Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Intro 1. 1:08 {Should I Really be Held Accountable?} How can a just God hold people accountable for their beliefs if those beliefs are influenced by cultural, social, and psychological factors beyond their control? 2. 28:53 {Is Hell Just the Absence of God?} Is it accurate when people say, "Hell is simply the absence of God"? For Example, Jesus is the water of life so there's no water in Hell, or we rest in Christ so there's no rest in Hell. 3. 38:26 {Political Signups in Church?} Do you think churches should allow political signup ballots for certain bills in the church? I had an older woman come up to me and ask me to sign. For context, it was about gas and electricity. 4. 45:43 {Slaves or Friends of Christ?} Does Jesus “call” us His slaves? In John 15: 15 He says He does not, but in Revelation 2: 20 He seems to do so. 5. 50:11 {Jesus - the Son of Man} Why does Jesus switch from first person to third person only when He’s referring to Himself as The Son of Man? 6. 52:53 {Does Refusal of Sex Justify Divorce?} Does 1 Corinthians 7 really mean we can never say no to sex except for a season of fasting and prayer? My pastor told my husband that if I deny him for too long then he has biblical grounds for divorce. 7. 1:02:27 {Did Jesus Teach on the Rapture?} A friend doesn’t believe in the Rapture because “Jesus never taught it” and he doesn’t consider Paul (or his writings) to be authoritative. How would you approach something like that? 8. 1:10:25 {Do Only Good Things Come from God?} Is the concept of only good things coming from God biblical? I hear this a LOT in CCM and I am just not sure, given how our culture defines "good.” Is God not finished if your story isn't "good”? 9. 1:18:10 {Biblical Support for Calvinism?} What's up with Isaiah 63: 17? Is this a bullet in the Calvinist gun? 10. 1:24:57 {Did Jesus ever Make Mistakes at Work?} Do you suppose Jesus was the most skilled carpenter who ever lived? Is it heretical to imagine Him ever making a mistake on the job?
7) Jesus teaches on being watchful, therefore stay ready and watchful. If you’ve sincerely repented, you should (want to) live righteous and is living out your faith. Matthew 24:44 “For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect” Luke 13:3 “No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
@@user-jy6hd9uw8h That's obvious to those who don't care about what the scriptures actually teach only how someone has interpreted the text and then constructed an explanation to align with what they've chosen to accept as true.
Countless people are going to benefit from these videos for as long as the internet is a thing, even after Mike is long gone. This is a treasure trove of information and study. If it is unhelpful to you, maybe move along? Be blessed...@@endtimesareuponus8930
When I was 6, I wondered if God existed. Then I thought, "There are trees. Of course, God exists." You don't need to have great philosophical understanding. He put the knowledge in us and creation around us to illuminate our minds. Romans 1.
Right?! The whole Tree and human dynamic is AMAZING. The tree uses soils nutrients to grow, it grows fruits, those fruits are nutritious for our health, we eat them, digest it and create natural fertilizer for that tree to grow even richer! CMON ATHEIST!
Lemme add a person from a church I went to (I moved) was doing some kinda work in the woods. Getting firewood or something? Well, he was all alone, and God told him to praise Him. The guy just thought it was a passing thought, as he was working hard. God said again to praise Him, or the trees will do it. So the guy was like, Is God really talking to me?! And the trees clapped their limbs together! He absolutely started praising after that! Sounds crazy, I know, but I've had God ask me for praise, and that's what I think about. If you see someone randomly putting hands up or getting on their knees, it might be me😂🙏
@@gohawks3571 Wow, I believe it. Every time I praise God in the park I could sense the wind, the trees and the birds all joining along. May I ask if you live in California?
Yes, but whatever “God” you attribute the existence of trees to largely depends on where you are born and what religion, if any, your family teaches you.
@@YeshuaSaves3 Praise YAHUAH!! ❤️ I feel the same thing!! Especially when using the restored names... chills every time. May HE barak you in Yahusha's qodesh name!
As an ex-Mormon, the distinguishing of coming out of Mormonism versus coming to Christ is incredibly important. Glad you commented on it in that way. I've also been blessed to have had God's grace, mercy and guidance in my life, in that not only did I come out of a religion of false teachings, but that I came to the Lord and His true inspired word, the Bible.
