the benchmark for measuring evil in the (liberal) world. ('Cancel culture's' favorite and most useful ploy is the accusation of 'RACISM!' and it is hauled out anytime they need a 'quick fix' to shut someone up and marginalize them. )Thus, the most powerful way to oppose the IDEA of God is to accuse God of these very evils and to snidely paint Him as both unfair and evil. The apex atop the humanists' pyramid of morality is not a righteous and almighty Judge of His own creation-the very idea of God is removed from their pyramid entirely-but their currently-favored code of human rights, which the Marxists keep evolving over time in order to defeat their political enemies systematically.
People in our modern world like Pastor Mike who believe the Bible IS special revelation from God (as well as having been authored by humans) are therefore viewed/portrayed as menaces to the human rights of non-believers, who are seen as (actually or potentially) oppressed by biblical morality.
The Roman Catholic Church is a primary, if not always cited, example of what the humanists have in mind for what their conception of Christianity is, and the RCC manifests all the worst features of what they mistakenly think is wrong with biblical Christianity itself on account of assuming that the RCC's theology, policies, and operations are quintessentially biblical, when they are not. And so with the RCC you have a dictator at the top (the Pope), a ruthlessly authoritarian priest class which traditionally demands conformity and obedience, an overall dangerous programme of world domination, and even a Gestapo-like 'hit squad' (the Jesuits). So whenever the humanists need a black sheep example of why biblical Christianity is dangerous they haul out the RCC as their example. What they don't realize is that the RCC doesn't represent or embody biblical Christianity and has been singled out for her own special judgment in advance, and so far in advance that she's even mentioned in symbolic passages on the pages of the New Testament.
Sarcasm-conditioned humanists/atheists/Marxists/anti-Bible people are among the hardest to reach because they SWIM in their hatred and intolerance on the one hand, and devote themselves at all costs and to any possible extent to their political action activities on the other. Marxists in particular keep fooling nonMarxists, who stand amazed at instance after instance of Marxist hypocrisy and inconsistency, because in Marxism the only actual morality is this: Whatever advances the cause of Marxism worldwide is moral.
Biblical Christianity's system of morality and ethics has been TOTALLY DISCARDED by the Marxists and so OF COURSE they aren't ashamed to be hypocrites, or to lie, steal, murder, or do anything else that advances their cause. Theirs is a wholesale worldview and mindset that DOESN'T include God (righteous or otherwise), the Ten Commandments, loving your neighbor as much as you love yourself, and a sense of fair play, plus their political obsessions and hunger for power swamp out all other considerations. All that matters to them is 'their team' and achieving its political goals. Politics is EVERYTHING to them and they tend to be at it 24/7 because that's how Marxism thinks, works, and pursues its goals.
So that's the context and mindset of such people. They are hard-indoctrinated with an opposing worldview. A few might be willing to LOOK at evidences (e.g., prophecy, correct science in the Bible) for the divine inspiration of scripture, but such people derive their sense of emotional self-worth and purpose from identifying with their 'team' rather than from approaching the world logically and examining evidence in order to discern what's true and what's false. Remember: In postmodernist thinking, there IS NO TRUTH OR FALSEHOOD, but only 'what's true for you' and where the criterion for truth is WHATEVER I LIKE AND WANT IT TO BE AT THE MOMENT. Does the phraseology 'self identify as' ring any bells here? It should.
Keep repeating this argument so you can continue to believe it. Otherwise you might notice that no god has ever made a public appearance to settle the debate.
Hold on, I see Jesus coming in the distance on clouds of glory.
...
So, none of the evidence matters to you. I disagree with the above comment, but you're literally proving his point.
There's a Psalm that used to confuse me about Yahweh when I was young, but now, in light of the many atheists I have met, makes complete sense:
"With the clean You show Yourself clean; And with the wicked You show Yourself twisted."
(Psalm 18:26 )
Love this. Well written.
Need any more straw?
The problem with a purely rehabilitation/correctional form of justice is that it ultimately treats the victimizer as a victim and the victim as collateral damage (or some scenarios even as an victimizer)
A victimizer can simultaneously be seen as a victim, such as with upbringing, mental development, brain damage, etc.
This of course does not negate what they did, and in most cases does not absolve them, but it should make us more compassionate. It should also gear us towards finding how to make that person learn to stop their negative behavior in a healthy way and figure out how to reduce the occurrence things that can lead up to such behavior.
This obviously doesnt mean, "don't incarcerate people", but instead means "we still have to seperate dangerous people from society but let's find ways to rehabilitate them so they can rejoin society, even if under moderate supervision".
