20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 86)

Pastor Mike Winger

Friday, September 30, 2022 - 1 hour 33 minutes

0:00 - Intro
1. 0:22 {Can We Resist Sin Without the Spirit?} How were the disciples able to follow Jesus and resist sin without the Spirit indwelling them? Is it possible to be a Christian without the Spirit?
2. 8:52 {Help with the Hiddenness of God} The hiddenness (and silence) of God is causing me doubts. Is there any advice or help you can offer (such as that God is silent now because revelation has been completed with the New Testament)?
3. 16:35 {A Young Pastor being Disrespected} I am a young pastor of a church with people mostly in their 60s and 70s. My staff often micromanages me, corrects me in public, and treats me like a grandchild instead of their pastor. Any advice?
4. 22:00 {Is Christian Nationalism Biblical?} Is Christian nationalism in the sense of theocracy a scriptural concept?
5. 25:49 {God’s Judgment vs. Justice} How are God's judgment (him being a judge who carries out consequences) and His justice (establishing order) different if He uses His judgment to apply justice? Or can you explain His judgment vs. His justice?
6. 28:29 {Are Batchelor Parties Always Sinful?} I am attending a bachelor party and I have a Christian co-worker who said "Christians shouldn't go to bachelor parties." How would you response to this? All at the party profess to be Christians.
7. 32:49 {Are Rapture Dreams Truly from God?} What are your thoughts on Christians that have “rapture dreams” claiming that the rapture will be soon? Do you think these are from God, or just a result of all of the end times talk that has ramped up lately?
8. 37:00 {Was Aaron Punished In Place of Moses?} In the book of Numbers, why did God punish Aaron for unbelief when Moses is the one who struck the rock?
9. 41:19 {Overcoming Addictions} I struggle with an addiction to nicotine and caffeine. There are no rehab centers for these. What do I do? I know its sinful, but I need help to overcome. I can’t be a slave to two masters.
10. 45:45 {How Were Jesus’ Words Translated?} Did the synoptic writers translate Jesus’ words from Aramaic to Greek? Does that partially explain why they don’t match each other exactly, because they translated to best explain His teaching?
11. 50:46 {Will the Father Not Forgive Us?} Matthew 6:14-15 says we should forgive others of their trespasses or our Father will not forgive us of ours. But the Bible also says that all of our sins have been atoned for on the cross. Can you explain?
12. 55:06 {Is Typology Only About Jesus?} Is typology only ever about Jesus? If so, how do we explain the type/antitype in 1 Peter 3:21? If not, how do we tell true vs. false types when "no new theology" can come from typology?
13. 1:01:27 {Christ’s Law vs. the Moral Law} What is Christ’s law, and how is it different from the 10 commandments which many argue is the moral law we are to keep to this day?
14. 1:05:36 {Do Our Spiritual Gifts Ever Change?} As believers, are we given a static set of spiritual gifts, or are our gifts more dynamic in nature so that God adds to and/or subtracts from them according to our season of life or our maturity in Him?
15. 1:09:48 {Should We Date Unbelievers for Evangelism?} My cousin is dating someone who is not a Christian in the hopes that they will get saved. Is this okay to do?
16. 1:13:58 {If My Own Child Comes Out…} What is your take on what we should say when unbelievers ask, “What would you do if your child came out to be gay?” Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
17. 1:16:55 {Avoiding Distraction in Prayer} What is the best way to focus on God? Do you know of any techniques for this? While I'm praying, I try to focus on God, but I always seem to get distracted.
18. 1:18:45 {Can We Wear Cross Jewelry?} What are your thoughts about wearing cross jewelry?
19. 1:21:05 {Am I Doing Enough in Marriage?} My wife works very hard, long hours. She frequently comes home exhausted and stressed. My job is fairly stress-free, and I work from home. I feel like I’m not doing enough for her. What should I do?
20. 1:23:16 {How to Glorify God at All Times} If Scripture tells me to glorify God in all I do, how can I glorify God when doing things like taking a math class, playing checkers, eating a meal, listening to Beethoven, etc., if these things are "morally neutral"?

Currently doing these Q&As every other Friday. Hopefully my workload will allow me to do them more often in the future.

I take questions from the live chat. Start your question with "Q" and try to include one or two specific verse references if you have them. Due to the number of questions we get I can't possibly answer them all so I apologize if you send one in that doesn't get an answer.