This is a pre-recorded lecture by Mike Winther on the topic of terrorism. Mike begins by exploring the definition of terrorism. There is no universally agreed-upon definition, as different individuals and groups define terrorism differently based on their perspectives and circumstances. Topics covered include the distinctions between terrorism and crime, as well as the broader motivations behind acts of terror. These motivations may range from promoting regime change and influencing the policies...
Nov 22, 2023•37 min
What is justice? How do we define it? Sometimes, it is defined as fairness. Paying a debt or being punished for a crime are considered subcategories of justice. Everyone claims to desire justice, yet in the modern world, we often grapple with defining its true essence. In this lecture, Mike Winther delves into the Biblical perspective of justice. Drawing from the Bible, we learn that the Lord expects us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. Winther discusses various interpretation...
Nov 15, 2023•28 min
The study of economics is often viewed as a battle between two worldviews. Proverbs 11:1 underscores this, stating, "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight." This verse not only condemns dishonesty but also accentuates the importance of integrity. This theme is a central focus in this lecture by Mike Winther on basic economic principles. Economics becomes particularly fascinating when viewed in the context of this larger conflict. Mike presents a perspect...
Nov 08, 2023•56 min
The 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 polit...
Nov 01, 2023•49 min
Mike Winther outlines a strategy for improving our government and returning to the principles that support the Constitution and limited government. He discusses the difference between tactics and strategy, emphasizing the importance of educating ourselves and our families. He also explores the distinction between socialism and free-market economies, noting how the lines between them can, and often do, get blurred. Additionally, he underscores the necessity of educating others. Mike speaks furthe...
Oct 25, 2023•28 min
Elections are frequently influenced by the media and the electorate's preceding education. As Christians, we should foster a more robust philosophy regarding the appropriate role of government, defined by good governance through biblical principles. Changing hearts and minds is possible through educating others about these principles. In this lecture, Mike Winther explains the role of good government by utilizing biblical principles as a standard. He discusses the necessity of maintaining certai...
Oct 18, 2023•42 min
Mike Winther talks about another clash of worldviews with this lecture on individualism versus collectivism. The individual has value and the group has value, but collectivism puts the group higher than the individual. Whereas, individualism elevates the individual as the most important. We learn about the biblical perspective of these two theories. Mike talks about authors who were in favor of collectivism including Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Communism was founded on the idea of collectivi...
Oct 11, 2023•33 min
In this lecture, Mike Winther condenses part of his 20-hour course. He talks about the worldview battle and clash of ideas that we are all part of. He says that there are six or seven principles that we clash on that result in almost all the conflicts that we have around the world. Is there or is there not a God? Do our rights come from God or the majority? Where does authority come from? Do we make decisions based on ends or means? Which is more important: collectivism or individualism? Mike wa...
Oct 04, 2023•31 min
Mike Winther talks about biblical principles of government. He breaks down what makes a good government. He talks about centralization versus decentralization. He also discusses the strategy of God versus the strategy of Satan. This lecture shows just how important it is for people to understand the true principles behind what makes a good government. He also stresses how it’s important for us to teach these principles to the people, so that we can have biblical principles guide our government a...
Sep 27, 2023•1 hr 19 min
When it comes to the separation of church and state, there are two common views. There's the atheist view that there should be a separation of church and state, and a Christian view that believes there shouldn't be a separation of church and state. Mike Winther breaks down why both groups get it wrong and why there should be a third view about separation of church and state. We have three governments consisting of the family government, the church government, and the civil government. With a bib...
Sep 20, 2023•44 min
Voting adults have a hand in the political process in one way or another. Yet government instruction and good government learning in particular is lacking in our schools and our children’s lives. Mike Winther breaks down why it is so important for children to learn good government principles and the proper role of government. He talks about authority, biblical principles, how we can help our society to thrive. You’ll Learn: [01:06] All of the political issues that we debate have an underlying qu...
Sep 13, 2023•55 min
Think about when you get discouraged. It can be depressing seeing the difference between what’s ideal and what’s actually going on. This is why Mike Winther walks us through encouragement for the battle. This episode is about waking up with a cause to fight for. Mike shares five points that we need to know in order to attack the gates of hell and let the church prevail. He talks about our need to know the truth, our need to know the proper role of government, not surrendering principles, and mor...
Sep 06, 2023•55 min
Mike Winther kicks this show off with the 3 P’s of property, principal, and practicality from a lecture of the same name. He starts out talking about property and how the study of economics relates to it. He talks about capital as a means of production and as excess production or profit. He goes on to discuss the definition of property and capital. Economics is a study of how we use capital and who owns it. He then discusses why it’s so important to have good government policy, because changing ...
Aug 30, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Mike Winther walks us through taxes and revolution in this lecture. He takes us on a journey back into the colonial period of America. He unravels how taxes, tariffs, and other pivotal factors stirred tensions between the American colonists and the British government. He digs into key historical events that left indelible marks on our nation's narrative. He talks about how the principles of hope and the recognition of Jesus Christ's Lordship played influential roles in the American colonists' fe...
Aug 23, 2023•49 min
Mike Winther of the Institute for Principle Studies discusses the concepts of power, authority, and their interplay with rebellion and submission. Drawing from Romans 13 and historical events, he explores when to purify or separate from an imperfect institution. He outlines the divine origin of authority, contrasting various forms of government and our roles within them. Mike delves into biblical principles regarding submission and authority, using historical examples, including the American and...
Aug 16, 2023•39 min
There are numerous passages of scripture that point to no king but King Jesus. Mike Winther talks about 1st Samuel chapter 8 where the children of Israel began asking for a king during the reign of the judges. In historical and modern times, sometimes we want to change the system when we really need better leaders. Mike also talks about the differences between God and Satan’s strategies for churches. He talks about centralized and decentralized institutions. He goes into Samuel’s warnings to the...