@@whatwecalllife7034 it doesnt work
@@whatwecalllife7034 That's reasonable, not pure.
Pure by definition would be one of the extremes in this case, as denoted by the OP.
@@mattthespyd3r969 How do you know it doesn't work?
Have you polled every country with a system built around rehabilitation?
@@autobotstarscream765 How is what I suggested not purely rehabilitation/correctional?
Thank You for all you do Pastor Mike
Thanks for these. I listen to every word. I appreciate you addressing Numbers at the start of the video. My biggest concern with the changing abortion laws is that evil men will use them as a chance to violate women with no consequence. Justice is ultimately the Lords, but it’s comforting to know there’s is no Scriptural basis for condoning the rape of women. I appreciate you. May God and Jesus Christ continue to work on my heart. Bless you.
Ah, please read Deuteronomy 25, Moses clarifies the exact procedures for raping forced war brides.
What do abortion laws have to do with the allowance or non allowance of rape?
I have not seen your channel in quit awhile and it's so good to see you pastor mike
I love how Mike removes all context from the verses while accusing everyone else of that. The context makes it worse, not better.
Haven't watched this yet, but just read the description. These are all fantastic questions that I have grappled with at one time or another. I'm excited to watch this stream and see what I learn. Thank you.
For Ben who posted the question about anxiety over the salvation of his newborn daughter--I think Mike answered your question very well! And as a mom of two little ones-I totally hear you♥️. I just started reading the book Mama Bear Apologetics, and I think it could be a great resource for you as far as pointing our children to Jesus and being able to answer their tough questions. If anyone can tag Ben (Kerchoff??) On this post, I’d appreciate it.
Time stamp 1:13:07
Excellent teacher you are pastor Mike.. and funny too! Thank you and God bless
I really learn a lot from listening to your videos. Thankyou so much for doing this ministry. 🤗🙏
To ‘Let’s Have a Laugh Together,’ regarding salvation assurance, I love how Mike explains things!! I would add this: check for the Fruit of The Spirit. I would recommend all of Galatians 5, but in verses 22 & 23 we are told, ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When you belong to Jesus, The Holy Spirit begins to change you from the inside, and these things begin to show up. Not all at once, but gradually. Watch for the fruit. Sooo many blessings to you for asking that question in the first place, and to Mike for choosing to answer it!
22:32 #3
I love your videos Pastor Mike, they always help me think deeper about Scripture. Thank you for what you do.
This came to mind when you were answering question #3 and were talking about the Apostles appointing Matthias to replace Judas. Here it is. Could the reason for the need to appoint a new Apostle be to show that the position of an Apostle is God ordained and not self proclaimed?
These topics are fraught with intense feelings.
God raised you for this service at this time. You have a way about you that is non threatening.
When you engage someone you entreat, offer background, bring history and offer differing views before you delineate your position . May the Most High continue to use you in your ministry. Please keep yielding n remain 'small in your own eyes'. You have the heart, the verbiage, the knowledge n the understanding .
We have points where we differ...who doesn't? Thank you for giving people the room to grow n to change their thinking and to even disagree with you. ❤🙏🕊️🌿
Ouch. Mike, I highly respect your take on so much scriptural teaching. What follows does not negate that, but I find myself disappointed in your defense of using aborted fetal cells in medical research. Some could argue that it’s a conscience issue. As it is. Yet I think scripture is pretty clear on God’s disposition on murder, one, and not abusing the defenseless (which is actually a separate issue than murder where some could attempt to defend her/himself ), two. But what also of the widespread Scriptural practice of the honorable burial of the dead? Those aborted babies have not been given an honorable or timely burial in respect to them being made in the image of God. Those fetal cell lines of those people have been exploited (the physical bodies of dead human souls), tampered with, for going on years now. They have not been respected/honored by being put to rest in the glorious expectation of the 2nd resurrection. Which is a tradition of both OT & NT believers. Not to mention that if you open the door to the idea of using fetal tissue in research you are going to have the practice of harvesting babies explicitly for research. I can not see how the character and nature of our God could ever condone such a practice- or cloning cells or organs from baby parts could ever be considered justifiable when that child had his/her life taken from them unjustly when they were utterly defenseless. Grieving and a timely honorable burial seem to follow the precedents of honoring the dead and honoring God in death.
Modern science and medicine is continuously working to try and save lives and ease suffering, by coming up with better ways to treat more diseases. It has no time to be concerned with what a particular deity likes or dislikes. Priorities.
I see what you mean, but those fetal cells will be made regardless of whether I take the vaccine or even if vaccines didn’t exist at all. They will always be used in research because it’s convenient and works really well.
