Pastor Mike, a passionate spiritual leader, dives deep into pressing questions of faith. He discusses how the disciples navigated their spirituality without the Holy Spirit and offers insights on the hiddenness of God and its impact on doubt. He addresses the challenges faced by young pastors in older congregations, tackles the debate on Christian nationalism, and explores the ethics of bachelor parties for Christians. He also critiques the notion of prophetic 'rapture dreams' and encourages personal accountability in overcoming addictions.
Disciples learned to navigate sin without the Holy Spirit, showing moral actions can occur outside of Christian belief.
God's hiddenness challenges the assumption that sincere seekers will always find Him, revealing complexities in the search for faith.
Christian nationalism is unsupported by New Testament teachings, emphasizing Christ's kingdom transcends political systems rather than endorsing theocracy.
Deep dives
Disciples and the Nature of Sin
The discussion highlights the reality that the disciples of Jesus were not sinless during their time with Him, despite their close relationship. Various biblical instances illustrate that Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and other missteps, indicating they were undergoing a learning process. The speaker emphasizes that while the disciples aimed to follow Jesus, they still struggled with sin, challenging the notion that one must be indwelt by the Holy Spirit to avoid sin completely. It is noted that morally good actions can occur even outside of Christian belief, backed by references to Romans 2, which suggests that individuals can still do what is morally right regardless of their spiritual state.
Understanding God's Hiddenness
The topic of God’s hiddenness raises questions about why some sincerely seek God yet feel abandoned or unheard. The speaker argues against the assumption that if God loves us, He must reveal Himself to everyone who earnestly seeks Him, challenging the premise of these seekers' sincerity. By sharing instances where individuals have found God after genuinely seeking Him, a counterpoint is made that suggests sincerity can be complex and multifaceted. Ultimately, the speaker concludes that a lack of evidence for God's existence on behalf of a seeker does not negate God's presence or desire for a relationship with them.
Navigating the Young Pastor Experience
A young pastor expresses struggles with being micromanaged and overwhelmed by a staff composed largely of elders, leading to feelings of inadequacy. The advice includes viewing this situation as a chance to build resilience and patience, recognizing hardships as part of spiritual growth. While respecting the wisdom of older members, the pastor is encouraged to maintain authority, listening to advice without yielding to unneeded control. Building relationships through direct, respectful conversations is suggested to help navigate these challenges and assert pastoral leadership.
Christian Nationalism and Theocracy
The conversation explores the concept of Christian nationalism and its connection to theocracy, with the speaker asserting that the Bible does not advocate for such a system. Acknowledging that while the Old Testament had theocratic elements in Israel, it was divinely instituted and not a human endeavor. The New Testament, on the other hand, promotes the Church's organic growth without establishing a new political order or theocracy. Ultimately, Jesus’ kingdom is identified as transcending earthly governments and not adhering to political structures, while advocating for individuals to live according to Christ's teachings.
Defining God's Judgment and Justice
The distinction between God's judgment and His justice is discussed, with judgment seen as decisions made by God in response to human actions, while justice reflects God's inherent character. The nuances of God’s judgment play out through consequences for sin, but His justice remains constant and intrinsically aligned with His righteous nature. Examples from Scripture illustrate how human actions may invoke God's judgment, yet His justice will always remain grounded in His ultimate righteousness. Understanding this can help interpret the complexities of why certain events unfold as a result of God's view on human behavior.
Balancing Personal Responsibility with Divine Help
A question about the struggle with nicotine and caffeine addictions emphasizes the importance of personal willpower alongside divine assistance. While recognizing these habits as potential sins, the speaker encourages gaining knowledge about managing them effectively rather than relying solely on outside support. There’s a recognition of the importance of personal accountability in making choices that align with one’s faith in God. Early intervention against temptation is advised as a practical strategy for overcoming these struggles before they escalate into deeper dependencies.
