Tithing is an old word, but a pretty radical concept.

Tithe means “one tenth.” So tithing in the Bible means giving a tenth of one’s income to support the community’s worship. The Old Testament commands the people of ancient Israel to do this.

So why does God want our money? Well, the Bible makes it clear that this wasn’t just another tax. It’s not really about what was in Israel’s wallet, but what was in their hearts. Tithing was deeply relational. It meant everyone contributed their resources so they could worship together and live in relationship with God.

Tithing was also a way of providing for the vulnerable members in the community. The Bible tells us the tithe went to the priests who conducted the services, but every third year, it went to foreigners, orphans, and widows. This is so important that one of the prophets in the Bible says not paying tithes is the same as robbing God!

Nowadays, some religious folks scrupulously donate ten percent of their income to the church. Others may use the term tithing for any amount they contribute. Whatever approach you take, it’s clear that Jesus took giving to the next level.

He tells one rich young man to sell everything he has and follow him. So maybe God wants more than our dough.

The Bible is a book that some laugh at, some swear on, and some leave on a shelf to gather dust. It could mean nothing, or it could mean everything. 

It’s a collection of writings revered by Jews and Christians. But you don’t have to be of any particular religion to read it. Anyone and everyone is welcome to look inside.

Open it up (after dusting it off), and you find two parts: The Old Testament and the New Testament. What are those? Well, the Old Testament is essentially the same as the Jewish Scriptures. It focuses especially on the nation of Israel—its laws, history, and worship. And it’s full of stories and poetry about the relationship between God and humanity. Many of the “Sunday School stories” you may have heard of—Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, etc.—come from the Old Testament.

The New Testament tells the story of Jesus Christ and his followers. It also includes a number of letters written by early Christian leaders that offer instruction, encouragement, and challenges to live life differently.

Incidentally, the word Bible comes from the Greek word for “book,” and from a root word for the reed used in making an early form of paper. That’s the short answer.

The Bible isn’t shy about sexuality, but it seems to steer a healthy course between the worship of sex and ignorance of it.

Although access to it may be easier than ever, porn itself is not new. It even shows up in the Bible. 

You might be surprised to learn that archaeologists have unearthed pornographic figurines from biblical times. Some of these come from the Baal cult, which for several centuries was the main rival for the hearts and minds of the ancient Israelites. In this context, much of the Old Testament calls the worshipers of Israel’s God to be different, to keep themselves pure from the sex-obsession of Baalism.

The Bible doesn’t shy away from sexuality. It openly discusses sexual matters, describing scenes of love, lust, temptation, even sexual violence. Frankly, some parts of the Bible might be considered borderline pornographic. Yet it seems to steer a course between the worship of sex and ignorance of it.

The New Testament adds a focus on the concept of lust—unhealthy desire. One apostle writes about “the lust of the eyes,” and Jesus equates a lustful look with adultery. Another passage describes how unhealthy desire gives birth to bad actions, with deadly (or perhaps deadening) results. This might be our closest biblical connection to the modern use of pornography. Isn’t it, essentially, the cultivating of sexual desire?

The apostle Paul, one of the Bible’s most prolific writers, is no fan of regulations, and yet he wants his readers to have the best life possible. When some of those readers suggest that God’s love essentially gives them the right to do whatever they want, Paul agrees—sort of. “I have the right to do anything,” he quotes, and adds, “but not everything is beneficial.” He goes on to repeat the phrase and adds, “but I will not be mastered by anything.”

Because of its easy availability today, pornography can become a behavioral addiction, like gambling or shoplifting. And here the Bible offers help—not with a scolding, but with a deep understanding of the addict’s experience and a much-needed hope of freedom.

For more on how the Bible can lead to a fuller life, Look Inside.

There are lots of seeming contradictions in the Bible. Does that make it unreliable?

This video from our friends at the Bible Project might help explain some confusing things in the Bible.

Maybe not when you consider where it came from. The Bible is a collection of writings from different authors, times, places, and cultures. Even different languages. Sometimes words change meanings over the centuries. Sometimes the same characters have several different names.

It also helps to consider the different audiences for these works. The history books of Kings and Chronicles cover some of the same material but for different nations. Matthew writes about Jesus for Jews, and Luke writes the same material for Greeks.

There may also be repetitions, rounding off, or different perspectives that explain some seeming contradictions. It’s reasonable to think that Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount multiple times (it’s really good stuff!), and so the version in Luke could be just as accurate as the one in Matthew 5–7.

Because of these literary, cultural, and sociological influences, it helps to proceed with caution when applying modern journalistic standards to these ancient writings. Biblical authors sometimes use different historical methods (reorganizing genealogies and chronologies to make certain theological points, or using numbers symbolically) that wouldn’t pass muster today—but were accepted practice for the day.