I just don’t see how me personally not taking the vaccine, or even if the vaccine was banned, would impact these fetal cells. It’s not personally a conscious issue for me. I’m helping people by getting this vaccine, and me not getting it wouldn’t do anything to stop the use. You could argue that we could show that vaccines made with fetal cells won’t be used, but I guarantee the cells will still be used in other areas of study.
If just decreasing the amount of cells used or grown at any period of time is the goal, I suppose I could see what you mean. But when it comes to the problem of them just existing in general, us not taking the vaccine won’t help that in my view. You’d have to make propagating the cell lines illegal.
And that’s beyond the point that we aren’t even sure that some of the cell lines came from abortions. And we also don’t know how God really feels about this, assuming they were from abortions. Maybe the cells are so disconnected from the original people that they don’t even count as part of the person anymore, therefore burial isn’t necessary. Maybe God thinks saving lives would be worth it. We really just don’t know. That’s why I don’t think it’s fair to say we know what God thinks. I very well could say the nature of God wouldn’t want to see people die, so why wouldn’t we get the vaccine? You just can’t use that as an argument
@Adrian Geh why not offer yourself up to science then and speed up the process?
@@adriangeh6414 found the atheist who has no problem pushing his morals on others as if he were God.
People can start researching more this way:
Look up the deposition of Stanley Plotkin. 9 hours online. Look up the excerpts. He alone, in one study, used over 70 babies. Also tested on orphans, etc. Stanley Plotkin is considered the grandfather of vaccines.
1:03:43
Very important question to me, and I am glad that Pastor Mike answered it.
God is Creator of all. He has the right therefore to judge sin.
Very true Mike we can sometimes think like God owes us or we deserve better. That's a very bad mindset as we are rebels and sinners.. what we honestly deserve is not something we'd want
The spin is strong with this one.
@danlopez.3592
My comment wont post on the other video.
Hear me out on this one. Why are you taking the ACCUSATIONS of the Pharisees towards Jesus as truth. They are they biggest liars and they killed Jesus. He called them liars all the time! DID John the Baptist have a devil because that is what they said in the previous verse?
The PHARISEES say winebibber in the KJV which makes more sense because of the connection he is making to John the Baptist in the previous verse and chapter.
That word in Greek simply means someone who drinks wine, OINOS....the question is, which type of wine because there are 2 types. New, fresh and old, corrupted.
Here it is.
Luke 7:33 (KJV) For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
This is speaking of all wines in general. John could not drink or eat of any wine because he must have been under a Nazerite vow permanently.
Luke 1:15 (KJV) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Mark 1:6 (KJV) And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
This is explaining the vow in the OLD Testament
Numbers 6:3-4 (KJV) He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the VINE tree, from the KERNALS even to the husk.
John lived seperated from everyone in the wilderness. This is how the people under a Nazerite vow lived. The PHARISEES said he had a DEVIL because of his strange eating and living habits.
The man lived off of locust and honey yet Jesus called him the greatest man who ever lived after him.
The point is the wine John was not supposed to drink his whole life was ANY wine (juice). Not even raisens could be eaten.
Jesus than compares himself to John saying, I eat meat and drink wine (juice). The pharisees call him a gluton and winebibber. That makes sense when you read the whole entirety and the Bible.
The word winebibber can refer to someone who drinks juice which is called wine or Oinos. That is the opposite of how John the Baptist lived and Jesus was just making the point to these Pharesees.
Thankyou so much Pastor. God bless you.
“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” 1 Peter 4:7
Amen
Since the first century
Works validates faith. I totally agree. It’s in all honesty the same as being spiritual and religious. Your religious commitment shows how strong your spiritual health is. They both coexist. You can’t truly have one without the other. Christ said “if you love me, you would keep my commandments. John 14:15”
Lol, aww, precious kitty cam, thank you. I needed that bit of beautiful fluff, as well as your awesome Q & A. God bless you always brother. 😸😌🌹🙏🏽
My daughter has a cat that looks just like Mike's kitty..fluffy, calico and sleepy. So cute!
When it comes to worry, a man kept track of all his worries and waited until a particular day of the week to worry about them. He found that only a small amount of his worries (0.2%) actually came true and were a significant problem. Many of them were resolved even before his day of worry. I guess you could say that we should worry, but there's two things we should do when we have worries: prepare for them as best we can and also pray that God either prevents them from coming to pass or helps us get through them unscathed. Being stuck in the process of worry itself doesn't benefit us in any way, though, unfortunately.
Lol I love the cat. Thank you for your ministry it really has helped me. God Bless you from the Bahamas 🇧🇸
Thanks for all your videos Mike. You are a great teacher!
