Inspiration comes from a single word

The Rev. Mike Bullard wants the world to know that the Bible is kinder and more generous than many people believe. He says the book is not misogynistic or intolerant the way he interprets it. The Bible honors women and people of other faiths and Mike is spreading the word. And for Mike, the minister of Coeur d’Alene’s historic First Presbyterian Church, it all comes down to one word: greet.

“He’s saying you must greet. To me, that means acknowledge, receive others,” Mike says, his voice rising with excitement. “That’s what really got me excited.”

Bells started ringing in Mike’s ears after his eyes stopped on the word greet as he prepared a Sunday sermon a year ago. He was reading the last chapter of the Book of Romans, a letter from the Apostle Paul he’d read plenty of previous times. But this time, the letter had new meaning that inspired Mike to research avidly, then to write a book, “Imperative to Embrace.” It’s published by The Writers’ Collective in Cranston, R.I., a membership publishing organization.

“Those who have heard your sermons on this chapter, and those who get the privilege of reading this book will never read the ends of any of the New Testament epistles in the same way again,” New Testament scholar Dale Bruner, a former Whitworth College professor, wrote in his testimonial of Mike’s work.

If Mike’s Biblical interpretation seems a bit esoteric for the general population, he is happy to explain how it promotes peace far beyond the borders of Christianity. That concept is what he found so energizing as he reread Romans 16 with a new perspective.

“This letter is all about Christian believers accepting one another,” he says. “We need to learn to be tolerant of other Christians first, then learn to be tolerant of other beliefs.”

As Mike read Paul’s letter to Christians in Rome, he realized the words used were more meaningful than he had supposed. He pulled out his dictionary and discovered definitions that cast people in the letter in a different light.

“Traditional translators played down the role” of a Greek woman who was entrusted to carry a letter to Christians in Rome, he says. “Paul was considered a chauvinist. In reality, he gives her a strong endorsement. If she was entrusted with a letter, she was an incredible woman.”

Nothing moved Mike more, though, than his interpretation of the word greet. Mike says biblical scholars historically have snoozed through the chapter because it appears to be a dull list of names. But he interprets greet as Paul’s order to accept the Jews, Gentiles, Greeks, women, men, rich and poor in the list of names.

“It’s very important. God shows no partiality,” Mike says. “He’s trying to reconcile all Christians.”

That message is as important today as it was 2,000 years ago.

“There are so many different Christians in the world and they don’t know what they have in common,” Mike says. “There are 800,000 Christians in Baghdad. These people are sisters and brothers in Christ and we’re ignoring them. The world media doesn’t mention the Christians in the Middle East.”

As Mike interprets Romans 16, Paul is telling Christians to unite.

“He offers good instructions on how to be tolerant of another human being when you don’t share the same beliefs,” Mike says.

Mike didn’t plan to write a book. But his research was fascinating and he believes the world could benefit from his interpretation. The Bible is influential enough to cause wars. With Mike’s interpretation, maybe it could smooth the road toward peace.

“I’ve had neat correspondence with academic people,” Mike says, smiling. To earn his ordination, Mike was required to study scriptures in Greek and Hebrew. He even took a course in Aramaic, but admits he’s a bit rusty in the ancient language now.

His translation is not the first to raise the idea of a more magnanimous approach to the world’s people and their beliefs. It’s a thought that deserves repeating, he says.

“I’m convinced this will become the standard translation for this chapter,” he says.

If it just inspires conversations of tolerance, Mike has written a winner.