God bless you. I have a friend who is starting to question Mormonism (which she has been all her life) but she seems to be questioning the church hierarchy more so than Smith’s writings, it seems. She says she no longer identifies as Mormon but she still says things like she can trust her Heavenly Parents. She told me that she’s church hunting now and she seems to want to go to a Christian church, which is amazing to witness, as I’ve been praying for her for 20 years. So I invited her to church and she’s come with me a couple times and seemed to enjoy it, but we live too far apart for her to come with me every weekend. I just pray that this budding change in her heart doesn’t get snatched up by the enemy. Your comment reminded me that I need to reach out to her again. Thank you. ❤️ Her name is Tianna. 🙏🏼
"As an ex-Mormon, the distinguishing of coming out of Mormonism versus coming to Christ is incredibly important." As an ex-Atheist, the distinguishing of coming IN to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is incredibly important.
What a breath of fresh air hearing you say "i don't care what you believe about the rapture/escatology, etc" and not worrying about "having it all figured out" since we couldn't possibly figure it out anyway!
I feel this so much. I have my own views of course on those matters (or on topics like how old the earth is for example) but if someone believes differently. Cool, fine. You do you. What we believe on those minor topics has nothing to do with our salvation or any of the other core tenets of Christianity.
oh my gosh!!!! I came onto this vid of yours to ask a question. These question vids end up playing automatically when i am doing chores and tasks, so I have never watched them I have just heard them . Today when I saw this vid start playing i clicked it open to ask if it was possible that you would make a list of the questions with the time stamp. Expanding the description box I saw that YOU DO THAT VERY THING!!!!!!!! How awesome is that??!! I love that you take that extra step to make your teaching more accessible. Thank You Mike. You have quickly become my favorite bible /christian teacher. And just 5 months ago i had never even heard your name. love your channel, Your teaching style, your thoroughness and your integrity. oh and I love your cat!!!
28:53 I remember as a new Christian listening to Rick Warren downplay Hell and actually feeling a sense of relief for my unsaved friends. No pastor should ever downplay Hell, especially to the point where I think it's not so bad🤦🏻♂️
mike your the man i prayed and asked god to help me find Jesus i found your series on jesus in the old testament thank you! you are a skillful son of god
@hippopotamusanonymous1580 okay. I think I have an even better argument against Islam than the, 'Islamic dilemma.' It is easier. A person doesn't need to learn any Sura, Ayah, or haddith. All a person needs is some basic history lessons about when Muhammad lived and when Muslims graded haddith, in light of one essential Islamic pillar of faith. It goes like this. Premise 1 Muslims are supposed to follow Muhammed. Premise 2 Muhammad died before haddith were graded (or Muhammad never endorsed any haddith, sahih or otherwise). Conclusion: Therefore, following haddith can't be following Muhammad, and Islam fails one of its own pillars. Haddith are meant to ensure Muslims are following Muhammad, but that fails because no Muslims know Muhammad's opinion of any haddith. Muslims can't know how Muhammad wanted them to live.
Hey Mike, in a recent video, you mentioned Dr. Heiser and warned that he might be a bit off in his teaching. You said you might do a deeper study of his teaching, and do a video about it. I just wanted to encourage you to do so, because I value your opinion on Biblical matters, but I find Dr. Heiser's take on ancient history fascinating. What say you?
A friends of mine is super into Dr Heiser and idk why, but I’ve always been a little weary of him. Maybe bc I’ve gathered that some of her “unorthodox” views come from him. I’d agree, I’d love if Mike made this video!
I’m a huge fan of Michael Heiser and Mike Winger. Heiser was a great scholar and cleared up the tough and weird scriptures for me. Winger helps me with my walk. Both great guys and biblical teachers!
@@GodannarJunkie I know Heiser is highly respected by many Christians and I’m not saying everything he ever taught was incorrect. I’d just love to hear Mike’s thoughts and warnings about Heiser’s teachings, since I have felt unsure about a couple of his biblical interpretations that’s been presented to me.
