Understanding And Teaching Constitutional Principles
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
Release Date: 11/01/2023
Biblical Principles of Government (8a)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
As Mike Winther continues his Biblical Principles of Government series, we'll explore practical components about how the world works while increasing our intellectual inquiry. All of this is so we can gain a better understanding of how we can make a difference. He kicks off the show by discussing whether the topics covered in the series really matter. For many Christians, they don't. Everything is already seen as a foregone conclusion. This is a view that people have held since the second century AD. If your answer is yes, this matters, then what are you going to do? This lecture will...
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Biblical Principles of Government (7b)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
Mike Winther continues his conversation from last week about charity, highlighting God's plan for generosity and the importance of sharing. He differentiates between God's model of voluntary charity and the concept of forced charity, such as Marxism, which he claims is not genuine charity. He compares the government's approach to God's model, beginning the episode by referencing scriptural passages that outline God's vision. Mike also examines God's "safety net," which includes working, helping one's family, and seeking support from the church. Another critical topic he dives into is the...
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Biblical Principles of Government (7a)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
In this discussion, Mike Winther explores the significant topic of charity. Mike approaches this subject with caution to ensure that our actions align not only with our intentions but also with what God intends. He discusses the arguments for both large and small government structures, highlighting two main reasons why government expansion occurs. Mike examines what the Bible says about charity and assisting the poor, and he contrasts God’s model of charity with that of Karl Marx. Additionally, Mike addresses the issue of inflation, the increase in the money supply, and rising prices. We...
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Biblical Principles of Government (6b)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
This episode of the series begins by discussing the 2007 and 2008 housing bubble, a topic that remains highly relevant today. During that period, prices were skyrocketing and interest rates were low, leading people to refinance and sink deeper into debt. When the collapse occurred, proponents of big government blamed the free market and called for increased regulation. Mike dives into the causes of this housing bubble, highlighting the manipulation of interest rates, the pricing of money, and the economic stimulation by the Federal Reserve. He discusses how low interest rates and the selling...
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Biblical Principles of Government (6a)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
Mike Winther kicks off Section 6a of "Biblical Principles of Government" with a poignant quote from Thomas Jefferson: "It's strangely absurd to suppose that a million human beings collected together are not under the same moral laws which bind each of them separately." This assertion underlines the principle of The Collective Application of God's Commands. Mike dives into the concepts of individualism and collectivism, explaining individualism as dealing with individuals, whereas collectivism addresses the group as a whole. He highlights the role of government as a collective entity that...
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Biblical Principles of Government (5b)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
Last week, Mike Winther discussed the biblical view of property, the definition of property, and the question of whether private property should even exist. Throughout this series of lectures, he has been using the example of an island to illustrate each concept. Today, we return to the island to vote on redistributing money from the island's wealthy family to its poorer counterpart. In essence, our island has adopted a somewhat socialist approach, redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor. This change necessitates the introduction of an IRS agent and a social worker, leading to...
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Biblical Principles of Government (5a)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
In the words of Samuel Adams, one of the fathers of the American Revolution, The natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly, to property; and lastly, to support and defend them in the best manner they can. Our journey began with the theme of origins, followed by the theme of nature. Tonight, we turn our attention to property. We will explore the biblical view of property, define what property is, discuss how we manage property, and debate whether private property should exist. We dive into the multifaceted concept of property through a...
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Biblical Principles of Government (4b)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
In this section of Mike Winther’s class on Biblical Principles of Government. Mike dives into economics with the goal of making economics useful to us. We explore the strategies communist leader Khrushchev purportedly advocated for undermining our economy through the gradual introduction of socialism. Mike emphasizes how societal readiness for change often emerges from discontent with the current state of affairs, suggesting that instigating dissatisfaction is a precursor to change. The lecture covers both microeconomics and macroeconomics, with Mike providing a tangible example of...
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Biblical Principles of Government (4a)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
Welcome to Section 4a of Mike Winther's continuing lecture series on the Biblical Principles of Government. In this segment, Mike embarks on an examination of Samuel Chapter 8, focusing on the events following the Israelites' entry into the promised land, which was preceded by a significant 40-year period of wandering in the wilderness. This period began after the Israelites sent spies to scout the land of Canaan, and, upon receiving a discouraging report, the majority chose not to trust in God’s promise. Contrarily, only two spies, Caleb and Joshua, remained optimistic and faithful to...
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Biblical Principles of Government (3b)
Principle Perspective with Mike Winther
Mike Winther continues his series of lectures on the Biblical Principles of Government. Today, we dive into the sources of authority. God is identified as a source of authority, a truth we understand through scripture. The Bible is also proposed as the foundation for authority within family governance, as well as in civil and church contexts. If God is not considered the source of authority, then who or what would fill that role? He discusses democracy and the principle of majority rule. Mike draws a distinction between large-scale (big) government and small-scale (small) government,...
info_outlineThe Constitution is the founding document of our government, yet many people don't know or understand it. It's important for us to educate ourselves and our children about constitutional principles to contribute to the type of government our founding fathers intended. Mike Winther delves into the understanding and teaching of the Constitution in this lecture summary, which is based on his 10-hour Constitution class.
Mike discusses why the Constitution is under siege, facing challenges from politicians who don't want to obey it, citizens who disagree with its contents, and people who are ignorant of its meaning. He then explains the significance of understanding the Constitutional foundation. Mike explores the idea of God being the source of our rights and the interpretation of these rights through scripture. He also examines topics such as majority rule and the origins of government authority.
You’ll Learn:
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[01:06] Constitution week is in September. Now teachers who misunderstand the Constitution are going to share this information with their students.
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[02:01] Many Americans in general don't know what the constitution actually says. Many also don't actually understand what it means. Americans have also drifted so far away from the Constitution, that if we really understood it we would hate it.
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[03:13] We have a nation with millions of people in some form or another getting government subsidies which are actually unconstitutional.
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[06:30] The first foundation that underlies the Constitution is the source of rights.
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[06:50] The source of anything determines the use of that thing.
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[07:26] We need to know the source of our rights and who regulates those rights.
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[08:08] Is the source of our rights government?
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[12:52] We are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. Our rights come from God.
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[13:59] We also have to analyze where government authority comes from.
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[15:43] Weighing people's rights with a more than 50% probability of guilt.
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[17:29] The job of the people is to pick our leaders but not to determine government authority.
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[18:09] The proper authority for civil government is outlined in the scriptures.
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[19:40] Mike talks about the biblical roles of civil government such as adjudicating disputes, protecting life, liberty and property, and protecting from foreign invasion.
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[20:41] The nature of government. The government isn't supposed to protect us from ourselves.
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[23:47] Similar to fire, good government that is contained is a wonderful thing.
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[25:39] The nature of man. We can't really trust human beings.
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[27:27] The concept of enumerated powers. The few powers of the government are actually listed.
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[29:43] Mike talks about the Federalist and the Anti-Federalist.
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[34:56] The idea of a republic. The founding fathers' also created a mixed form of government with an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch.
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[36:58] Sovereignty of the states. The states were not created by the federal government. The states gave authority to the federal government.
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[41:06] States need to decide the constitutionality, because they are the source of the Constitution.
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[43:02] Executive orders aren't in the Constitution.
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[47:06] Enumerated powers need to be enacted fairly for the entire country.