20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 89)

Dec 9, 2022

Explore the intriguing concept of soul ties and their biblical roots. Delve into the debate about Christ’s divinity, focusing on whether Jesus was recognized as God during His earthly life. Navigate the challenges of spiritual growth intertwined with mental health issues. Examine the complexities of witnessing to Muslims regarding Jesus' role. Investigate prophetic knowledge and human choice through David's experiences. Lastly, tackle tough questions about faith, infidelity, and marital responsibilities.

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Intro

00:00 • 21min

The Nature of Christ and Spiritual Growth

21:13 • 14min

David's Dilemma and Divine Foreknowledge

35:24 • 10min

Faith and Relationships: Navigating Complexities

45:06 • 21min

Navigating Online Criticism and Spiritual Authority

01:06:09 • 2min

Church Renovations and Deeper Reflections

01:08:25 • 6min

Recontextualizing Old Testament Laws

01:14:43 • 24min

0:00 - Intro

0:40 {Are Soul Ties Biblical?} What are “soul ties,” and are they biblical?
18:00 {Has Jesus Always Been God?} Our pastor said on Sunday that Jesus wasn’t God here on Earth until the baptism of John and descending of the Holy Spirit. It sounded really bad to my ears. Can you comment, please?
22:46 {Honoring God Regardless of Feelings} When I feel "good" I find myself doubting less, being more loving, and sinning less. How do I know if I'm growing in the spirit or if it's just my antidepressants making me nicer?
26:44 {Witnessing to Muslims} How do you convince a Muslim that Jesus is more than just a prophet?
30:31 {Did Jesus Overturn the Tables Twice?} Why is Jesus overturning the money tables in John 2 and not later when He enters Jerusalem (around John 11 or 12)? Did He do this 2 times and not just in His last week (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15)?
35:06 {Did God Foretell Something that Didn’t Happen?} In 1 Samuel 23:11-13 (ESV), the Lord says David will be handed over to Saul at Keilah, then David leaves town before Saul gets there, so he was not. Why did the Lord foretell a future event that didn't happen?
40:28 {About the Cruciform Hermeneutic} What are your thoughts on the cruciform hermeneutic or cruciform theology?
45:20 {Advice for a Tough Marital Situation} If my wife committed adultery against me and a child resulted from the affair, am I bound to care for the child? Why or why not, and how would I go about handling the situation after finding out?
46:48 {Should Couples Promise “Till Death Do Us Part”?} In many modern weddings, people promise before God "till death do us part,” or something similar. Doesn't that biblically preclude the option of even a biblical divorce?
50:16 {Why was the Cross Necessary if God is All-Powerful?} I have an agnostic friend who can’t accept that the cross was necessary. They believe God was not all powerful if He could not find another way of saving humanity without sacrificing Jesus. Thoughts?
52:59 {About Jacob’s Wrestle with God} How do you interpret Genesis 32, when Jacob wrestles with God?
58:50 {Having Insurance = Lack of Trust in God?} What are your thoughts on having insurance and medical aid? I've heard it said that these things are rooted in fear and keep us from truly trusting God. Is that a biblical/wise perspective to have?
1:01:25 {What Kind of Jokes Fall Under “Jesting”?} I'm confused about “eutrapelia” and I don’t know if it is just crude joking or all jokes that word speaks of in Ephesians 5:4. I use the KJV and it just says "jesting."
1:06:47 {Can We Rebuke the Enemy Ourselves?} Can we rebuke the enemy?
1:08:38 {Are Flashy Lights Inappropriate for a Church?} My church recently renovated our hall to be more upbeat and have flashy lights. I'm extremely disheartened by this. Do you have any advice?
1:13:25 {Slavery in the Old Covenant} How do we reconcile the treatment of foreigner slaves (not Israelite servitude) under the old covenant (bought as property, handed down to children, etc. – Leviticus 25:44-46)?
1:19:36 {Should we Only Have One Teacher?} Please, can you talk about what we should do when a spiritual leader wants you to only take advice from them and no one else, especially when the Bible says to have a “multitude of counselors”?
1:20:55 {Why did Some Men in the Bible Have Multiple Wives?} Most of the men in Bible had multiple wives. Can’t you then say they lived in sin their entire lives? Many people say that continual sin doesn’t equate to being a true Christian.
1:24:32 {Respectfully & Effectively Witnessing to a Boss} My boss is a leader in the LDS church. He is a good and friendly boss but calls himself a Christian. Do I have a responsibility to confront him, and if so, how do I do this respectfully since he is my boss?
1:27:16 {Does 2 Kings 2 Challenge God’s Goodness?} My brother brought up 2 Kings 2:23-25 to challenge the goodness of God. He saw an imbalance of justice when bears came to maul 40 boys for making fun of Elisha. How would you respond to this?

The Desert Apologetics conference is coming up again (Feb 9-11, 2023).
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How the "Angel of the Lord" is Jesus in the Old Testament - CLICK HERE
My 3 hour teaching on divorce and remarriage. THIS is a link directly to the time stamp in the video on the question of whether marriage is unbreakable or not.
CLICK HERE for my videos related to the topic of slavery.
CLICK HERE for my video on what to do if a polygamist gets saved.
CLICK HERE for my video about how Mormons have their own language when it comes to theology.