20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 100)

May 26, 2023

Pastor Mike, a tech-savvy pastor, dives into the intersection of faith and technology. He discusses the implications of AI, questioning if Christians should embrace or avoid it. The conversation shifts to the nature of worshiping at work, exploring the balance of productivity and spiritual focus. He also tackles complex topics like the idea of speaking over one's life from a biblical perspective, and the ethical considerations of music, even without lyrics. Ultimately, Pastor Mike emphasizes the need for thoughtful engagement with both faith and modern dilemmas.

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Intro

00:00 • 6min

AI Ethics and Prophecy Interpretations

05:38 • 23min

Balancing Productivity and Well-Being at Work

28:21 • 4min

The Power of Words and Divine Authority

32:14 • 47min

Morality and Identity in Drag Culture

01:19:04 • 8min

Exploring Spirituality and Substance Use

01:27:34 • 5min

Interpreting Scripture and Theological Distinctions

01:32:16 • 36min

0:00 - Intro

0:09 {AI – Image of the Beast?} What are your thoughts on Chat GPT (and AI in general)? As Christians, should we be concerned about this type of technology? Is it OK to experiment with, or should we "steer clear"?
27:13 {Worshiping at Work: Divided Attention?} Is it bad to listen to worship music when you're working? I prefer it over secular music, but I also feel guilty for not giving it my full attention. Is this treating it as entertainment?
31:34 {Speaking Over Our Lives} Is “speaking something over your life” a biblical concept? A Christian said something like, “If you were going to die in one week, how would you live? I'm not speaking that over your life though!”
38:36 {God Sent an Evil Spirit?} 1 Samuel 16:14 and 1 Samuel 19:9 speak of an “evil spirit from the Lord” tormenting Saul. How could a holy/righteous and loving God give him a tormenting spirit?
46:07 {Disqualified from our Rewards?} Since sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit, and we will never be fully sinless in this life, how do we not become disqualified from/lose rewards in Heaven (1 Corinthians 9:27)?
52:56 {The Biblical Way to Get Married} Why do we have to have an ordained pastor to get married? Is there Scripture to back this up? If two people make a commitment to each other and God, is that enough?
58:53 {What Does Evil Music Sound Like?} If we took away the lyrics from music, would there still be such a thing as “bad music” or “evil music”? If so, what does evil music sound like?
1:01:04 {Do We Still Have a Sin Nature?} Does flesh = sin nature? Adam & Eve sinned, even without a sin nature. After salvation, we still have the flesh (Romans 7:18), but we’re dead to sin/not slaves to sin (Rom 6:2-7). Does this mean we no longer have a sin nature?
1:06:34 {Can We Go Outside of Scripture for Context?} I've heard 1 Corinthians 4:6 used to say not to go "outside" of scripture (e.g., learning history to help interpret biblical context). Your thoughts?
1:14:34 {The Origin of Sunday Worship} When is the earliest, in church history, that we see Christians worshiping on Sunday instead of the Sabbath? Did it begin with the Catholic Church, or was it before?
1:19:23 {What Makes “Drag” Wrong?} Drag queen culture is championed by the LGBTQ movement, and therefore feels immoral by association, but I find it hard to put a finger on why drag by itself is biblically wrong. Any thoughts?
1:24:09 {Eating Meat After the Flood} In Genesis 9:3, why did God allow us to start eating meat after the flood?
1:27:28 {Using Cannabis Before Quiet Time?} I take mild cannabis edibles for my ADHD. On them I have wonderful quiet times in prayer and Bible study. Would it be rightly dividing Scripture to say this is how I personally am being “sober-minded”?
1:32:42 {John 15 – Will I be “Taken Away”?} What are your thoughts on John 15:2 and the Greek word for "takes away"? I've heard that it would be more accurately translated as "raise up." This word seems to change the meaning of the verse.
1:39:07 {Do God & Satan Talk?} Is the devil talking to God in today’s generation like in the book of Job? If angels are warring with demons, can we assume there is communication?
1:43:20 {Which Faith is True?} How can I know I have the right faith? I've been watching many apologetics videos since I first found your videos over four years ago, and many Catholics, reformed believers, and evangelicals all have convincing arguments.
1:49:02 {About the Shroud of Turin} What are your thoughts on the Shroud of Turin?
1:52:13 {Leading Others to Biblical Teachings} My family member LOVES Joel Osteen. What are some thoughtful questions I could ask that would naturally lead them to a more biblical, Christ-centered understanding of the Gospel?
1:55:08 {Rulers & Authorities; Manifold Wisdom} Can you explain Ephesians 3:10 (ESV)? Who are the "rulers and authorities in heavenly places," and how is the "manifold wisdom of God" made known to them through the church?
2:00:10 {1 Jn. 2:2 & Limited Atonement} Doesn't 1 John 2:2 blow the Calvinist doctrine of Limited Atonement straight out of the water?

Links and videos I mentioned:

Why I think limited atonement and universalism are both unbiblical: CLICK HERE
Responding to James White and other Calvinist teaching on limited atonement: CLICK HERE
Joel Osteen misuses the Scripture over and over: CLICK HERE
Different end times views explained: CLICK HERE
Gavin Ortlund's content on Catholicism is generally really good - here's one example from his channel "Truth Unites": CLICK HERE