21:00
In the Bible in cases of death penalties, there is a process wich take time:
This time could serve as the rehabilitation for the person knowing his death is approching. And, I think facing death could even be a stronger for peoples repentance than just going to prison knowing you'll get out in a few years.
Anyway, I think that if the criminal really has some conscious that just need a good wake up call to repent, he'll repent ;
A good example would be the two thiefs at the cross : one repent while being executed, the other doesn't.
Everyone faces death in every moment.
@@JamesRichardWiley
Rightnow you are not stressed as Jesus was in the garden of gethsemane;
This is the difference between the "facing death" that I spoke about and the "facing death " that you speak about.
Hi Mike..I always remember Father andJesus know us from an embryo(psalms 139)..He is merciful towards what some people have been through ;what they do or do not understand(I think of Jonah,of Job's wife aswellas many others).I absolutely believe He/they deal with us individually-Even when we may have anger or questions...I have personally experienced this....Yes,"the fear of Father is the beginning of wisdom.'""But we need to know things about Him first.Iam not trying to teach anyone-merely pointing out His/their compassion .
I often think of the long term genetic problems from nuclear testing and bombs,from pesticides etc etc..That would have to effect brains...Psalms 139 is a comfort....and can be for any..Also Isaiah 55:6-11...
Thank you for your work..Greetings from Sydney
If you are going to suggest people look at the words in context...at least have the intelligence to read and understand the words in context. Huge FAIL!
“When you approach a passage where God punishes sin, there are 2 diametrically opposed responses where people stand. 1. ‘Wow, sin must be really bad’, or 2. ‘Wow, God must be really bad’”
Amazing insight pastor!
When "punishes sin" means ordering the execution of men, women, and male children and saving virgin girls "for yourselves", THAT doesn't make Jesus sound bad?
@@whatwecalllife7034 Jesus saved virgins for himself? Interesting!
@@friedrichrubinstein No, he ordered the Hebrew people to do that.
@@whatwecalllife7034 Which passage are you referring to?
@@friedrichrubinstein Numbers 31
1 Samuel 15 is similar, except they are ordered to execute everyone and everything, instead of saving virgin girls and women for themselves.
Great stream as usual Pastor Mike! My deepest apologies but I do want to ask a somewhat off topic question here. I did not ask it during the stream as it is not scripture related per-se and I did not want to distract from Bible-based questions. So, oftentimes, people who are letting their hearts cloud their judgement will object to the Biblical idea of "the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ" via bringing up Gandhi. Since Gandhi famously rejected Christianity, but many (foolishly) see him as a "good person" who must've "earned it".
As such my question is: do you know of any good materials/resources that showcase how Gandhi was a flawed and sinful human being, the same as the rest of us? I know that he would sleep with other men's wives in order to "tempt himself", but I would like to have a complete, unbiased picture of the man in order to fully refute this "some people are good enough to earn it" nonsense. It's just hard to find such resources as 99% of what comes up is propaganda.
Ghandi beat his wife and was a horrible human being, you can Google it. The people quoting ghandi about fake Christians is not because ghandi is so awesome, he's not, but because cultural Christian's do not live in faith of Christ. Instead they live for their culture or their empire, specifically the British empire that tried to spread Christianity while claiming to be it's sole representatives AND committing atrocities, trying to take their country, and trying to erase their culture for the economic gain of the British empire, it's an appropriate quote in current America, especially in American politics.
@@trollwhisperer1770 I don't think this addressed Charlie's question.
@@normajeanray It does because he doesn't understand why ghandi is being quoted. If he did, he would realize he doesn't need to attack the idea that some people are good enough to earn it because that's not what's being said. In proper context Ghandis quote about Christianity WAS an attack on the "good enough to earn it" idea being spread by British Christian empire.
They, the British, thought they were good enough because they paid Christ lip service while trying to earn it by being "good citizens" of the empire because the church of England represented Christianity to the British citizens and the British culture had replaced true faith shown by charity with mindless obedience to authorities, the same way the Roman Catholics did. Literally he's trying to attack a quote he agrees with if he believes you can't earn it because he thinks the earning it part is implied, it isn't.
If people think that any man can earn their way in to heaven, whether ghandi or a monk, they clearly don’t understand Christ’s reason for coming nor do they understand humanity. Let me try to explain this the best I can. There are 2 perspectives on what’s good enough. One is the human perspective and the other is Gods law perspective.