The way I take James 1:17 is that when good gifts enter my life, they’re from God and deserving of praise. God is the source of everything that is good. It’s not that everything that happens to me feels like a good gift, but when one is staring me in the face, it’s from God-not just from circumstance or any other source. Thanks Mike. I missed you last week! Kathy Alba.
Mike, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate what you do. Thank you for tackling the tough things in such a humble and relatable, yet Bible-centered way which exalts our Lord Jesus. I am praying for your ministry. It has certainly been a blessing to me and continues to be. God bless you and your family!
Thank you, Mike, for all your youthful wisdom! I have had a moral dilemma all my life and have been unable to climb out of it. I do not have control AT ALL from sinning but am resigned to this burden for the rest of my life. I've lived with this for decades and realize the fact that I'm not able, despite what others would say, to live a complete Christian life. Yes, I am resigned to that fact but I turn my failure over to Christ who will hold me accountable. He knows what I've gone through all these years and as you said, will hold me responsible, to His degree. He knows my heart and woes and I have to leave it all in Christ's hands and not my own. Glory to our God---from the sinner.
Loved your answer on politics from the pulpit and Trump and Biden. I agree, while so much prevents me from voting for Biden and Dems, i still feel compelled to call out the ungodliness of Trump, though he is occasionally a useful tool.
I voted for Trump both times and probably will again. I think for many reasons it is clearly the better choice for Christians. This doesn't mean I think Trump is perfect or the best (I personally wanted someone better in the primaries). I have no problem with people pointing out the sins or problems with Trump or the Republican party but I hope they don't engage in false moral equivalency. Mike Winger had taught about how not all sin is equally bad, some is worse. I see the world and sometimes Christians doing this with Israel and Hamas too. Sure, Isreal has made mistakes and there are things they should repent of. But we shouldn't pretend that it is equivalent to what those murderers are doing. I think a similar Biblical situation is described in the book of Esther. Would you have "voted" for the king or his side back then? It seems pretty clear that he was not a very good man. He did not treat his wife well and was a polygamist. Haman seems to be described as a better family man but also wants to genocide God's people. So which side do you support? I don't have to like the king or Trump or think they are great role models for husbands in order to side with them because they oppose the mass murder of the party of Haman or the democrats. It is not a close call.
@@patriciaboggs8882 I didn't say that you should or shouldn't vote for Trump, just that it's good to call out his sinfulness (or that fact that he isn't a Christian) while recognizing he was a useful idiot.
I didn't have my dad in the home or my siblings, who have different dads. We all went to college, have careers and never been in trouble. This was the same for our friends growing up as well who are also now professionals. Ijs🙏🏾❤️
Between people I knew in college who failed out, people I knew who dropped out of high school, and the stories of of my wife and her siblings traumatic childhood. Know that you are absolutely in the minority there! I hope that you know you are blessed and that God uses you greatly!
The apostle Paul said, (paraphrased) since I’m giving you spiritual food, it is right for you to give me physical food. So, it is rational to assume Paul didn’t always make tents.
There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
@@texasskygirl7890 Greetings Jennifer. Indeed! I'm looking forward to meeting you too at the rapture. It's amazing that we can connect with brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the world, without leaving the house. God bless you and keep you always sis! 😊🕊️🔥
Answer for Q #2 Revelation 14:10. King James Version (KJV):”The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." So it’s not just “without the presents of God”.
Thanks again Pastor Mike for your time and effort with the Friday Q&As. Many are blessed by it. When do you get to the Hebrews series??? Really looking forward to it.
Question6: congeal rights is just sex- the Corinthian culture was used to men seeking prostitutes outside of marriage for sex, and wives were for child bearing. Paul is correcting this- what was truly shocking to this culture was that the wife had as much rights as the husband.
Re question one, I taught my clients in my clinical practice to first of all come to understand clearly all of the things that happened to us while growing up that had a huge impact on how we respond to experiences in life as adults, and then secondly and most importantly, to realize that God had created us with a potential that would have been realized had we had the ideal environment growing up. Now that potential remains within us and therefore we as adults have an obligation to overcome the challenges we face today that are rooted in those early growing up experiences, and that the primary goal of adulthood is to become the person God intended for us to be, realizing that this work is a most difficult challenge emotionally and relationally, and most folks deny, ignore, or avoid it altogether.
