If someone had just been honest with me and presented the Bible to me the way you have I feel like I would have been so much better off from the start. That, and I KNOW I would be openly bi already. I read a Substack note from someone else on the subject of sin that rubbed me the wrong way because of the things I've been learning from you here. Not sure I'll stay subbed to that individual much longer. I'll save that judgement for his next post. Thank you for always being willing to share what you learned on this journey, especially the parts that have been hard for me to hear. It's really helped me take a hard look at my own faith and allowed me to ask 'do I really believe this, or do I just believe it because I've been told I should?' You have helped me so much to make my faith more honest. More real. More MINE. Thank you.
"That space between “what it says” and “what I assumed it meant”?"
That's a big one, Brother, just immense. If more people would be willing to accept that there might be even a smidge of a gap there, I think the world's humility level would increase exponentially.
Thanks again Joe, despite reading the Bible cover to cover at least twice (I was young and thought it a spiritual discipline) and spending 5 years on and off studying Applied Theology I'm still grateful for anyone who can help me understand the ancient text. You have really helped by highlighting context, it is everything where ancient texts are concerned. Oh, and luck I suppose, we end up with the ancient texts that survived being burnt, lost, eaten by insects(or goats), buried, deliberately destroyed, being declared heresy or swept away in a flood.
I used to feel secure believing that the Bible was clear to understand but that most people weren't willing to follow it. Now I find it more reassuring to know that I don't have it all figured out and that there is so much mystery and relearn and unlearning to pursue.
So helpful as always! I haven’t been commenting lately, but I have still been reading your posts, learning so much, and forwarding them to friends and family. Thank you, thank you❤️
I recall a group say just before the past Nov election that how can people trade their eternity in heaven if they believe that abortion is OK ! ( I took it to mean, as by voteing the wrong way your giving up heaven ) . I thought then , how does the Bible influence people in such extreme beliefs , including me which objected strongly to that opinion. This can often cause Self Righteous demeanors ( translated into "R" and "D" lables ) . Reminds me of the decaids long scandel with Catholic Priest and young boyes. It was always so confusing why there were so many church denominations using the same book and pointing fingers at each other as if they need to "re learn" their Christianity..... "It says that in the Bible" reply to what ever topic is being discussed. Sorry if thats abrasive. Just my experience.
It's my experience often as well, Scott. Like I've said before, I think we make the Bible say what we want it to much more than trying to figure out what it really meant to those who first wrote or read it.
Agreed it is not easy. The problem is literal interpretation. The exoteric teachings will always be filled with contradiction. There is an esoteric symbolic layer that is actually more functional. Expands the mind and frees the soul.
I've gone to a few Bible studies in my life but usually leave feeling like I just didn't get it. Thank u for validating my thoughts and feelings about this. Maybe now I can read it without the pressure of feeling inadequate in my understanding.
Excellent piece, Joe. Thanks. Understanding what the Bible truly says is enormously difficult. Almost impossible for one non-scholarly believer. But what I keep thinking is that even if you can understand the true meaning of a particular passage or book, you’re still left with the question of how do you apply that concept to your life today — in today’s culture. I don’t really see many believers who have cut off a hand because it made them sin. And not many believers in 2025 sell all that they own and give it to the poor. But we’re (mostly) all taught to give 10% of our income to the church. More deconstruction needed, I guess.
The Bible isn’t your mood board. It’s a multi-author cosmic fever dream stitched together with empire, exile, ecstasy, and enough poetic rage to fuel a thousand prophets.
You’re not just “reading it.” You’re dragging your VeggieTales hangover through a library of ancient texts that predates plumbing and presupposes apocalypse.
You want clarity? Learn some Aramaic. Then unlearn everything empire taught you about who's blessed and who gets smited.
Sacred doesn’t mean simple. Some of the holiest things are messy as hell—like childbirth, or therapy, or that one psalm that screams depression while your uncle uses it to pump up his fantasy football team.
So read slowly. Question wildly.
And for the love of whatever still burns in the bush, stop quoting Jeremiah 29:11 like it’s your Hogwarts house.
Hearing someone use my name that way feels like getting ice water dumped on me. My true friends are considerate enough to not use my name as an insult.
Thanks Joe. What resonated for me was “When I read the Bible now, I assume the gap between me and the text is enormous”. Just the willingness to have that perspective alone fosters respect for the Bible and motivates curiosity. Then the work can begin!
This feels like another example of failure of the church to admit there are more questions than answers and to encourage curiosity and questioning. I feel frustrated by the churches I have tried so hard to fit in, only to fail to fit in because there was no room for dialogue. Of course that is not what institutions do. It would create an unstable structure!
It’s a series of ancient documents written thousands of years ago by different authors, different languages, and different cultures.
But that still doesn’t take away the fact that it’s all make-believe.
Evangelicals will argue that their understanding of the Bible is directed to them by God. In other words, they read the words and God assign a proper meaning to them in their minds. I can’t argue with that no matter how misguided I think they are.
If someone had just been honest with me and presented the Bible to me the way you have I feel like I would have been so much better off from the start. That, and I KNOW I would be openly bi already. I read a Substack note from someone else on the subject of sin that rubbed me the wrong way because of the things I've been learning from you here. Not sure I'll stay subbed to that individual much longer. I'll save that judgement for his next post. Thank you for always being willing to share what you learned on this journey, especially the parts that have been hard for me to hear. It's really helped me take a hard look at my own faith and allowed me to ask 'do I really believe this, or do I just believe it because I've been told I should?' You have helped me so much to make my faith more honest. More real. More MINE. Thank you.