Aug 09, 2023•56 min
Mike Winther gives a lecture on Christians and Patriotism. He kicks things off with a little history lesson about the congregation of Pastor Jonas Clark in Lexington, Massachusetts. Clark taught biblical principles on all subjects including government. The congregation also had target practice after church. All of this leads up to the Battle of Lexington and Concord. These regular people who took up arms and decided to fight the British army were patriots. In this lecture, Mike talks about the p...
Aug 02, 2023•48 min
Mike Winther gives a lecture about education at a homeschool convention. Homeschool families take a personal interest in their children’s education. He talks about biblical ideas of education. He also talks about some Puritan ideas of education which are consistent with biblical models. This episode is about children of God versus children of Caesar, and it's really about who owns our children. God owns our children, but parents are the caretakers and are held accountable for what they do with t...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 7 min
This is part 2 of a lecture by Mike Winther talking about foreign aid from a biblical perspective as it applies to debate and analyzing different sides. He talks about concern for the poor and how to help them. Mike discusses two reasons why people are poor. It’s either from some type of disability or bad government. Lack of liberty keeps people poor. Mike talks about the advantages of small government, incentive to do better, and property rights. It’s important to have a fair court system for d...
Jul 19, 2023•48 min
This is Part 1 of Foreign Aid: A Biblical Perspective. Mike Winther is a huge fan of debate for thinking, learning, and understanding issues. In this address, he speaks to potential debate participants about the political science approach to foreign aid. He raises questions and topics to help dig deeper into issues such as the proper role of government. He explores what the government should and shouldn’t do. He talks about why these topics aren’t always explored in public schools and colleges. ...
Jul 12, 2023•38 min
This is an interview that Mike Winther did with Kevin Swanson of the Generations Radio Show. The topic is about whether Christians should be involved in politics and if they can make an impact. Christians are now the minority. Can a minority make an impact in politics? Mike Winther shares his views and some of the issues like not having enough Christians involved and interested in politics and how attrition keeps the numbers small. They discuss commitment, how liberty is a Godly principle, and f...
Jul 05, 2023•29 min
Mike Winther has devoted the past 17 years to foster a better understanding of the biblical role of government. In this lecture, he talks about why he has devoted his time to this and then dives into the question of whether our banking system makes us slaves. Some of the things discussed include what economics actually are. Economics are the rules of trade and commerce and really become a part of government. What's true for individuals also needs to be true for the institutions that govern them,...
Jun 28, 2023•59 min
Mike Winther talks about what the bible says about taxes in a recorded interview from Truths That Transform Radio. Does "Render Unto Caesar" mean that the government can take it all? He dives into why we don’t have to pay everything, just what we are required to pay. The discussion also revolves around common misconceptions of this line to think that Christians don’t have to pay anything. Mike talks about the effect of relativism on our society. We know there are limits on taxes, because we need...
Jun 21, 2023•20 min
This is a live interview with Mike Winther and Pastor Michael Douglass and Elaine Harland of Lighthouse Live. As the Founder of IPS, Mike breaks down who we are and what we stand for. IPS is a Christian think tank with the main objective of doing research on basic Christian principles and then to teach those principles through our church community. The focus of our teachings is on government, economics, and history. These principles are shared through students, teachers, pastors, Sunday School c...
Jun 14, 2023•32 min
Mike Winther gives a lecture on the biblical models of charity. He shares several bible passages that talk about charity and then shares five points to define real charity. He also discusses the mechanisms or institutions for meeting needs. He talks about our responsibility, family responsibility, the church, and other organizations. We also learn about the government and charity. Mike makes the case why the government shouldn’t be providing charity for many reasons including that they would hav...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Mike Winther shares information about deep learning versus shallow learning in this section of snippets from his previous lectures. He talks about education and the purpose of education. He talks about how it’s important to challenge our children even with opposite world views. It’s also okay if they surpass us in learning. He talks about the importance of building a comprehensive worldview in order to be more discerning. He touches on how we all have a model in our minds of how the world and th...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Mike Winther exposes revisionist history in clips from a series of lectures he’s given on government, economics, and biblical principles. He kicks things off starting with Upton Sinclair’s, The Jungle, and how most of it was disproven, and how Sinclair even admitted to not visiting the factories written about in the book. He shares some opposing views from the book, The Myth of the Robber Barons. He also talks about the cost and inefficiencies of government funded projects like the railroads. He...
May 24, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Mike Winther designed this talk with a desire to help people make better decisions in every area of life. He also noticed that people have a process for deciding on political issues that was unbiblical and awkward at best. Mike decided to take a good hard look at scripture and find if there are biblical processes for making good decisions. As Christians, we're on a journey to have a more biblical based and Christ-like life. In America, we've been taught the wrong process for making decisions. Ou...
May 17, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Mike Winther dives into homeschooling and current and future threats. He keeps his focus on biblical principles which is the basis for IPS. The focus is on teaching biblical principles of government, economics, and history. As Christians, we need to look at underlying principles when making decisions. There's a huge difference between making decisions based on principles or practicality. He gets into whether we homeschool for practical reasons or principled reasons. We also get a brief history l...
May 10, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Mike Winther has a message for those who are preparing for college. To become good leaders, our youth need to understand what the bible says about every area of life. After 12 years of coaching homeschooled high school students, we’ve seen some go off to college successfully and some not so much. College is a major part that frames who our kids become. He talks about four main topics that apply to students and college. These include: 1. Should a student go to college? 2. How do you best prepare ...
May 03, 2023•55 min
