I have been helping to financially support several family members for the past few years with cash gifts towards their food, clothing, medicine, auto repairs, household goods, vacation money and other expenses. During this time I have not tithed my 10% but have made small donations when attending church. I have been considering my financial support to family members as my tithe, keeping in mind that instead of my tithe going to a church organization for their distribution, I am giving it directly to those in need. Is this Biblically correct or is this not considered proper tithing?

Recently at a Bible study I attend, it was mentioned that the Ark of the Covenant was a very heavy object and that it required supernatural strength in order for the four men to carry it between them on the poles. I did some research online and have come up with calculated weights for it ranging from 188 lbs up to 4000 lbs, needless to say, that is quite a discrepancy. My question is, do you think that it actually was heavy enough that God had to provide the carriers with increased strength in order to transport it?

I have a question about the Court of the Gentiles and why the Gentiles would have gone into the Temple in the first place, especially if they weren’t regarded as being worthy of being accepted by God. I know animals were sold in the Court of the Gentiles and the Gentiles probably went to sell their animals to the Jewish people.

I have a question regarding the doctrines of eternal security and also the rapture. It seems very clear that these are biblical, but looking at what the early Church believed creates conflict for me. I know that the Bible is the final authority, but if Christians this soon after the cross believed in loss of salvation, works righteousness, etc. could we be wrong in your interpretation of God’s word? What’s also unnerving is just how many people are like that today. Some even say that OSAS and the rapture are only very modern ideas. What is the explanation for this?

I have been doing some study on Sin and I came across a verse from Psalm 32:2 “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity”. First of all I thought the psalmist was referring to Jesus Christ but then why does the word “man” not have a capital M. Who does the Lord spare from imputed iniquity? I thought we were all imputed with sin from Adam’s sin. Please help me here.

Concerning the meaning of Jesus words to Nicodemus in John 3:8 about the work of the Holy Spirit. ‘ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’ The NIV study notes (revised 2008) says this about this verse: The Holy Spirit is sovereign. He works as He pleases in His renewal of human hearts. I don’t know what to believe about this verse, what Jesus said or the explanation I read. Can you help?

Greetings in our savior’s name Yeshua. As you know, Yeshua is Hebrew and means salvation. Whereas “Jesus” in Hebrew means nothing. We all seem to accept that the word Jesus is right, because of tradition. And tradition voids the meaning of Our Saviour Yeshua. I can see a hand of the Devil here and he loves to have us use the wrong word in getting the message out. It merits consideration for us to share among other born again believers why we address Our Lord as Yeshua.

I’ve been immensely blessed by your site and hope that God gives you the grace to continue with his great work! This question has been troubling me for years and going through the internet has only confused me further. Could you please share your views on whether it is okay for a Christian to follow Homeopathic medical treatment?

In your answer entitled, “Are Joseph’s and Mary’s Lineage Incorrect?” you stated that there is no word for grandfather or father-in-law or mother-in-law in the Hebrew, but Matt 8:14 relates a story about Peter’s mother-in-law. How is this reconciled?

I screw up every day! What a surprise, huh? I feel bad and ask for forgiveness as soon as I mess up. I know the Lord forgives me, I just have a hard time forgiving myself! I never want to hurt my Father’s feelings, or cause Him shame, but sometimes I act before I think. Am I the only one who does this?