That's a huge compliment, Tara. Thank you.
"That space between “what it says” and “what I assumed it meant”?"
That's a big one, Brother, just immense. If more people would be willing to accept that there might be even a smidge of a gap there, I think the world's humility level would increase exponentially.
For sure.
Thanks again Joe, despite reading the Bible cover to cover at least twice (I was young and thought it a spiritual discipline) and spending 5 years on and off studying Applied Theology I'm still grateful for anyone who can help me understand the ancient text. You have really helped by highlighting context, it is everything where ancient texts are concerned. Oh, and luck I suppose, we end up with the ancient texts that survived being burnt, lost, eaten by insects(or goats), buried, deliberately destroyed, being declared heresy or swept away in a flood.
Damn goats.
"And that gap? That space between “what it says” and “what I assumed it meant”?
That’s where the sacred work begins.
That’s where deconstruction lives.
And that’s where you can rebuild from."
YES. THIS. That is how to read and study and discuss the Bible.
:)
That's validating. Thank you.
You're welcome :)
I used to feel secure believing that the Bible was clear to understand but that most people weren't willing to follow it. Now I find it more reassuring to know that I don't have it all figured out and that there is so much mystery and relearn and unlearning to pursue.
It is interesting the freedom that can come once we acknowledge what we don't know.
It is, kind of paradoxical, but that actually reflects some of Jesus teaching…die to be reborn, give up self to find self.
So helpful as always! I haven’t been commenting lately, but I have still been reading your posts, learning so much, and forwarding them to friends and family. Thank you, thank you❤️
Thank you!
I recall a group say just before the past Nov election that how can people trade their eternity in heaven if they believe that abortion is OK ! ( I took it to mean, as by voteing the wrong way your giving up heaven ) . I thought then , how does the Bible influence people in such extreme beliefs , including me which objected strongly to that opinion. This can often cause Self Righteous demeanors ( translated into "R" and "D" lables ) . Reminds me of the decaids long scandel with Catholic Priest and young boyes. It was always so confusing why there were so many church denominations using the same book and pointing fingers at each other as if they need to "re learn" their Christianity..... "It says that in the Bible" reply to what ever topic is being discussed. Sorry if thats abrasive. Just my experience.
It's my experience often as well, Scott. Like I've said before, I think we make the Bible say what we want it to much more than trying to figure out what it really meant to those who first wrote or read it.
Agreed it is not easy. The problem is literal interpretation. The exoteric teachings will always be filled with contradiction. There is an esoteric symbolic layer that is actually more functional. Expands the mind and frees the soul.
I've gone to a few Bible studies in my life but usually leave feeling like I just didn't get it. Thank u for validating my thoughts and feelings about this. Maybe now I can read it without the pressure of feeling inadequate in my understanding.
The most educated Bible scholars I know admit that they don't know more than they do about a lot of it. :)
100%
:)
Excellent piece, Joe. Thanks. Understanding what the Bible truly says is enormously difficult. Almost impossible for one non-scholarly believer. But what I keep thinking is that even if you can understand the true meaning of a particular passage or book, you’re still left with the question of how do you apply that concept to your life today — in today’s culture. I don’t really see many believers who have cut off a hand because it made them sin. And not many believers in 2025 sell all that they own and give it to the poor. But we’re (mostly) all taught to give 10% of our income to the church. More deconstruction needed, I guess.
Amen and ahem.
The Bible isn’t your mood board. It’s a multi-author cosmic fever dream stitched together with empire, exile, ecstasy, and enough poetic rage to fuel a thousand prophets.
You’re not just “reading it.” You’re dragging your VeggieTales hangover through a library of ancient texts that predates plumbing and presupposes apocalypse.
You want clarity? Learn some Aramaic. Then unlearn everything empire taught you about who's blessed and who gets smited.
Sacred doesn’t mean simple. Some of the holiest things are messy as hell—like childbirth, or therapy, or that one psalm that screams depression while your uncle uses it to pump up his fantasy football team.
So read slowly. Question wildly.
And for the love of whatever still burns in the bush, stop quoting Jeremiah 29:11 like it’s your Hogwarts house.
Ahem, Constantinoropolous, anti-Christian Nationalist Karen here, who has no pretensions of Bible interpretation, but thanks for the humble pie.
Hearing someone use my name that way feels like getting ice water dumped on me. My true friends are considerate enough to not use my name as an insult.
Noted and corrected.
It wasn’t aimed at you, and I see now that it landed in a way I didn’t intend. That’s on me. I should’ve been more precise with my language.
Appreciate the call-in. No sarcasm. Just respect.
Thanks Joe. What resonated for me was “When I read the Bible now, I assume the gap between me and the text is enormous”. Just the willingness to have that perspective alone fosters respect for the Bible and motivates curiosity. Then the work can begin!
This feels like another example of failure of the church to admit there are more questions than answers and to encourage curiosity and questioning. I feel frustrated by the churches I have tried so hard to fit in, only to fail to fit in because there was no room for dialogue. Of course that is not what institutions do. It would create an unstable structure!
That's a good point. And knowing many church leaders, most don't see this so clearly. They feel it should be self-evident and want it to be.
It’s a series of ancient documents written thousands of years ago by different authors, different languages, and different cultures.
But that still doesn’t take away the fact that it’s all make-believe.
Evangelicals will argue that their understanding of the Bible is directed to them by God. In other words, they read the words and God assign a proper meaning to them in their minds. I can’t argue with that no matter how misguided I think they are.