1. Human perspective sees life and creates its own standards or morals. Humans judge themselves based on what they think is good and bad. So they may think that because they never murdered nor committed adultery nor anything else “majorly evil” according to human standards, that they are “good enough”.. but
2. Gods ways and perspective are sooooo above our ways and understanding! God has his standard for good and evil and what we think is no big deal is actually a very very very big deal to God. So God holds a standard so high and righteous and perfect that most people can’t even understand it. It’s so perfect that the scripture says even if we lust in our minds, it’s adultery. So we can’t even think bad things or it’s a sin. So thinking something evil is still evil and unacceptable in Gods eyes. No man can enter the kingdom of heaven in sin. And that means all sin, big or small. So even someone with very little sin or sins that aren’t “that bad” are still evil enough to go to hell because God is just that good and perfect. And there is no way ghandi can enter heaven for being good enough because no man is good enough or perfect. Only God/Jesus is. That’s why we need Jesus because he took the punishment on himself that was actually due to us.
So, in other words God is so perfect that he’s also perfectly just. Which means he punishes every being that sins because that brings justice. So punishment must be poured out on all those that sin.it’s like a human judge in a courtroom nowadays.. they must charge everyone that’s guilty of a crime and brought before the judge. The judge can’t say to a person that they are let free because their crime was that they stole fm a food cart and not a store. Theft is theft and sin is sin no matter which way we look at it. And sin is sin because it is the opposite of true love, which is what God is. And if we truly loved one another, then we would not steal fm any person, no matter who or the reason because love does not harm another person nor God. And instead of God punishing his human creation, he sent his Son and punished Christ instead so we could be let off scotch free and not end up in hell. Only if we accept the gift though . That’s how much he loves us, that he didn’t want to see us punished so Jesus took it upon himself so that he paid our fine and so that the judge can now see us as set free because our charges and fines have been paid by Christ. And still even though it’s free, people don’t want the gift. And that’s sad.
So no, we don’t earn anything. We aren’t good enough because we all sin, even little old sweet ladies and even pastors and the apostles sinned. Every human to ever exist has sinned! And lesser sins are still sins. So we all need the Savior to save us and give us a new life. That’s why the Bible says we must be reborn. Cus the first time was no good.
So next time someone says ghandi is so good he earned his way to heaven, lead them to Ray Comforts RUclips channel lol. Think it’s called “living waters” And explain to them that no man is “too good”. I can’t even believe anyone would claim he was too good or good enough to earn his way into heaven!?? Some things just blow my mind. Some people just live in such deep sin and live in it so long, they’re lines and standards are blurred and there is major confusion because there is no Holy Spirit to direct them. Blessings to you tho and pray for them, that they may accept Christ one day.
Hope this helps. :)
P.s. the more time you spend with God, the deeper he speaks and the more he reveals. So up your Bible game. It’ll bring you much joy, peace and wisdom, I promise.
@@ruthboaz7749 well I wouldn't say 'scotch free'. We must lay down our lives for His sake.
1 John 3:16-18 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Luke 9:24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
James 2:14-26 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe-and they shudder. Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead. Wasn’t Abraham our father, so also faith without works is dead.”
1 John 3:10 "By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."
The bible tells us to count the cost for a reason. We must obey.
Matthew15:8 said,"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
Hebrews10:26 says," If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left".
Romans 6:3"do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death"?
Acts 2:41 - "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
Matt7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
Matt7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
It's important to know that these were people who truly thought they were going be with Jesus eternally. Note they prophesied in Jesus's name and cast out demons, but apparently didn't know their bibles and follow God's instructions. It's not only important to repent, accept Jesus's sacrifice, be baptized and recieve the Holy Spirit to help guide us by reminding us of God word- we must KNOW His word in order to follow it and not what others say about it. We must know for ourselves to be sure of what it tells us to do, so on that last day we'll rejoice.
Paul himself, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, lists the 12 as a group that is separate from himself, that he is not a part of. Why people continue to argue against this, truly baffles me, and I think shows that most people aren't interested in what the Scriptures have to say, but only what they can try to make them say. :(
It's all very well shouting the usual Christian defence of "but read the context", but it's not so good when you don't point out the context by referring to what is actually written in the Bible! The context around slavery in the Bible shows it to be condoned, not forbidden!
I came across this statement today, and it made me think of you, Mike Winger. Thank you, not only for what you do online, but more importantly, what you do offline! "Ministers of the gospel should not be novices, 1 Timothy 3:6, raw and ignorant men; but men mighty in the Scriptures, well acquainted with the writings of the Old and New Testament, and the sense of them; men that have a stock of spiritual knowledge, able readily to speak a word to the weary, and to speak to men and women's particular cases and questions." (Matthew Poole 1624-1679)
You very much sound like you haven't actually read the bible when you say it doesn't support things it actually calls for.
