BibleThinker

Latest Episodes:

Benny Hinn's New Doomsday Scam? Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

Keep in mind that Benny Hinn recently told the world he didn't think he would need to do very much fundraising in the future. To me, this seems like a scam that uses Benny Hinn's supposed prophetic knowledge, coupled with unbiblical understandings of giving, as a way of manipulating his followers to give money to him.

Original video HERE.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

10 Questions with Mike Winger (Episode 19) Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

Today's Time Stamps:

1. 3:08 {Was Jesus’ Death Suicide?} I need help responding to the objection that Jesus voluntarily going to the cross was suicide. I know this isn’t the case, but I’m having a hard time expressing why.
2. 20:23 {How Can We Sin if Indwelled?} How are we able to sin if the Holy Spirit is in us?
3. 24:52 {Defining Inerrancy} How can we biblically define inerrancy? Even the writers of the Chicago Statement seem to hold slightly different views on harmonization (according to Mike Licona).
4. 31:45 {Is Nakedness Inherently Sinful?} My 16 year old daughter was wondering why with the Fall in Genesis, shame is associated with being naked. What’s the correlation between sin, nakedness, and the Fall? I didn't really know.
5. 34:51 {How were Private Events Recorded?} Do you know how biblical authors recorded events, conversations, and moments that transpired despite being in private or in a one-man scenario, perhaps like Judas' death?
6. 43:08 {When did the Old Covenant End?} When did the Old Covenant officially end? Christ's birth? Death (Temple veil torn in 2)? Resurrection? Pentecost? 70 A.D. (destruction of the Temple)? Or was it a gradual "end" similar to U.S. slavery?
7. 49:05 {Overcoming Pride} I often feel myself getting prideful and I’m worried that if I don't get control over it, God will humble me. What are some ways to keep myself humble, before God does it for me?
8. 53:40 {Did God or an Angel Give Moses the Tablets?} How do we reconcile Exodus 31:18 with Acts 7:38, Galatians 3:19, and Hebrews 2:2? I’m unconvinced that Scripture contradicts itself, but this lives in my head rent free and I need a resolution.
9. 57:55 {Why Pray for Others?} If Jesus is our final intercessor, why should we intercede for or pray over other believers' needs? Is this related to the spiritual realm and prayer delays, like in Daniel 10:12-14?
10. 1:08:26 {Commentary Recommendations} What is your go-to commentary?
-- Bonus Q: 1:11:00 {Co-Led Studies & Complementarianism} After watching your Women in Ministry series, I’d like to know if biblically, you believe a woman helping her husband teach a co-ed adult Sunday school class would be an elder-type role and would be wrong.

Helpful links:

Oops. The Clear Truth Media website actually launches on Monday morning, July 1st 2024. I got the dates mixed up. Check it out here on Monday morning/early afternoon.
Women in Ministry playlist
Penal Substitutionary Atonement playlist (this is about the very theology of the cross and it’s a pretty big deal)
Who wrote the Gospel of Mark? (evidence based)

To participate in a future session, show up when the livestream starts (you see me actually on screen) and post your question in the chat. It helps if you reference one or two specific verses if they are relevant to your question and if you put a Q at the beginning of your comment in the live chat.

I’m Mike Winger and my goal is to help people think biblically about everything.
My website: BibleThinker.org

I’m better than Jesus. Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

You just won’t learn that much by reading the book.

Try Doctrine and Covenants, the Book of Abraham, or this passage I read from today that is in Histories of the Church, Volume 6, 408-409.

Benny Hinn's nephew confirms the worst. Here's our interview. Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

Thank you, Costi Hinn, for having the courage to expose Benny Hinn's harms even when it impacts your own family. Thank you to Jeremiah and Andrew, the guys at Cultish, for caring about the victims of Benny Hinn.

See my four hour documentary showing the evidence that Benny Hinn has been spiritually abusing people for over 30 years HERE.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

10 Questions with Mike Winger (Episode 18) Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

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?

Today's Timestamps:
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?

Helpful Links:

A video on misconceptions of and challenges to Hell: Click Here
Defending the Trinity: Click Here
Jesus taught against polygamy: Click Here

To participate in a future Q&A session, show up when the livestream starts (you see me actually on screen) and post your question into the chat. It helps if you reference one or two specific verses if they are relevant to your question and if you put a Q at the beginning of your comment in live chat.

I’m Mike Winger and my goal is to help people think biblically about everything.
My website: BibleThinker.org

10 Questions with Mike Winger (Episode 17) Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

Learn to think biblically about everything, including doomsday prepping.