0:00 - Intro 1. 0:22 {Can We Resist Sin Without the Spirit?} How were the disciples able to follow Jesus and resist sin without the Spirit indwelling them? Is it possible to be a Christian without the Spirit? 2. 8:52 {Help with the Hiddenness of God} The hiddenness (and silence) of God is causing me doubts. Is there any advice or help you can offer (such as that God is silent now because revelation has been completed with the New Testament)? 3. 16:35 {A Young Pastor being Disrespected} I am a young pastor of a church with people mostly in their 60s and 70s. My staff often micromanages me, corrects me in public, and treats me like a grandchild instead of their pastor. Any advice? 4. 22:00 {Is Christian Nationalism Biblical?} Is Christian nationalism in the sense of theocracy a scriptural concept? 5. 25:49 {God’s Judgment vs. Justice} How are God's judgment (him being a judge who carries out consequences) and His justice (establishing order) different if He uses His judgment to apply justice? Or can you explain His judgment vs. His justice? 6. 28:29 {Are Batchelor Parties Always Sinful?} I am attending a bachelor party and I have a Christian co-worker who said "Christians shouldn't go to bachelor parties." How would you response to this? All at the party profess to be Christians. 7. 32:49 {Are Rapture Dreams Truly from God?} What are your thoughts on Christians that have “rapture dreams” claiming that the rapture will be soon? Do you think these are from God, or just a result of all of the end times talk that has ramped up lately? 8. 37:00 {Was Aaron Punished In Place of Moses?} In the book of Numbers, why did God punish Aaron for unbelief when Moses is the one who struck the rock? 9. 41:19 {Overcoming Addictions} I struggle with an addiction to nicotine and caffeine. There are no rehab centers for these. What do I do? I know its sinful, but I need help to overcome. I can’t be a slave to two masters. 10. 45:45 {How Were Jesus’ Words Translated?} Did the synoptic writers translate Jesus’ words from Aramaic to Greek? Does that partially explain why they don’t match each other exactly, because they translated to best explain His teaching? 11. 50:46 {Will the Father Not Forgive Us?} Matthew 6:14-15 says we should forgive others of their trespasses or our Father will not forgive us of ours. But the Bible also says that all of our sins have been atoned for on the cross. Can you explain? 12. 55:06 {Is Typology Only About Jesus?} Is typology only ever about Jesus? If so, how do we explain the type/antitype in 1 Peter 3:21? If not, how do we tell true vs. false types when "no new theology" can come from typology? 13. 1:01:27 {Christ’s Law vs. the Moral Law} What is Christ’s law, and how is it different from the 10 commandments which many argue is the moral law we are to keep to this day? 14. 1:05:36 {Do Our Spiritual Gifts Ever Change?} As believers, are we given a static set of spiritual gifts, or are our gifts more dynamic in nature so that God adds to and/or subtracts from them according to our season of life or our maturity in Him? 15. 1:09:48 {Should We Date Unbelievers for Evangelism?} My cousin is dating someone who is not a Christian in the hopes that they will get saved. Is this okay to do? 16. 1:13:58 {If My Own Child Comes Out…} What is your take on what we should say when unbelievers ask, “What would you do if your child came out to be gay?” Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. 17. 1:16:55 {Avoiding Distraction in Prayer} What is the best way to focus on God? Do you know of any techniques for this? While I'm praying, I try to focus on God, but I always seem to get distracted. 18. 1:18:45 {Can We Wear Cross Jewelry?} What are your thoughts about wearing cross jewelry? 19. 1:21:05 {Am I Doing Enough in Marriage?} My wife works very hard, long hours. She frequently comes home exhausted and stressed. My job is fairly stress-free, and I work from home. I feel like I’m not doing enough for her. What should I do? 20. 1:23:16 {How to Glorify God at All Times} If Scripture tells me to glorify God in all I do, how can I glorify God when doing things like taking a math class, playing checkers, eating a meal, listening to Beethoven, etc., if these things are "morally neutral"?
Currently doing these Q&As every other Friday. Hopefully my workload will allow me to do them more often in the future.
I take questions from the live chat. Start your question with "Q" and try to include one or two specific verse references if you have them. Due to the number of questions we get I can't possibly answer them all so I apologize if you send one in that doesn't get an answer.
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