Your entire life, every moment, every breath is filled with gifts and a blessings from God. Most of which we can’t see. The moment of rejection from the presents of God all that stops. Engulfed in darkness with no blessing, no breath, relief only your regrets, guilt and eternity to self reflect alone.🤔 sounds like eternal burning to me.
Agreed 💯.The disbelief of freewill not only provides false comfort for sin and assuages accountability, it affirms that God causes people to sin; and worse...eternally punishes them for actions and choices made under His irresistible control.
No, Your choices lead to your own consequences. You're the only one at fault for your actions. Just because there is an offer to do things a better way and you reject it, doesn't make the offer-giver wrong. The "punishment" is your choice to withdraw yourself from God, which is to withdraw yourself from all good, ie to go to suffering and misery, which some call a "punishment".
Mika! So rare we see her, usually its foxy moxie with her majestic floof. Im constantly amazed by Gods work when I look at our pets. The way cats have whiskers on their fore legs because once their prey is within a foot of their face they cant see it properly so the leg whiskers help. So cool. Also the way their face whiskers curl forward as the "prey" or toy gets really close to their face and they lose clear sight of it. Just studying them has me in awe.
@@littleboots9800 I don't think you understand hell if you think it's going to be awesome!! (Kidding) I do really enjoy Mike's deep dives on topics and would appreciate a 20 hour video on pretty much any Biblical topic he does, even the ugly ones. I'm personally really hoping to see him cover Creation, Genesis, the Flood, etc. someday. And eventually all 66 books! I wish there was a lot more biblical teaching of this quality.
Hey Mike, let’s say a church is in a low income neighborhood and their community is being obliterated by inflation an economic issue that burdens the poor and middle class and enriches the rich. In our desire to care for people why wouldn’t we support economic issues that affect the poor?
I believe hell is not only a location but also darkness and pain,AND the total absence of anything good and right - NO GOD. I find this concept horrifying and yet another reason to tell others about our amazing, gracious, saving God.
The answer to number two was a little off in my opinion. The idea that “Hell is the absence of God” is not a result of trying to “soften our conception of Hell”…. In fact, I would argue it does the exact opposite. The idea is that God IS “the good”, and so “Hell” is a place entirely devoid of anything good. That is anything but “softening”, that is the most terrifying thing anyone can imagine. If God is absent, goodness is absent. Now imagine spending eternity in a place where nothing good ever occurs. That’s not a place I want to be, personally.
I've thought about hell in a similar way. Sure there might be literal fire and more but in contrast to any suffering on earth, there is no good to distract or balance. Nothing good to feel, touch, taste, see, hear, nothing to look forward to, no love, no relationships, no hope and not even self deception or denial, or numbing, no escape. I think most people haven't really thought about what nothing good would really mean. There is so much blessing and good, even in this fallen world, that we tend to take for granted. The sun shines and the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous. Even sinful peoples capacity to enjoy things like being angry or getting drunk, is possible because of the longsuffering and mercy of God. What happens when that is gone?
Agreed, that's how I've always thought about it too, especially when you consider the idea that sin separates us from his presence -- although in Psalm 139:7-10..."if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there..." Of course, I don't know if this hell is the hell that exists at the culmination of all things.
@@rhondabulmer9604 Yeah, I would consider that verse to be expressing something to the effect of; God is the sustainer of all things, without God, nothing exists. So, in a sense, God IS "everywhere"... but not literally, like God is a fog of some kind. It's more like, wherever "being" is, God "is there". Though evil is a privation of good, so, in Hell, the foundation of good is still "there", the only problem is the inhabitants have no access to it. It's a place of pure corruption.