If you’re looking for one seamless document that irons out all wrinkles, that’s not the Bible. Even those who honor it as the Word of God often say that God used a broad collection of human authors—in all their peculiarities—to craft a divine story. And many scholars note that the wide variety of authors demonstrates the Bible’s historical authenticity. Something else to consider: If the objective was to present a smooth, paradox-free story, editors would surely have made that happen. Instead what we have is a multifaceted record of people’s responses to God and God’s repeated invitations to them.

Why not Look Inside for yourself?

In this video, Dieula offers some advice.

Different people read it different ways. And that’s totally fine. Want to find the best way for you?

Some people dig into a single verse and try to think of a million things it might mean. Others read it just like they would read any other book, cover to cover. Others read it out loud, by themselves or with a group, which often helps them understand the words and meanings better. But, honestly, if you just want to read the Bible, then read it. Hunker down in a comfy chair and read a whole chapter or two. Try to wrap your head around the big story.

Some tips: (1) Find a translation of the Bible that speaks to you. There are dozens of versions available now, and most of them are faithful to the original languages. Some sound like Shakespeare. Some sound like everyday conversation. Try a few out and see what grabs you.

(2) You don’t have to read the whole Bible from beginning to end. There are a few parts that some readers find tough going, and those could derail your best intentions. Try skipping around to find the stories that interest you. We suggest Genesis, Exodus, Ruth, 1 Samuel, Daniel, Jonah, or one of the four books about Jesus’s life—Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. (Mark is the shortest and reads quickly.)

(3) After you’ve read a few stories, try reading a complete letter from the New Testament—like maybe the four chapters of Philippians or the five chapters of James. Read a Psalm out loud. Or go through Song of Songs (aka Song of Solomon) with your significant other.

Good question. And while some have issues with what the Bible actually says, others have problems with the people who quote it.

Before we begin, please watch the video for a long-overdue apology.

Okay. So … there are a lot of people out there who believe the Bible is judgmental, inconsistent, ignorant, and old-fashioned. Their issue is with the Bible itself.  Some of those people have read the Bible. Some haven’t. And some don’t even want to, since some obnoxious Bible-beater has turned them off. Their issue is with Bible people.

Let’s deal with the Bible issue first.

Can the Bible judge us at times? Yes. And that’s not always fun. Sort of like a personal trainer pushing you to be your best self. But along with the judgment, there’s a stronger message of love. The two actually go together. Is it old-fashioned? Well, it’s certainly old. But despite the fact that it was written by 40 or more people thousands of years ago, we still find great wisdom and fresh ideas in the Bible. But don’t take our word for it. Look inside the Bible and see for yourself.

Now, to the Bible people issue.

If someone’s been obnoxious to you, we’re sorry. Truly. Reading the Bible doesn’t make anyone perfect. In fact, the Bible tells us we are all far from perfect. In fact, most characters in the Bible are deeply flawed. And we are ashamed to admit that some people have used the Bible to justify a lot of bad behavior over the centuries. But the Bible has also spurred others to do incredibly loving, lifesaving, and heroic things.

We think there’s a big difference between (a) wielding the Bible as a sledgehammer and (b) letting it lead us into an authentic interaction with God. We’re aiming for the latter.

Whether your feelings about the Bible have been negative, positive, or apathetic, we invite you to get the whole picture by Looking Inside.

A lot, actually. First of all … sex is God’s idea.

Actually the first commandment God ever gives people is to “be fruitful and multiply” (and we know how that happens).

And the rest of the Bible isn’t shy on the subject either. On several occasions, it tells of people having sex (the Hebrew word for it means, literally, “to know”). There’s even a full book of the Bible—the poetic Song of Solomon dedicated to celebrating a romantic relationship in very intimate language.

Even with all this talk of sex, the Bible also offers some cautions and restrictions on sexual behavior. Why? Two key reasons are false worship and desire that becomes destructive.

The Old Testament shows the first followers of God living alongside other cultures that essentially worshiped sex. For example, folks called the Canaanites celebrated the mating of a sky god with an earth goddess—and sometimes re-enacted it. Later, the followers of Jesus encounter similar religions throughout the Roman world. This is probably why so many biblical writers go out of their way to clarify that sex is not how they worship their God.

The Bible also suggests that destructive desires can lead to unforeseen injury. Which explains why some biblical writers do their best to urge readers to not let any sexual desire rule their life.

While the New Testament often prohibits “fornication” (generally defined as sex outside of marriage), it does so not because sex is a bad thing, but because it is such a good and wonderful thing, knowing that it should not be squandered, but given the full protections of a lifelong commitment.

Ultimately, the Bible offers marriage as the arena for sexual interaction. The apostle Paul asserts that a husband’s body “belongs to” his wife, and vice versa.

But don’t just take our word for it. To learn more about what the Bible says on this hot (and sometimes downright steamy) topic, Look Inside.

Some might think the stories of the Bible are magical, made-up events with little connection to historical reality. But that’s not how the Bible presents itself.

It claims to be a true and trustworthy account of the way the world really is, who God really is, and how human beings can live full lives.

