This is a recording of a class that Mike Winther gave on Biblical Principles of Government. He kicks off the show by sharing his background and how he was raised in a politically active family. He became interested in politics at a young age and was reading works by our founding fathers in junior high.
Mike shares how he got a degree in political science, focused on debate, and had a goal to change the world. He worked in multiple political campaigns with the goal of making a difference and achieving positive change. He discovered that it was hard to find candidates that he trusted, and when he found them, it was impossible for them to win an election.
He discovered that changing hearts and minds was key to having the best candidates and getting them elected. He talks about relativism and absolutes and finding the bright line or where you ethically cross. How do we come to our conclusions and why? The Bible has answers to these questions. Mike breaks down how to follow biblical principles and understand how they pertain to our government.
You'll Learn:
[00:39] Mike shares his background and why this class exists. He was born in a Christian family in a small town in Idaho. His parents were very active in government and public affairs.
[01:54] When he was 8 or 9 years old, he wanted to go to an economics conference with his dad.
[04:14] A powerful time to learn is when someone is in their youth.
[05:03] Mike's parents were very involved in the pro-life movement and had film strips about being pro-life, and Mike ran the slides as a kid. He ended up watching a lot of these materials repeatedly.
[06:59] He was also involved in debate and majored in political science.
[07:38] His first candidate was the Aqua Velva man.
[09:51] We can't win office without people whose hearts and minds are sensitive to our persuasion.
[10:22] Our society needs more work understanding good principles of government.
[11:42] According to a large survey, people wanted help with voting like good Christians. The course, Christian Citizenship was created.
[13:10] Mike eventually began the nonprofit the Institute for Principal Studies.
[13:39] Education is a precursor to action.
[18:14] Relativism is a philosophical concept that says there are no absolutes.
[21:10] Finding the bright line.
[26:04] Discussing philosophy and the nature of man with friends and neighbors. Using the decision tree and persuasion.
[28:46] Finding the real source of a debate.
[31:51] The God ordained government institutions in the Bible consisting of self-government, family government, church government, and civil government.
[37:10] The first fork in the road with civil government is the creationism and evolution debate.
[41:37] If biological evolution is true then there must be social evolution. If so, our laws will need to evolve.
[46:05] Finding the real reason for the Holocaust and Hitler being a follower of Charles Darwin.
[46:56] Ideas have consequences. Evolutionary thinking can be dangerous.
[51:42] Oakbrook College of Law.
