By Jim Nichols

There are words that we commonly use that are in the “squishy” category. That is, we use them in such diverse ways that, I suspect, we might have difficulty in defining them. One such word or concept is “inspiration” or “inspired.” Whereas one might think this should be a word with religious connections, we often use it in secular ways, for example, an inspired piece of music or athletic performance.

Many of us would answer in the affirmative if asked, “Is the Bible inspired.” We would have more difficulty in explaining any details to that belief or what that means in application to our lives. We would certainly contend that God is responsible for inspiration, including the Bible. There are questions, however. Is there a limit on inspiration from God? Who gets it and when it appears how do they act because of that inspiration? Can one person pass inspiration to another?

Frequently, someone will say or write something that we may not necessarily believe, but it causes us to seriously contemplate it. A friend, faced with that situation, would often say, “Why, that’s almost Bible.”

The following are another few that I have collected recently.

1. “The seed never sees the flower.” This is writer Joan Chittister quoting an unknown Zen master. The context was how to deal with impatience, particularly impatience with the church. Many of us have serious ambivalence with the church; on one hand, we understand its importance and believe God has established it for good and for love. On the other hand, we recognize its awful history of oppression, greed, and abuse of power. We long for God to direct us clearly to positive paths and to inspire followers to act in love, compassion, and sharing. However, if that is occurring, it seems to be at a glacial pace. This statement is an encouragement to remember that many positive outcomes began with almost invisible beginnings that eventually came to fruition. That does not necessarily make it more palatable to us, however.

2. “Anything considered above criticism will soon become demonic.” Author Richard Rohr makes a broad and truthful statement that we easily forget. It could pertain to the church as I mentioned above, but also addresses other institutions, corporations, nation-states, and political leaders. We must be highly cautious about lending our full allegiance to any direction except God.

3. “It is tempting to say that what you do with your time is your business. The Christian position is that there is no such thing as your own business.” Here Frederick Buechner has put his finger on what many people would suggest is an un-American idea. We are independent. I can make my own decisions. Mind your own business and I will mind mine. Friends, this is selfishness. It is not God’s will. Without even addressing the church-at-large community, we are all in human community and what is your business is also my business and vice versa. What we do or do not affects each of us in reciprocal fashion. The autonomy of a person is important, but there are clearly times when autonomy must bow to the collective good.

4. “God provides minimum protection, maximum support.” This is a statement in a sermon from William Sloan Coffin following the death of his 24-year-old son in an automobile accident. Some statements are easy to dismiss; others just sit there and bother me because I want to believe them but struggle to do so. It builds on the truth that we are not alone; we have support from God and friends. As we watch hurricanes and wars abound, it is important to note how survivors admit that they have lost much physically, but that they have banded together with others to continue to move in a positive direction. As followers of God, our desire is that God would protect us from harm. It becomes clear in life that this is not going to occur. What is going to occur is that God, in various forms, will continue to support us.

Probably you too have a real or mental list of phrases such as these. They may speak only to you and not someone else; or they may say something different to someone else. Nevertheless, they are one way that the Holy Spirit continues to enlighten us. They are “almost Bible.”

Jim Nichols is a retired Abilene Christian University biology professor and current hospital chaplain