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_outlineMike Winther discusses the outcomes and consequences of certain ideas that have led to protests, the removal of monuments, media censorship, and the suppression of diverse viewpoints. He begins his lecture by delving into the origins of these ideas, starting with the concept of race, and includes a biblical creationist perspective.
Additionally, he contrasts the biblical view of race with the evolutionary perspective. He explores three types of equality: equality of outcome, equality of opportunity, and equality under the law. Mike also addresses topics such as justice, equity, and the risks of qualifying justice. Finally, he examines how these concepts influence politics.
You’ll Learn:
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[03:06] The concept of race.
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[03:25] Webster's 1828 dictionary says that race is the lineage of a family or a series of descendants indefinitely, thus all mankind is called the race of Adam.
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[04:55] Our modern definition of race usually refers to descendants of a certain culture or skin tone.
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[05:10] He also talks about the biblical creationist perspective of race. Man was created in the image of God.
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[07:48] God created one race which is mankind.
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[13:40] Mike talks about Charles Darwin and The Origin of The Species along with the full title and its perspective.
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[14:56] Evolution and racism.
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[16:30] In the 1960s, an undercover agent infiltrated the KKK and turned a lot of evidence over to the FBI. The communist party financed the group.
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[19:57] Orthodox Christian views do not allow for racism.
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[20:24] The definition of equality.
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[21:55] Equality of outcome. The only way to achieve quality of outcome is to treat people differently.
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[23:44] Equality of opportunity. Opportunity would have to be taken away from those with more given to those with less.
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[24:30] Equality of law. This is what Mike advocates. People should have equal value, equal rights, and be treated equally by the government.
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[25:58] Justice. Justice isn't collective, it's individual.
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[27:19] Equity is not equality.
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[29:31] Social justice. If Justice is an absolute, qualifying just this is dangerous.
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[32:28] Collectivism is where the individual is subordinate to the organization.
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[37:35] Do not confuse individualism with selfishness.
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[41:59] Collectivism is bad, because it creates group judgments. It's contrary to Justice. It also destroys the concept of individual responsibility.
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[45:04] Collectivism contradicts the biblical view of property. It also produces poverty.
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[48:16] Are reparations fair? Not from an individualism perspective. It makes perfect sense for the collectivists.
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[49:40] Political strategies using race. Satan's objective is to create turmoil and hatred.
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[50:45] The political strategy of divide and conquer. A divided America will be weaker towards its enemies.
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[52:00] The whole world is about persuasion. The most effective persuasive tool is group identity.
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[56:16] The action is in the reaction.
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[01:00:25] Race identity politics and an us versus them mentality.
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[01:01:19] We need to change human hearts.
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[01:03:57] History should be a teacher to us. What we believe about the present is determined by what we believe about the past.
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[01:06:09] Let's recognize the good philosophies in our history and recognize the shortcomings.
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[01:09:34] We need to treat people as God would treat people.