4 when Jesus calls another friend, this shows a progression in relationship that has occurred. Those who have served Jesus for some time, and the more we become fluid with the will and ways of Jesus, He will open up and share with those who have correctly learned the life lessons with deeper revelation of who Jesus is, as a friend opens up to a trusted confidant about the inner most dealings in their life
It's crazy how a pastor would say that marriage issues, outside of maybe violence or something, are grounds for divorce. He's clearly eisegetically reading into the verses in 1 Corinthians. All Paul is saying is what is good for the marriage, because of what marriage was intended for. He says nothing after that like "If you don't, divorce." Imagine if God were like that in our relationship. "You haven't been praying lately. You've been depriving me of your communication. I'm going to depart from my commitment to you because our relationship isn't what it should be." I think it's evidenced all throughout scripture that God's nature has mirrors in His laws for us and the way we treat each other. I can't imagine him qualifying divorce because intimacy has been problematic in the marriage.
I agree with you statement other than maybe violence so I just want to add if anyone is seeing this if and you are experiencing DV please get out safely make a plan and seek the resources available to you and your children.
1:18:10 This one is complicated but I think you can answered it this way: I think when a song, one particularly, says if it's not good then he's not done with it, I think the main core idea is that at the end of the day God is good and if something's not good then God is not done with it because it will ultimately be for good. That and ultimately whatever God does is good and whatever is good is from God because God is good.
Love your videos! You’ve taught me much. Andy Woods in Sugarland Tx has taught a series strictly on the rapture. I had some doubts but after listening to his series I know there will be a rapture. I hope maybe you can take time one day and check him out. The church is Sugarland Bible . You are a blessing Mike.
Andy Woods has a very informative and sound ministry for sure. I've been very blessed and have learned allot! I recommend watching his podcast the comes out every Friday called Pastor's Point of View.
I’ve come to understand Hell as you described it - an absence of God. With that comes an absence of all the things that He is the source of (love, peace, security, wisedom, etc) therefore, all thats left is all of the opposites while be consciously aware of ALL the people around you going through the same thing.
With regard to question 10. I think it's safe to say that since Jesus 'grew' in wisdom (Luke 2:52) he likely 'grew' in other skills as well. This would imply he wasn't automatically adept at everything as soon as he picked it up.
I know this is random, but I am just now watching your question video. I listen to you and follow you and have referred you to others that are trying to understand the Bible. I’m just referencing to you just called your cat Mika and I thought it was interesting because that’s my name, no it has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but I just didn’t think that that was a common name. Although, my name is spelled Me’cha. Thank you for what you’re doing. I love your teaching. You and Dr. Allen Parr. As well as Dr. Heiser and RC Sproul. Shaun thank you learn a lot from your channel.
"is hell just the absence of God?" nothing is absent from God. everything that exists (hell included, if you believe in hell) has been created by the creator, thus it cannot exist absent of the creator. things are only alive, or exist, because God exists. He sustains all things. so if you're in "hell" then you're there by way of God still sustaining you to be there, in a place He created. Psalm 139 says "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there." questions like this could be pretty easily resolved by actually getting biblical definitions for basic terms, and not confusing them with our own definitions. go through scripture and get a definition of what a soul is, what a spirit is, what hell is, what death is. it will radically change your outlook on these things, if you believe how scripture defines them
David doesn't talk the hell you are talking about. David's hell is Hades or Shell. Place of the dead. Where the dead waits for the judgement day. Lake of Fire or Isa 66 is a different place: eternal darkness, outer darkness, fire doesn't die , worm doesn't die,...
@@sciencescholar3440 ya you're right it is a different place hades/sheol, or "hell" is merely the grave. the lake of fire is the gehenna fire of God which utterly consumes and destroys everything that it touches forever, for it to never exist again. the reason why it says you're not in the presence of God, is because you're destroyed. like you never existed. its also speaking in contrast because God is coming to dwell with us on earth again, as was intended in the original creation. the restoration of all things again something very simply figured out just by doing basic word studies to see how scripture defines these terms.
@@sciencescholar3440 interesting, seems like my reply didn't post but you're right, they are different places. because "hell" as in hades/sheol is just the grave, where as the lake of fire is the gehenna fire of God which destroys everything thrown into it utterly and forever, never to exist again that is why there is separation from God, because you don't exist anymore. you've been destroyed (second death). its also in contrast to God dwelling with us on earth again as intended in the original creation
@@junk3996I was very against this point of view until I actually spent time researching it, and now it seems pretty clear to me that you are correct. Absence from God seems like it can only be absence from existence. It seems clear that there will be very real punishment, and then in the end, they will be “destroyed”, not continue to exists in some alternate reality apart from God.