While fairy tales happen “once upon a time” in a vague neverland, the main characters of the Bible—Jesus, David, Moses, and Abraham (to name a few)—are real human beings who walked the earth. You can still visit the city of Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee today.

And the rulers found throughout the Bible are not just too-good-to-be-true “Prince Charmings.” You can read about Herod, Pilate, Cyrus the Great, and the Pharaohs of Egypt not only in the Bible but also in history texts. The Gospel of Luke begins the Christmas story by placing Jesus’s birth during the reign of Augustus Caesar of Rome and an obscure Syrian governor named Quirinius—whose name does indeed show up on ancient inscriptions.

Some parts of the Bible—like poetry and parables—are clearly not intended as historical, but its central story claims to be rooted in history. Unlike even the best fairy tales.

Why not join us and Look Inside for yourself?

Depends on your point of view.

Do you believe in miracles? Literally?

Those who don’t believe in miracles tend to interpret many Bible stories as fables and metaphors for life lessons rather than actual occurrences.

But if you do believe the Creator can still make supernatural things happen once in a while, then it won’t be so hard to accept biblical events like the parting of a sea, city walls spontaneously tumbling down, or water turning into wine.

Of course, some parts of the Bible are more artistic and less literal—for example, the poetic book of Psalms, the witty parable stories told by Jesus, and much of the vivid picture-language used by prophets in the Old Testament. And still other biblical authors seem to take great pains to describe what really happened.

The bottom line? The Bible invites everyone to read it — even if you have trouble buying some of the miracles. If an improbable event trips you up, try thinking about its deeper meaning.

Just keep an open mind as you Look Inside.

This is one of the most controversial and personal topics people are exploring right now. 

And we know many people have used the Bible to demonize and exclude others. To those who’ve felt excluded, we invite you to watch this apology.

Of the more than 31,000 verses in the Bible, fewer than 10 specifically reference homosexuality. We invite you to check them out in the links below. But instead of just reading individual verses and forming your ideas in isolation, we also suggest getting a bigger picture.

As you do this, you’re likely to find a wider sexual ethic running through the Bible: that God is a fan of sex and all that it brings. Because of this, we find protections and prescriptions for sexual expression in the Bible. In fact, the New Testament offers several lists of barred behaviors that can hurt our relationship with both God and others—and two of these lists include references to certain homosexual activities. But even these descriptions are accompanied by a deep awareness of the gracious invitation of God.

You can find the prohibitions against specific homosexual acts in Leviticus 18 and Leviticus 20, among the many laws given to the ancient Jewish people. And in the New Testament, Romans 1 paints a big picture of broken relationships running amok, with certain acts again singled out. Yet Romans 2 offers a larger picture—with a clear caution to people who judge others negatively.

As you explore homosexuality in the Bible, we offer this challenge: Try reading the passages with an open heart and mind. The Bible is for everyone. And that invitation stands regardless of sexual preference.

To learn even more about God’s compassion, grace, and love, Look Inside.

Sure, the Bible can be a bit yawn-worthy at times, but it has riveting adventures, too.

In a way, the Bible is a vast storeroom, containing thousands of years’ worth of information and experience. Different parts will strike different folks in different ways.

For example: Leviticus is sort of a rulebook, akin to a modern-day penal code. You might find it tedious—unless you’re a lawyer.

Exodus has specs for the exact weights and measures for building temples and altars. It’s really OCD—unless you’re an architect or engineer.

The Bible also contains many genealogies: lists of generation after generation, going back to the first-known human; so it can sometimes feel like unraveling a very confusing family tree. But some folks are into that.

Inevitably, some things in the Bible just won’t capture your fancy. But others might.

In fact, there are many stories in the Bible that are downright thrilling. The kind of dramas you’d binge-watch on weekends. Stories about sex, murder, betrayal, deception, and redemption. Like the one where a teenage boy slays a warrior twice his size. Or the one where a sea splits in two. Or the one where a queen is served the head of a foe upon a platter. Yeah. Stories that are rarely G-rated.

Interested in some of those stories? Look Inside.

If you have trouble understanding everything you read in the Bible, welcome to the club.

Some of the writing is mysterious, some of the ideas are incredibly deep, and some of the details are rooted in ways of an ancient world far different from our own. There are a lot of people who’ve been reading and studying the Bible their entire lives, and who still have their minds blown and thoughts scrambled by what it has to say.

And yet the Bible can just as often be crystal clear, personal, and relatable.

So here are a few tips that might lead to greater understanding.

First, get a modern translation. If the language is tripping you up, don’t fight through the old English of the King James Version when there are so many Bible translations available in today’s lingo.

Also, remember that the Bible comes from a different time, place, and culture. The details may seem strange to you, but try focusing on the people involved. Human passions and foibles haven’t changed too much over the centuries.

And don’t just look for “rules.” Try to see a story. The big picture. Many would say that all the individual stories of the Bible feed into one mega-story about God’s relationship with humanity. Look inside for yourself, and see if that makes sense to you.