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Biblical Principles of Government (1b)

Release Date: 02/14/2024

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

More Episodes

This lecture marks the continuation of Mike Winther's series on the Biblical Principles of Government. In the first session, Mike introduced himself and discussed his approach to influencing hearts and minds, the importance of political engagement, and the role of ethics and clear boundaries. He highlighted the Bible's capacity to guide us through these issues.

This time, Mike explores the philosophical and theological foundations of order, rights, and authority, making the case that intelligence is crucial for bringing order out of chaos. He insists that the concept of a Creator is inseparable from the origins of rights and authority. By comparing different sources of rights, like government, constitutional laws, and divine intention, he strongly supports the view that rights are granted by God.

He emphasizes that without recognizing a divine source, the basis for rights and authority becomes unstable leading to chaos. He also talks about the dangers of granting excessive power to governments. He argues that governmental authority and individual rights both come from God. He takes us back to the biblical principles that lead to an organized and balanced society.

You’ll Learn:

[00:36] Chaos or order and disorder. You can't create order from randomness without adding intelligence.
[01:21] The creation and evolution debate and the idea of gender. The debate over the origins of man.
[03:14] When we talk about the government, we also talk about rights. If we're going to know what they are. We need to know where they came from.
[04:18] Mike shares a lecture he shared with high school kids that leads to the creator.
[06:07] He began with rights and their source, because the source determines the use.
[07:02] The source determines the use. Who is our source? God.
[07:56] Sources of rights. Government? Majority? Constitution and Bill of Rights? No rights? Space aliens? God?
[09:39] If the government gives you your rights, who can take them away?
[10:36] The Source determines the use in all of these cases.
[15:53] The last two choices are either space aliens or God.
[16:20] This exercise has never not produced the desired outcome.
[18:08] There's a pragmatic way to lead someone to say what kind of world you want to live in.
[20:14] If evolution is true, then everything is the survival of the fittest. Even the human level.
[21:33] Source of authority. We want the government to have proper authority.
[23:44] The people aren't necessarily your source of government authority.
[28:43] Taking by force is theft. Where does the authority come from?
[30:15] Authority basically describes what the government can and can't do.
[31:10] God is the author of authority and he tells us through scripture.
[34:10] What John Adams said about our rights. Rights are derived from God.
[35:24] We are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights.
[37:16] The source of our rights must be in the same place as the source of our authority.
[37:39] Rights are liberties and powers that the people have. Authority is the power that the government has.
[38:37] We need the same origin for government authority and our rights.
[39:13] As Christians, we need to be clear on God's word.
[41:18] A caution about giving the government more power.
[41:52] Should we purchase security by spending our rights?

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