@@BradyR95 yeah once you see it you can't unsee it scripture is clear that the punishment is death, and the reward is eternal life it isn't eternal life here vs eternal life over there...but since its over there its separate from God and we'll call it death essentially the view of ECT (eternal conscious torment) demands you play fast and loose with definitions, causing you to have all kinds of scriptural and mental gymnastics to try to make sense of it all
Question 7: Jesus does talk about the rapture in John14: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
I mean that, although if you believe in the rapture, this verse could expand upon and support it. But without a knowledge of the rapture one could not read this passage and be taught it. All it plainly reads as is Jesus returning, and us coming into the kingdom, but it does not describe the mode of it - which the rapture describes, as does a non raptor theology.
"... that you may devote yourself to prayer" Presumably it is difficult? to pray while having the conjugate, but otherwise you must "pray continually".
I've taken numerous psych classes for my degree in Healthcare, and have worked in Healthcare for over a decade. I love how you explained Nature v. Nurture and that it often gets blown out of proportion to being the soul driver for all of one's ideas and choices. That's a philosophical position, not a biological one.
I know you are no longer live, and I don't know if you have addressed this question before. As a homesteader, I have discovered that Torah keepers are on the increase in the community. I asked some questions of a woman recently who on her homesteading channel decided to talk about her faith. She attacked me for asking questions because I am sure she couldn't answer them. Homesteading itself generally breaks agriculture Torah laws. I consider this at one time, but after studying the new testament, I figured out it is a wrong choice. Paul couldn't fulfill all the Torah laws. How can we? He said it's too big of a burde, but it's our school teacher to bring us to Christ by showing us wecan nott keep the Torah perfectly. Please address this issue. Thank you.
Channel called TheBiblicalRoots / Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity has exhaustively addressed the the Judaizer movement. I recommend looking his videos over to see if he answers your question.
@user-jy6hd9uw8h the whole book of Galatians was written to a group of believers who tried to go back to observing the Torah. Paul called them foolish for putting themselves under the enslavement of the law once again. He said we are freed from the Law and the consequences of not fully following the Law when we believed. Most torah followers find at least some of their justification from following the Law. Paul said it was wrong to do so. There are some good principles to learn from Torah but no one but Christ can and could follow it perfectly. Paul observed Jewish tradition but not Torah.
Hi Mike, I’m a pretty recent subscriber from Belgium, I’m so happy I found your video’s, I’m learning so much and recommending them to people in my church, but some of the older people don’t understand English that well. I’m wondering if I can add dutch subtitles to your video’s? I have no idea how 😂 but if this is something you would agree to, I would love to learn how to do it, so more people are able to learn these teachings. God Bless
Wow! A lot of wisdom unpacked there in the first question. I want that kind of wisdom. Always fighting the flesh. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
"The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." For what it's worth, I would like my flesh to be a bit stronger; at least strong enough to work, mow the lawn, take out the garbage and do household chores.
It’s scary to me to hear that things can “end badly” before I die, that I may be cut off from God *before* I die because of my willful sin (referencing Hebrews) at about 01:15:00 or so. THAT is scary. I claimed I was a Christian, and did things completely opposing that. Knowing in my heart I shouldn’t be, but going along with it anyway. Regardless, I’m trying to live right now, and believe in Jesus. But, there is now a fear there, mostly because I wonder if Hebrews 10 pertains to me now. 😢
I am a slave to my family and to my God. it is good to serve them without pay. But God and my family are good and they know the going rate for labor and compensate me as such. As a gift, so that we are always giving gifts for each others' service.
The difference between social and cultural. I was raised in a neighborhood in Brooklyn, I went to school with people of diverse ethnicities and beliefs, so there’s the social. I’m a first generation American, raised by parents from the Caribbean, so our beliefs, foods, clothing and even dating was regulated by THAT upbringing, there’s your cultural. Can social and cultural be the same? Sure, but in this country, there’s greater opportunity for differences in the two.