Love how you explained #15. I understand now!
Winger, you are a deeply disturbing person. You’re either willfully ignoring what the text plainly says because you simply cannot look at what it actually says, or you’re lying for money. Either way… ooooof 😖
2:14 "Thou shalt not murder". The Bible allows for deliberate killing in self-defense and in just wars.
With heart issues I feel like only prayer can work.
4:28 answer to this question. Ive started suggesting to people. If they truly want to know an answer to a biblical question for the sake of clarity and confusion and not for the sake of argument and judgment.
Them I've suggested to meet online one on one and discuss the question, not argue or debate. Its ok to agree to disagree. Or job is not to turn hearts and save people. Let scripture speak for itself and get out of the way.
This is truly trusting in God to give you the words and to remain meek, gentle, compassionate, merciful, and grateful for their time. Show them the love of God.
Not that Mike's wrong, but the answer to #14 seems to be simple logic. God made Adam and Eve the rulers of the world (gave them dominion). Adam and Eve gave their allegiance to Satan when they believed him over God, thus giving their power him. They put their faith in Satan when they believed what he said over what God said.
Mike, the exclusion of The Book of Enoch makes the Old Testament look like a mess. If you read the Book of Enoch all of a sudden your eyes are opened and you go "Now I get it, why God had a chosen people and had them destroy other nations.", it was in the Torah Christ read from and without it the Old Testament is hard to justify. It's the missing link that connects what appear to be acts of cruelty on the part of God. God bless, Mike.
To be honest, this concerns me. Not only do you consider canonical a book rejected from the canon by the church at large throughout time, you also say this book radically impacts the way you interpret and understand the rest of Scripture. That seems really concerning.
You want a square circle? I’ll give you a square circle. Get a square piece of cardboard and spin it really fast. What shape is the cardboard and what shape do you see now? (A square making a circle ⭕️)
Pt Mike thank you for a very clear answer to Q1. Bless you!
Hi! Quick question on something that has confused me a couple of times. At times the Pharisees seem to act as if they don’t have the authority to kill someone that is a threat to them or has violated their Law. On at least one occasion it appears that they tried to kill Jesus before the cross but eventually settled on a different course of action by having the Roman government kill Him for them. I’m not sure if this was because of Jesus’ large following and the feared response by His followers. But then in the epistles it seems like they suddenly don’t have a problem killing people. Starting with the killing of Stephen, who was killed in public, the Pharisees do not seemed worried about killing people they deem to be a threat. By some accounts Paul killed some Christians and later they even attempted to kill Paul. So what changed or how do we understand how much authority the Pharisees had when it came to their form of capital punishment?
They had authority to do so.
Israel negotiated with Rome to keep their powers of self governance. Rome agreed so that Israel would not riot.
Death-penalty came from ancient times and continued, (perhaps even to modern times). It was part of their laws at the time. Capital punishment was only recently abolished in the west, so it's not an unusual human precedent.
Re Paul, it is not, "by some accounts", that Paul killed "some Christians", you make it sound like an accident. This is by Saul's own testimony. He was Israel's top Court Executioner. Graduate in Law, at the highest merit, 1 out of a 1000. Elite hit squad. A pharisee that kept every single law. His main authorised and mandated job was to hunt, kill and exterminate by any means, the emerging threatening "cult" that were called "christians", showing no pity and no mercy.
Only an intervention by Jesus Himself stopped him from his 'holy' mission of 'purging the cancer from Israel.' Jesus changed Saul's name to Paul, and taught him to spread the Gospel, becoming the very thing he despised and killed.
@@chovynzchovynz6291 How did I make it sound like an accident? I’ve only read Paul say that he was a persecutor of the church. Curious to know.
@@ericnieves1541
Sorry. My phrasing needs work. What I objected to was the making light of Saul's expertise, ("killed some christians" vs "exterminate them everywhere you find them") "Accident" is going offtopic distraction and I could've used better words.
@@chovynzchovynz6291 Nice o worries. I didn’t mean to minimize what Paul did by saying some Christians. I only meant that it appeared that he mostly imprisoned them and I don’t recall him ever saying that he specifically killed someone, only that he supervised the killing of Stephen and persecuted the church, which could also mean to kill but I’m not sure. I’m always looking to learn more. Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. All the best.
Sorry I meant to say “no worries”, not “Nice O worries”. Typing from a phone can be dangerous. Lol.
Question 6 is a great question! It just so happens I was speaking to someone the other day that claimed the God I believe in is set out to confuse people and was pointing out supposed contradictions..... which btw were very easy to resolve answering to them within the surrounding context.
This person claimed to be an ordained priest.
