10 Questions with Mike Winger (Episode 15)

Welcome to the new weekly stream! 10 questions every Friday at 1pm Pacific time.
Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 - Intro
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

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

[sarahfaith]

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:

0:00 - Intro
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?

[lauracheever]

I was a Mormon for 25 years before God saved me, and Mike is absolutely correct on everything he said about Mormonism. The only thing I'd add is that even mainstream Mormonism is extremely controlling; it's not just the fringe groups. Your salvation depends on your temple work, (and continued temple worthiness.) To attend the temple you can't drink tea or coffee, you must pay 10+% of your income to the Mormon church to be used however they see fit, you must affirm both Joseph Smith AND the current prophet, (which is impossible because they so often disagree, ) etc. Then, when you're inside, you make a literal deal with the devil, (the actor who plays Satan says something along the lines of "If you reveal what happens inside the temple you will be under my power, " and the temple attendee says "Yes.") Then you make cupping signs to catch your own blood if you tell their secrets. Furthermore, you're not supposed to learn from "unapproved" sources. Mike Winger is definitely an unapproved source haha. Which is to say that Mike is great and I'm very grateful for his ministry

[kctravis]

On behalf of the entire Mike Winger fan club we approve the fresh thumbnails! Thank you so much!

[robynhouse]

I like the B.I.T.E. model for defining a cult:

Behavior control
Information control
Thought control
Emotional control

[BoyKagome]

5 qualifications to identity a cult.
1. Group Think.
2. Isolation from society.
3.Special Knowledge no one else knows.
4. Loyalty to leadership above everything else.
5.Purposeful violation of moral and law based boundaries.

All 5, not just one.

[redlandz]

Here’s an aspect that hasn’t been mentioned in specificity… a cult often has a leader, or series of leaders, who will constantly say they have a “new revelation” from God, and that those “revelations” will begin contradicting things they previously said. These revelations often will benefit that leader specifically, or will contradict a previous revelation in a way that is uniquely convenient to a moment in time.

[SpeakerBuilder]

In my 67 years of life, the past 28 years as a believer, I find that many Christians, especially those who are exceptionally bright, tend to insist that all questions can be answered, and that given sufficient study of scripture, we can know pretty much all things. This approach has generated many systemic theologies which are mutually exclusive, which leads me to question both the pursuit of this level of understanding of God (1Cor 13), as clearly such an approach does not lead to a uniform understanding of God, but rather leads to confusion, division and strife. Far better that we simply accept that many mysteries remain and that we do not need to know all things in this life, and we instead humbly yield ourselves to the Lord, with confidence that on that day, we will know just as we ourselves are known.

[Jacques.Smith_]

I think the most common characteristic between cults, is the taboo of questioning the leadership.

[nesbe]

The new hour or so long format is great, It's my new favorite thing to watch on a Saturday morning. Much Love from Australia Mike and Team :) <3

[OGA]

I feel one of the major aspects of a cult is the inability to freely leave without being severely shunned by the community OR the actual inability to leave at all. Christianity is built upon a belief in free will and being able to freely choose what to believe. A controlling group that doesn't allow this freedom goes against God's design of free will for humanity.

[RobbieJayOne]

I agree about the overuse of the word "cult". It can shut down a conversation with someone heavily indoctrinated into a dangerous false religion.

[rebekahearly]

To define a cult, I like the BITE model. A cult controls Behaviour, Information, Thought and Emotion. A cult isn’t just any group that is controlling, it’s a group where people’s own thoughts and emotions are truly formed by what they are told by the leaders. If a person is under a controlling leader and is able to spot that and decide to leave, I’m not sure it’s quite the same as a true cult.

[Deusregere]

I was a bit on the fence about trusting your theology - but your response about women as pastor/elder is spot on. I really appreciate what you are doing! That issue is stimulated by feminism. We didn’t make up the rules but we must respect the rules.

[claudiaperfetti]

This content is so neccesary, not only because of its content, but because of your christian presence in our lives. I'm visiting my newly atheist son and need to hear you talk about Christ.

[IndianaJoe]

Regarding time: Westerners often don't understand biblical ideas and concepts because they think in "either/or" categories. The Bible, however, is written from an eastern mindset, which is "both/and."

An attribute of God is that He is timeless. He created "time" and then, remaining timeless, He chose to transcend time -- and interact with His creation inside the time that He had created.

In other words, God is "both" timeless "and" transcendent at the same time.

[rubenthekid]

Honestly, time really is a concept God established for us at creation, but we live in a persistent world, just as God is a constant/persistent being. Time is a construct, not a physical barrier, something developed for timekeeping/datekeeping.

[deesymons]

Amen Please continue to pray for my grandchildren who live with me and myself for healing and protection and safety Also favour from the authorities to keep us together Thank you

[unripetheberrby]

Thank you for your wisdom and clearer mind about these hard questions Mr. Mike. 😔❤️

[debrazimmerman]

PRAYER - the Holy Spirit is the one who works in other people. I keep praying- Keep speaking - keep loving.

[mackle]

1:17:16 Regarding question 10 I totally agree. The church is called to evangelize, but some people have more of the gift of being a missionary and street ministry (which we think of as evangelism), while others may be more discipling their family and people they know personally while supporting missions. We must either fish or cut bait. It's okay for us to have different roles provided that as a whole we fulfill the great commission.