I appreciate most of your answers, Mike; however, struggling to avoid “offending” because people don’t want to hear the truth is a waste of time & energy. Jesus had quite a lot to say about “HELL,” & did not attempt to gloss over. To those who are offended, I have this to say: man up/woman up & face the truth of God’s Word, instead of trying to find a way around it.
I'm heartbroken about Robert Morris. I respected this man greatly. At this time I will never watch a TV preacher again. I don't trust my judgement anymore on teachers of God.
Great QnA as always Mike. Love the all content you produce I learn alot and it always gives me a starting point on my own bible studies and new topics i'd like to dive deeper on. Hope you and David Wood reconcile soon too. God Bless Brother!
But is that really a choice? If there is no Choice, then Mike was compelled to assert choice exists, and others are compelled to assert it does not exist.
@@thomasmaughan4798 That was the pithy remark. That in sounding like he is conceding that people may disagree, he is in the same breath asserting that if people choose not to believe in free will, they are partaking in the free exercise thereof. It was clever.
For the people that look at hell as just the absence of God. One could reply with Matthew 5: 45 showing that he makes the sun rise on the righteous and the unrighteous. So that even people that are potentially going to hell currently living receive good things as well as the saved. But if your theory is correct and it's just the absence of God. If someone wants to study that deep enough, they would realize how terrible/terrifying the absence of God really is.
1:08:34 - 'They're not going to reject Peter, are they?' I was talking to someone once who rejected Paul, claiming he was a deceiver who corrupted Jesus' teachings. I went down the exact line of reasoning as you did, appealing to Peter's words and pointing out that Luke was Paul's travelling companion. He proceeded yo throw out all of Peter's writings, including the Gospel of Mark, which Peter is said to have strongly influenced, and then he threw out Luke and Acts because they had also been infected by Paul's influence. He then tried to prove Paul was a false teacher by quoting something out of context and twisting the meaning. But I said 'but hey, look, John said basically the same thing in one of his letters.' So he rejected the Gospel of John and John's letters. Then he quoted revelation at me, claiming I had a Jezebel spirit. I don't think he realised that John wrote Revelation too 😅
10:44:”did something wrong that I didn’t know was wrong.” There is a NT text that says something about God winking at our ignorance.” His mercy and grace exceed our need.
Regarding question 6, I would like to add that in order for a woman in a Christian marriage to be more than a slave (cooking, cleaning) and legalised concubine/prostitute (sex on demand) and childbearer/nanny and for there to be a covenant relationship of marriage there needs to be actual love and respect for the wife. Peter says to live in an understanding way with a wife and that lack of care for her hinders a husband in his prayer life. Instead of the husband going to the pastor for advice on how to get his wife to put out more and make her feel threatened in the marriage with speaking about divorce a husband can be interested in his wife as a person first and ask her what he is doing to create a barrier to a greater sex life with her and pay attention, and have some understanding that women need help to be in the mood and the environment needs to be safe and relaxed emotionally. Maybe wives need some more help in the household to not be too frustrated, exhausted, and not have a for real headache. Husbands need to make themselves desirable in the marriage as much as wives do. Maybe the husband need to put out more in conversation department where we wives can trust it is real relationship and not just a strategy to get what they want from us. I din't think a wife should ever use their body to control a husband like a dangling carrot but I don't think a man can ever say I cheated because she wouldn't give me what I wanted particularly if he was operating in entitlement and not loving and sacrificial relationship towards his wife.
Yes, it was a law for the nation of Israel. However, Jesus also said that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Christians should experience God’s rest for us every day.
Love little Meeka! Meeka is what my little brother called me before he could pronounce my name. It stuck for years as my nickname. My actual name is Mitzi and, ironically I was named after a dog rather than a cat. Think I might go back to Meeka, and let it remind me to have a meek and gentle spirit.
