20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 68)

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:

0:00 – Intro

1. 1:05 {Advice for a Difficult Marital Situation} My husband has joined a “Christian” cult where women are taught they’ll go to Hell if they wear makeup, trousers, jewelry, etc., and I refuse to follow that teaching. He will not listen to the counsel of our pastor. Should I submit to his decision to leave our biblical church and be a part of the cult? He now thinks of me as “not saved” and I’m considering leaving the house.
2. 11:50 {Does Moses Refer to himself as YHWH?} Why does Moses refer to himself as YHWH in Deuteronomy 29:6?
3. 16:34 {The Beatitudes in Luke vs. Matthew} The beatitudes in Luke 6:20-21 seem to have a different emphasis than those in Matthew 5 (physical poverty/hunger in Luke vs. spiritual poverty/hunger in Matthew). Much of the discourse in Luke 6 seems to cover similar teaching points as the Sermon on the Mount, so should the beatitudes in Luke be understood as the same as those in Matthew? If they are different, what is the takeaway from Luke’s beatitudes?
4. 22:08 {Were Adam & Eve Cursed?} When reading Genesis 3:16 (especially in the KJV), I’m under the impression that Adam and Eve were not cursed, but only the Earth. Could you please weigh in on this?
5. 26:28 {Advice for Entering College & Adulthood} I’m turning 18 this year, and have been a Christian for 2 years now. I’m looking at colleges now because I’m a junior in high school. Any advice for looking at colleges and going into adulthood?
6. 31:47 {About 1 Cor. 5 & Banning Abortion} Does 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 mean we shouldn’t pass laws to ban abortion for “outsiders”?
7. 38:26 {Can Pagan Traditions be Redeemed?} Are things with proven or supposed Pagan origins (such as wedding rings or birthday candles) to be avoided, according to Scripture? Or are they able to be redeemed?
8. 43:20 {How Much to Confess Past Sins} I have some past sins that are pretty bad and very shameful. Do I need to confess these sins to my family and friends? I’ve confessed them to God and a personal pastor.
9. 46:53 {Encouragement for a Progressive Friend} My friend has always been a strong Christian and is now struggling with same-sex attraction. He has adopted progressive thoughts on the Bible. How can I encourage him otherwise?
10. 49:35 {Can We Do God’s Will Without Realizing It?} As a kid, my mom taught me to treat others as you would want them to treat you. I remember living by this, but I didn’t know it came from Jesus. Does this show us that we can do God’s will without realizing it?
11. 53:26 {Can We Hear the “Still Small Voice” Today?} Pastors have preached about this “still small voice” that approached Elijah when he was distressed in the caves. Is this something we are supposed to be waiting and staying still to listen to today?
12. 57:50 {How to Be Content While Suffering} God has blessed my life and I know it could be worse, but I’m severely disabled and sometimes I feel so trapped in my body that I want to die, but know that I can’t. How do I learn to be content?
13. 1:04:40 {Understanding Jesus’ Atonement} Is it more accurate to say that Jesus’ death was sufficient for all rather than that He paid for all? Otherwise, wouldn’t there be people in Hell right now for sins that Jesus already paid for?
14. 1:10:35 {About YEC & “Mockers”} How do you interpret 2 Peter 3:4 (in context)?I’ve heard Young Earth Creationists compare the mockers to people who say rates like erosion or radioactive decay are unchanging and deny the biblical creation account.
15. 1:16:58 {How Important is a Church’s Statement of Faith?} How important is a church’s statement of faith? If a church has a basic, correct statement but adds and emphasizes serious errors in their services, what would you think they’re really about?
16. 1:19:39 {Settling an Interpretive Disagreement} Can you help settle this? I’ve heard it said that the word “brothers” in Matt 25:40 refers only to believing brothers. I believe it refers to anyone in need. How would you interpret this?
17. 1:25:13 {Should We Separate from Spiritually Unsafe Friends?} My friend of 15 years started practicing witchcraft. I ended our friendship because I felt unsafe. Was I wrong to do that? Can I still be close friends with her? What Scripture can I take to her?
18. 1:28:12 {About “Carnal Christians”} What is a “carnal Christian”?
19. 1:30:28 {Ministering to Friends with Mental Struggles} How can I share the Gospel with people who have schizoaffective disorder and severe depression? I know a man who can’t comprehend that he has worth and value. How can I show him God loves him?
20. 1:34:03 {Can All Sins Be Forgiven?} What does Matthew 12:32 mean? I thought all sins can be forgiven through Jesus.
    BONUS Q! 1:36:01 What is the perfect number of cats, and how many cats do you have currently?

What is the unforgiveable sin exactly? CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE for my series on Penal Substitutionary Atonement (tackling questions like, why did Jesus have to die?)

Here are my videos on limited atonement, or “did Jesus really die for people who never get saved?”
1- CLICK HERE
2- CLICK HERE

Welcome to the weekly Q&A. I’m taking questions from the chat IF you…
Start your question with a “Q.” Wait to send it until I’ve started the stream. Try to be a clear as you can so I can try to help the best I can. As always, the goal here is to learn to think biblically about everything and I don’t ask that you just take my word for it. Instead, I hope to facilitate your own thinking about how the Bible relates to the questions at hand.

To see if you have a question I have answered before, go to BibleThinker.org and use the “clip search” feature. This allows you to find exact moments in videos when I deal with your questions.

I hope you are edified and encouraged by the stream today. God bless you.