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
1. 0:25 {Is Doomsday Prepping Biblical?} Should we as Christians be stockpiling food and supplies for some future global catastrophe? Some of my Bible study sisters are constantly talking about this and have started preparing for impending doom. Scripture tells us, “Do not worry about tomorrow” and "Be anxious for nothing.” But at the same time, I don't want to be caught off guard. Should Christians be stockpiling just in case?
2. 17:42 {Navigating Difficult Pregnancies} What are your thoughts on terminating a pregnancy due to a “lethal” condition like anencephaly? This seems like euthanasia. Applicable passages might be Genesis 9:4-6 and 2 Samuel 1:1-16.
3. 31:29 {Praying for the Sins of Others} Do we in any way need to (or can we) pray for the sins of another person, such as a family member? This topic was a recent one in some chats I am in. The verse cited was Leviticus 26:40.
4. 36:45 {Was Mary Asking Jesus for a Miracle?} When Mary told Jesus that the wedding was out of wine, was she asking Him to do a miracle, or a more prosaic fix? I was taught that she asked for a miracle, but I wonder due to her other actions.
5. 43:26 {Thinking Biblically about Dating} I’m a late 20s Christian man struggling with anxiety in dating. As things progress, I tend to overanalyze everything to determine if I can marry the girl, and things end about 3 months in. Any scriptural advice?
6. 49:50 {Blasphemy in the Sermon on the Mount?} In The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus refers to God as the audience’s Father. How was this not blasphemous in the way that Jesus claiming to be the Son of God was a big deal in the Passion narrative?
7. 54:22 {Asking Others for Help When Needed} I have an illness that leaves me physically and mentally fatigued. My wife and I need a lot of help but struggle with asking. How do I ask for help in a way that is God-honoring and not selfish?
8. 1:00:10 {What Exactly Is Sin?} What exactly is sin? Is there a difference between sins against the flesh and sins against the heart/spirit? Does 1 John 5:17 have anything to do with that? Is sin only sin when it causes death?
9. 1:06:36 {What does “Woke” Mean?} I have heard you use the word “woke.” Please define it. Since being hijacked from the Black community, it seems to mean different things.
10. 1:21:45 {Salvation before the Reformation} Were people saved before the Reformation? It is hard to believe everyone went to Hell during that time, so I've heard people use this to argue in favor of Catholicism. Is this a valid argument?

Additional links/info:

***HERE is the clip search feature on my website. Find any topic I've talked about by searching freely there.

Show up when the livestream starts (you see me actually on screen) and post your question in the chat. It helps if you reference one or two specific verses if they are relevant to your question and if you put a Q at the beginning of your comment in the live chat.

I’m Mike Winger and my goal is to help people think biblically about everything.
My website: BibleThinker.org

10 Questions with Mike Winger (Episode 16) May 31, 2024

Show notes

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
1. 0:36 {Did Jesus Baptize?} Considering John 3:22 and 4:2, did Jesus Himself baptize others, or not? A Mormon brought this up to me, and the only thing I could think of was that John 3:22 wasn’t actually saying Jesus baptized, perhaps only that He oversaw the baptisms. Any insight?
2. 21:45 {Did Jesus’ Deity Die?} Did Jesus' deity die on the cross, and if not, then how could He be an atoning sacrifice for sin? If it died, then how could He be God without affirming the kenotic heresy?
3. 27:34 {God’s Eternal Covenant} I see in Jeremiah 33 that God extends His eternal covenant not only to the house of David as kings, but also Levi as priests (Jeremiah 33:17-22). Who fulfills this promise? Does Jesus?
4. 35:49 {Not Worthy = Not Saved?} Do Jesus' words in Matthew 10:37-39 give the impression that if we don't put Him first in everything, we're not saved? Does the phrase "not worthy of Me" not refer to salvation?
5. 44:44 {Does God Veil/Blind Understanding?} Why do we assume that 2 Corinthians 4:4 is not about God, but presumably about Satan? In the context of chapters 3 and 4, and also in other verses, we learn that God veils/blinds eyes (ex: John 12:40, Romans 11:8).
6. 50:44 {How Could God Need Strengthening?} Can you explain how an angel could have strengthened Jesus since He is God (Luke 22:43)?
7. 58:39 {Translation Discrepancies?} Mark 1:41 in the NIV says Jesus was indignant, but other translations don't. What’s up with that?
8. 1:04:13 {“Real Presence” in Communion?} Do you think “Real Presence” in the Lord's Supper could be true? The fact that the disciples say "this is a hard teaching" and many of them leave makes me think it was more than symbolic.
9. 1:15:28 {Responding Biblically to Idols} Was it biblical for the man in Iowa to destroy the Satanic Temple display at the state capitol last December? How should Christians respond to the public display of literal idols in our society?
10. 1:23:14 {How to Walk by the Spirit} Can we as Christians really truly live an upright and blameless life?

Links you may want…

***HERE is the clip search feature on my website. Find any topic I've talked about by searching freely there.
How we got our Bible (translation issues and manuscript issues - 3 part series): Click Here
Jesus' suffering and humanity in the Garden of Gethsemane (Gospel of Mark series): Click Here
The Unchristian Belief of TOP Progressive Christian Influencers: Click Here
How Melchizedek represents Jesus (but isn't Jesus): Click Here

I’m Mike Winger and my goal is to help people think biblically about everything.