I haven't seen the video yet, but I already know that the Torah says that rape (in God's eyes) is the same as murder, and that rapists are to be put to death.
In regards to slavery, servants, according to Torah, had the option of who they become servants to, much like how we choose our employers. According to Exodus 21, servants that remain in the household for more than 7 years are commanded to be given adoption into the house and receive a portion of the inheritance as if they were a natural born son.
1. In Leviticus you can...
* Purchase human beings
* Own them as property
* Pass them down to your children as property
* Own them forever
2. In Exodus 21, yes the Hebrew slaves would be released at the 7th year but you are missing a most cruel loophole in that scripture.
If the master marries the slave, then at his release at the 7th year if he cannot leave his family (because his wife and children are the masters to keep) then that Hebrew slave will become the masters property forever and he will be marked on his ear with an awl.
How cruel a biblical rule that forces the slave to choose between his family and his freedom.
@@reality1958 One crucial part you forgot to mention is that Exodus 21:3 says that at the beginning of the his enslavement, if he came in with a wife, he can leave with her. But if his master GAVE him a wife, meaning the master gave him something that belonged to him, he can leave her there or he can stay with her.. It’s actually not that cruel. Slavery is a hard concept to grasp no matter how you look at it but it’s been apart of our human existence from the beginning. Also, these people that God was commanding had not long before been slaves in Egypt themselves.
@@A.McCall that's true. It's not as if God was a perfect being who could have given controversial commands and rocked the boat a little.
I’d be careful with Barbara Bond, I’ve debated her in the past and she completely misinterpreted Scripture. I remember saying that we couldn’t get to Heaven on our own because our good works are like filthy rags when compared to God (as He is completely pure, clean and holy whilst our good works are still stained with sin that must be punished) and she accused me of condemning good works as filthy rags, completely missing the point of what Scripture was saying.
@@reality1958 You are assuming it would be cruel to the wife and children who would have no home. To pierce someone's ear is cruel? I have pierced ears. You're not looking at circumstances realistically.
You just want to be your own god, right? That is the real point.
In the beginning of this video you mentioned something that I read recently from Proverbs that I think more people should be aware of.
It would be great if you did a video about Proverbs 9: 1-18.
More specifically Proverbs 9: 7-9
Where it talks about correcting “the scoffer” vs “the wise man”.
It says that we shouldn’t rebuke the wicked because they will hate us and gain no wisdom, but rebuking the wise man will make him wiser and he will love us for it.
Proverbs 9: 7-9
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Thank you, Mike, for your very sensible approach to the vaccine question. You laid out the issues involved clearly and thoughtfully.
I especially appreciate your explaining the nature of the fetal cell lines and how widely they have been used. I know Christians who seem to think this is exclusive to the Covid 19 vaccines. One person I know is prepared to give up a job over the vaccine mandate, but seems unaware that even over-the-counter drugs are tested the same way.
Thanks for sharing your love of God and His Word!
Each person has to stand before God. I took the vaccine. I hope it was not wrong to do so. To me this is not different than a question about drinking, smoking a cigarette or dancing. Each person has to search their heart on this. To be forced or shamed by others, especially Christians, is a disgrace IMO. In addition to the spiritual side of it the federal government over reach concerns many. The fed has no authority to do this but they have done it anyway. I am terrified of a Federal government that can, by the word of a single man, take away freedom of travel, commerce and livelihood of over 300 million. Anyone that doesn’t see the dangers is quite frankly not using the brain a God gave to them.
With question 13:
I think that we should have an absolute assurance that we are saved and will spend eternity with the Lord! Living a life unto Him 🤎. Seeing a fruitful lifestyle...
If there is uncertainty, or fear that we may not be saved... Maybe there is some sin issue that needs to be dealt with...
Vaccine Q 18
My wife and I had the exact same logical approach you did and we too are glad, surprised and gentle about taking the Vaccine. You and Greg Lorie are among the very few who speak helpfully about this. Thanks much.
17. 1:16:10 {About God’s Omnipotence & Non-Contradiction} Since God can’t contradict Himself, does that mean that His power is limited in a way? I know God is all powerful, but what is the logical reason behind Him being powerful and non-contradictory?
God's limitlessness, infiniteness, and perfectness is limiting him because he can't be limited, finite, and imperfect. We limit and summary things to our own finite understanding, we forget that infinite always exISts.
God IS:
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM THAT I AM hath sent me unto you.
-Exodus 3:14
I thought we are not meant to put blood/DNA in our bodies? Please help Mike thanks
Where is this said in the Bible?
@@levifox2818 Leviticus 16:10
@@whatyouseeisjustillusions5842
“but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.”-Leviticus 16:10
Is this the verse you meant?