Since He created the universe, He probably was a very good craftsman (as some say the word we translate into "carpenter" can actually be a generic word for craftsman)
Regarding Q 6, I would ask the lady why she doesn't want to have relations so often. For me, this principle made me feel bad because I wasn't fulfilling my part as a wife, however the reason was that my husband engaged in porn before and the first years of marriage, which really traumatized me. Neither he or I had a healthy relationship with sex because of this. God needed to heal my soul and him (from addiction) so that we could begin afresh. Principles are general, but there are instances we need wisdom in applying them... maybe there needs to me a restoration in the relationship first, maybe there's lack of trust or whatever... before we get to the icing of the cake.
Hey Mike, On question #6, If a spouse is loving his wife as Christ loves the church, as commanded, sacrificially, treating her with kindness and humility, then most likely she will not want to “deprive” him. She will respect him as he is loving her well. I’m not sure if saying she’s putting him in a tempting situation if she’s depriving him was the best way to handle this question since this scenario seems very unlikely. There is probably some other underlying issue going on here. I know most women adore humble kind husbands, but when they become arrogant, it’s a huge turn off. Then they just blame the wife for depriving them and try to use scripture scare tactics to try and make her “submit.”
I would push back on the good ending question. As a believer, I may still suffer significantly in my life and have a death that comes at the end of poverty and struggle and public humiliation. But, as a believer, I also know that that's only the end of this life, but the glorious life to come will absolutely be good! And as you alluded to with your statement about God's punishment, even those who reject Christ and end up tragically going to hell, while it will not be good for them, their ending will be within the good and righteous plan of god. I believe that it is wrong to say that if it's not good then it's not over, only from the perspective of this Earthly life. Because we all know we can die at any moment in ways that are not good or pleasant. But that's also the same mistake that the Prosperity Gospel crowd makes. When they see versus of scripture that talks about the blessings and abundant and fruitfulness that come with faith in god, they only consider the benefit in this material realm. They forget that this life is but a blink of an eye and the Eternal reward dwarfs any good that we may experience in the Here and Now
52:53 I'm not saying I agree with that pastor either, but according to ancient Jewish law, that would've been grounds for divorce. They didn't look at vows the same way we do in our culture, as just poetic expressions of our love and commitment, but actual legal contract obligations, and the three common ones for men were that he would provide food, clothing, and sex (for comfort and procreation purposes), and women had their own legal obligations as wives, and yes, sex was among them too.
I wanna give a little bit of push back on the answer to question 2. I know that Mike is absolutely correct that some are saying it for reason that he stated, but not all. I have described Hell as the absence of God, but because God is good. *EVERYTHING* good is gone from you. If you use any imagination, that's nightmarish enough to produce a healthy fear, I hope. I don't know if my imaginings of Hell are accurate, but they seem more plausible and less laughable than the movie's portrayals. I describe that anything they find pleasant that isn't wicked isn't, doesn't exist, wherever it is that they are. And whatever joy they found in that wickedness is probably gone, too, because joy also belongs to the Lord. I could go on, but shouldn't. I mostly just wanted to say that not everyone that describes Hell as a lack or absence of God is try to reduce the severity or seriousness of Hell or sin. May God continue to bless you, Mike, those involved in your ministry, and those you are ministering to! God is doing wonderful things through you! 🙏❤
The Lake of Fire is absolutely a real accurately termed place. Jesus mever said Satan will be thrown into what is LIKE a lake of fire...No, He said satan will be thrown into THE lake of fire....
We do not lose our agency by titles applied to us. As if we have no ability to refuse bad behavior, because our brain is wired this way or that. We are not our brain, we are our mind, our will.
Re question 9, certainly God is omnipotent and is able to harden the hearts of some, but does He do this all the time, or just for particular occasions? To answer, consider why God would harden the hearts of some. Why did He harden Pharaoh's heart when trying to free His people from Egypt? Scripture tells us that God wished to use Pharaoh's opposition to provide opportunity to show His power, since if Pharaoh had initially allowed Moses and the people to leave, no demonstrations of God's power would have been displayed. And this demonstration of power was not only to provide witnesses to the Egyptians and the world of His might power, but most importantly to persuade the Jews of His power so that they might obey Him and follow Him. So if God hardened the hearts of His people in Isaiah's time, He no doubt had a purpose to eventually bring them back to Himself. He allows sin to proliferate in our own time for this same reason, to allow evil to show itself for what it really is that some might turn from sin and worship Him.
