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To Fight Or Not To Fight, That Is The Question

Release Date: 12/06/2023

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

In Christianity, there is a lot of discussion about end times, tribulation, rapture, and similar topics. Mike Winther addresses end times views found in the Bible. The modern church holds different views compared to the traditional perspectives. In this episode, Mike argues in favor of the traditional view rather than the modern interpretation of the end times. He also emphasizes that this topic is not an absolute necessity of the Christian faith. True and honest Christians disagree about the end times and even about what the Bible says regarding them. As believers, this is a subject on which...

Biblical Principles of Government (10a)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

In this session, Mike Winther discusses government, relativism, and absolute truth. He talks about how the modern educational system teaches relativism instead of absolute truth. A significant part of the modern world's conflict centers on the debate over the existence of absolute truth. The message of this class is that absolute truths do exist, and there may be more of them than we initially thought. In the first week of this lecture series, Mike explored the proper role of government. The core assumption is that there is a proper role for government, as well as improper roles. We should...

Biblical Principles of Government (9b)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

In this ongoing discussion of Biblical Principles of Government, Mike Winther talks about the ongoing battle over history. He begins with a tribute to King Massasoit and explains how the pilgrims bought land from the Native Americans. This tribute eventually evolved into a plaque commemorating the conflict between the pilgrims and the Native Americans, highlighting two different narratives. There is a battle over history. We learn about some interesting aspects of English and early American history from the pilgrims, legal scholars, and early church leaders. Mike emphasizes that in order to...

Biblical Principles of Government (9a)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

Mike Winther continues his discussion on Biblical Principles of Government. This episode will focus on history, but he begins the lecture by highlighting two key solutions to our problems: the political solution and the educational solution. All of our efforts to change the world can be divided into these two categories. We either try to change society politically or through education. Unfortunately, we often concentrate all our efforts on the political solution, when focusing on education is the real answer. Spending just one-tenth of what is spent on political campaigns on biblical...

Biblical Principles of Government (8b)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

Mike Winther continues his valuable teaching on economics, government, and history in section 8a of his Biblical Principles of Government course. Have you ever wondered how an economy grows? Mike begins by discussing growth, inflation, and increasing the money supply, answering these questions using his ongoing small island economy example. He also addresses incentives to invest and explains how market downturns are less severe when people have substantial savings. Additionally, we learn why a fixed economy would benefit more individuals. After covering economic topics, Mike shifts his focus...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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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In this insightful episode, Mike Winther delves into the intricate topic of war powers and their constitutional roots. He explores the original intentions of the founding fathers as laid out in the Constitution, shedding light on the constitutional aspects of military engagement and policy. The lecture is structured around three core objectives.

Firstly, Mike will examine the constitutional framework guiding decisions about going to war. He will then delve into various theories of war, discussing the circumstances under which war is justified and when military action is permissible. Finally, he raises a crucial question: Are our current, or any, American leaders truly fit to make these momentous decisions on our behalf? Join us as we navigate these complex issues with Mike Winther.

You’ll Learn:

[03:17] Article 1 Section 8 of The Constitution lays out the responsibility for declaring war.
[04:05] We've had a number of wars that haven't actually been declared as wars.
[04:56] Is funding a war and approving it the same thing?
[05:32] The founding fathers intended more than just a vote from Congress to fund a war. Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
[06:10] Before the 17th Amendment, the senators were appointed by the states. The house represented the people, and the founding fathers knew that the people would be paying for the war.
[07:11] The founding fathers gave Congress the power to declare war and the president the power to manage the war.
[09:13] Mike discusses the difference between engaging and declaring.
[10:06] By funding the war and not declaring it, Congress gets plausible deniability.
[12:55] War theory and the decision about whether to use force.
[13:14] There's a parallel with Biblical standards for violence and force and civil government for violence and force.
[19:10] Would it be justifiable for the good samaritan to use violence to help the victim during the attack? Are they required to intervene?
[23:19] Ancient Israel had an all volunteer military force up until King Saul.
[23:58] Can America as a nation force our fellow citizens to fight a war they don't want to fight?
[24:30] Should America be the police force to the world?
[25:10] The idea of just war theory comes from scripture.
[28:57] Can we trust our leaders with foreign policy decisions?
[30:29] The general trend of our government on a federal level has been to promote ideals and policies that most of us would object to.
[31:08] If these leaders aren't doing a good job at home, how well would they do on a foreign stage?
[38:32] Mike discusses problems with American intervention in foreign governments.
[40:27] We need to be able to trust the leadership we have in our government to do the right thing before they start meddling in the governments of other countries.
[44:55] We need to recognize the forces who are advocating for big government and centralizing power. We should always be careful about consolidation.

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