@@levifox2818 oh I am so sorry it’s Leviticus 17:10
@@whatyouseeisjustillusions5842
To answer your question as I best I can. I don’t see anything in this verse, or it’s near context, that says anything about DNA or putting blood in our bodies. It only says that Israel shouldn’t eat animals without first draining the blood.
I am going to be honest I still am struggling to see how Deuteronomy 21:10-14 is not a matter of sex slavery in even the loosest terms. Firstly it is speaking of beautiful “women” that are taken for their own, purely out of a desire? Is that a sexual desire? But also in Numbers 31:18 it specifies the “young girls” not “beautiful women.” I know that seems pedantic but the Bible is very specific in both of these instances I’d assume so as not to be misinterpreted. Secondly the Deuteronomy passage speaks of the relationship as a marriage making the captive the wife. But after you have “gone in to her” or “dishonored her” as it refers to it later, there is no other justification needed to set her free other than dissatisfaction with her. Ignoring the fact that the holy union of marriage is completely dissolved based solely on a lack of satisfaction (and is this satisfaction a sexual type being as it directly follows the passage that permits the sexual relation?) Yes she is not a slave or to be sold but she may be acquired, violated, then left all while operating within the parameters given by God. This seems a weak rationalization and I don’t like being the only one in the comments that sees this as such.
Maybe what I am asking for is more context.
You are absolutely correct
Ya gotta love Moxie!
On number two, restorative justice practices DO actually take into account the person who committed a crime, and the person victimized by the crime. It's all crime prevention through community support systems, making amends when a crime is committed, figuring out why the crime was committed and meeting those needs if possible, mental health care for everyone involved (separate and tailored to specific needs, of course), building skills to prevent future crimes, and treating people like people who matter through the whole process. And if a person is a danger to themselves or society, we can keep them away from others while still providing them with care and dignity. Problems can be solved with compassion, growth happens when people are treated as valuable people, and how we treat people who don't deserve our kindness and compassion says more about us than about them
Punishment isn't the only way to bring justice, and I think a case can be made that Biblical justice is primarily restorative, not punitive. And I'd even go so far to say that punishment doesn't actually bring healing to anyone.
it's amusing to watch christians desperately misinterpret scripture.
Pastor Mike, I appreciate your teachings very much. In regards to question 18...if you were in severe financial debt and some person gave you money that they got from stealing, would you accept it? It runs on the same logic of "yeah, something bad happened, but at least it's helping others." I respectfully ask that you give your answer some more thought.
Taken from another comment on here because it applies to your comment as well.
*You misunderstand Mike’s point. He said the logic only works because the desire for a vaccine didn’t cause or promote the abortions (the stem cells used in this case came from pre-born infants in the 70s who were going to be murdered one way or another). If I choose to do evil because something good might result, then the desire for something good did cause or promote the evil (which is how your examples are listed). Mike said that’s not okay.
Think of it this way. If someone you loved, who was an organ donor, were murdered, would you be okay with someone benefiting from the organs, the result of the murder. I would say, “Yes,” as long as it doesn’t promote murder.*
Thank you Mike for your take on the vaccine and fetal line issue. I got my first dose of the shot last Monday for employment, and then I found out about this after the fact. So I am supposed to get my second shot in two weeks but I have been back and forth with that that same issue. At the moment I also lean towards your take as well, but my wife is completely against it for the same reason and I support her decision as well. We live in a scary, confusing world. Thanks again for your content! God Bless.
Full Church Ahead… I would encourage you to make every effort, in humility, to listen to your wife to try to better understand her concerns. I know this is out of context, but there are times when you may be seeking an answer and God directs to “listen to your wife” because she may not be wrong… like God directed Abraham to listen to Sarah about her discernment concerning Hagar & Ishmael. It requires humility- but please don’t rush ahead without careful thought and prayer to these things.
@@LadyJaneJolene This is very good advice, but I think you misunderstood me lol. I am just speaking on the matter of weather or not it is immoral to get the vaccine depending on what they are doing or have done with the fetal tissue. I flop on both sides but lean toward what Mike is saying but tomorrow I might agree with my wife on the topic again but either way I understand what she is saying and fully support her decision for not wanting the vaccine.
The bible instructs you have to treat slaves as human beings that was documented in job 31:13-15 and dueteronomy 23:15-16
Job31:13-15
13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
If you look up job 31:13 on blueletterbible and look at the cross references to it is a cross reff to verses such as exodus 21:20-21, 21:26-27 and colossians 4:1 and ephesians 6:9 which confirms it is talking about equal rights for slave and master