My website: BibleThinker.org

10 Questions with Mike Winger (Episode 15) May 24, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the new weekly stream! 10 questions every Friday at 1 p.m. Pacific Time.
Today's Time Stamps:
1. 0:07 {What Makes a Cult?} What makes a cult? I grew up in a church that took many hard stances on issues that led our elders to act in unbiblical ways. Most would say it was a cult. Where is the line drawn?
2. 25:30 {Female Elders under Male Elder Headship?} Any advice for a member of a church with a male lead elder pastoring alongside ordained female elders who often teach on Sundays? Is there any warrant to the idea that they are under his headship?
3. 31:40 {Does God Overlook Ignorance?} In Acts 17:30, what does Paul mean by God overlooking the times of ignorance? Was He more lenient toward idolatry before the time of Christ? Or did He stop trying to save the idolaters of that time?
4. 40:18 {Evangelizing the Apathetic} My wife and I are having difficulty ministering to her father who doesn’t seem to care about the topic of God at all. How do you help someone realize the importance of salvation?
5. 46:57 {Does God Operate Outside of Time?} Can you talk about your views on God’s relationship to time? Personally, I find the timeless God view incoherent and unbiblical. It seems He operates within time.
6. 54:52 {What if Election Isn’t about Salvation?} What are your thoughts on election being about service and blessing rather than salvation (i.e., Judas was chosen by Jesus to serve Him but obviously wasn't saved)?
7. 58:08 {Mark of the Beast: Literal or Symbolic?} Could the Mark of the Beast being on the forehead or right hand symbolize something that dominates the mind or actions of those who submit to it instead of a literal mark on the body as many assume?
8. 1:00:37 {Ancient Israel & The Trinity} Did ancient Israelites believe in the concept of a "multi-personal God"? By multi-personal God, I mean a concept similar to the Trinity, where there is one God made up of multiple Persons.
9. 1:06:11 {Christ Ascending & Descending} What is Paul talking about in Romans 10:6-7 when he’s speaking of Christ descending and ascending? The way he phrases things seems like it should be the other way around.
10. 1:10:11 {Making True Disciples} According to Scripture, if the disciple you make doesn't make a disciple, have you really made a disciple?

LINKS BELOW:

***HERE is the Clip Search feature on my website. Find any topic I've talked about by searching freely here
Click Here for the giant Women in Ministry research project
Click Here for the study on Romans 9:25-10:9

I’m Mike Winger and my goal is to help people think biblically about everything.

My website: BibleThinker.org

The NEW lie from Benny Hinn. Here's the video evidence. May 21, 2024

Show notes

There were three videos where Benny made prophetic statements about peace in Israel in 2024. Two are currently still watchable on his channel, the third has been made private. Here are the links.
1. "Momentous Prophecy Alert"
2. "Why Must Normalization Happen Prophetically Between Israel and Saudi Arabia?"
3. REMOVED VIDEO

**In the video I accidentally said "December" when I should have said "September." At any rate, I have dates on the screen for when each video was posted online.

This is his recent video denying he ever prophesied about this stuff and was just quoting other people's political commentary: Click Here

To the vast majority of those listening in, Hinn appeared to prophesy that this peace would come and went on to ask people to send him money as a way of guaranteeing that they would get a bunch more money coming in when the prophesied "transfer of wealth" came in. To go on and deny that this was prophecy (and false prophecy at that) seems like a total deception on Benny's part.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

Benny Hinn is doing it AGAIN (Charisma Media Interview) May 18, 2024

Show notes

Here's the backstory...

I did this four hour video showing the evils of Benny Hinn's ministry: Click Here

Those who know me know that I am slow to say stuff like this. I've NEVER made such a scathing critique of someone.

Benny Hinn has been doing damage control and did a fake apology video with Charisma Magazine's Steven Strang here...

• Benny Hinn Speaks Out Part 1- EXCLUSIVE and here...

• Benny Hinn Speaks Out Part 2- EXCLUSIVE

Charisma also wrote an article that seems to defend Hinn and portray me as making a career out of criticizing Hinn, as well as just using old footage of Hinn's past (both of which are not true). That's HERE.

I have a lot of respect for my interviewer, John Matarazzo, for doing this interview when I imagine it could cause some waves for him.

Disclaimer: I know I will be accused of being obsessed with Benny Hinn or of just having a vendetta. Someone who isn't paying attention could believe that pretty easily. They just make a few assumptions and ignore the details. In reality, this isn't about Benny Hinn. It's about his victims. Every day someone is hurt by Hinn or the myriad of pastors who are copying his manipulative ways. It harms the church and excuses the unbelief of skeptics. We should have collectively called him out decades ago. If my coverage of this bothers you then I understand. For the sake of the victims, this is worth addressing. Paul the Apostle would have kicked Hinn out a long time ago.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

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