--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you have closed the Bible, you have…" description: "\"When you have closed the Bible, you have neither closed God's mind nor shut God's mouth. God continues to speak, live and exist. I think we should cons..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/michael-eric-dyson-1424_believe_when-you-have-closed-the-bible-you-have_2994051.jpg" --- # When you have closed the Bible, you have neither closed… ![“When you have closed the Bible, you have neither closed God's mind nor shut God's mouth. God continues to speak, live and exist. I think we should consult the living God for the living word for living people dealing with death, destruction and despair in the midst of our hurt humanity. I believe…” quote by Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/michael-eric-dyson-1424_believe_when-you-have-closed-the-bible-you-have_2994051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/michael-eric-dyson-1424_believe_when-you-have-closed-the-bible-you-have_2994051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/michael-eric-dyson-1424_believe_when-you-have-closed-the-bible-you-have_2994051.jpg) > “When you have closed the Bible, you have neither closed God's mind nor shut God's mouth. God continues to speak, live and exist. I think we should consult the living God for the living word for living people dealing with death, destruction and despair in the midst of our hurt humanity. I believe love will conquer all.” [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The divine message persists beyond written texts; spiritual guidance is alive and relevant to human suffering and hope. **In simple terms:** God’s voice continues beyond the Bible, offering hope in hardship. Key Takeaway Seek living guidance, not just written words. Themes faith hope resilience love humanity Mood reflective hopeful determined Type inspirational theological When to use this quote - grief counseling - war zones - pandemic response - personal crisis - community rebuilding Key Concepts theology spirituality existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern divine guidance today? - What role does love play in overcoming despair? A Different Perspective Relying solely on texts may neglect personal experience and diverse interpretations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Dealing with death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dealing-with-death/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Don't say God is silent when your Bible is closed. Open it and read it. God will speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cappa/don-t-say-god-is-silent-when-your-bible-is-closed-open-it-and-read-it/) Adam Cappa > [“We have no idea how busy God's hands are even when His mouth seems closed. Where God is concerned, silence never equals slumber.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/we-have-no-idea-how-busy-god-s-hands-are-even-when-his-mouth-seems-2/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [“We have no idea how busy God's hands are even when His mouth seems closed. Where God is concerned, silence never equals slumber. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/we-have-no-idea-how-busy-god-s-hands-are-even-when-his-mouth-seems/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [“What is such a believer, whose very life depends upon the daily bread of the living Word of God, supposed to do when God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mason/what-is-such-a-believer-whose-very-life-depends-upon-the-daily-bread/) [Mike Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mason/) > [It just so happens that my father spoke through his music, so his voice and his music are one and the same. It's his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedella-marley/it-just-so-happens-that-my-father-spoke-through-his-music-so-his/) [Cedella Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedella-marley/) > [Everything the human being heard from the beginning, saw with its eyes, looked upon and touched with its hands was a living word; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/everything-the-human-being-heard-from-the-beginning-saw-with-its-eyes/) [Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/) > [“People come to church seeking a living word from the living Lord, not a commentary on life from another Garrison Keillor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schnasa-jacobsen/people-come-to-church-seeking-a-living-word-from-the-living-lord-not/) [David Schnasa Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schnasa-jacobsen/) > [I believe that the preaching of the living word of God is something that Africa hungers for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-believe-that-the-preaching-of-the-living-word-of-god-is-something/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [The living Word is able to destroy Satanic forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smith-wigglesworth/the-living-word-is-able-to-destroy-satanic-forces/) [Smith Wigglesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smith-wigglesworth/) > [I'm interested in the way our world is defined by language, the living word. How restrained we are by the concept of language, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-penkov/i-m-interested-in-the-way-our-world-is-defined-by-language-the-living/) [Miroslav Penkov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-penkov/) > [“Third Sunday in Advent, December 17 THE WORD AMONG US: Living the Word And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” —Luke 1:46 (RSV)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/third-sunday-in-advent-december-17-the-word-among-us-living-the-word/) Guideposts > [“That’s why the Bible is called the Living Word. Fresh revelation comes with each reading, because the Holy Spirit gives you understanding when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-c-castillo/that-s-why-the-bible-is-called-the-living-word-fresh-revelation-comes/) Angela C. Castillo > [The wonderful living Word of God is more precious than anything else that we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/the-wonderful-living-word-of-god-is-more-precious-than-anything-else/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-living-word-awakened-my-soul-gave-it-light-hope-joy-set-it-free/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How ## More by Michael Eric Dyson > [Jeremiah Wright is one of the greatest prophetic preachers that black America has produced. What I find striking is that many white brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/jeremiah-wright-is-one-of-the-greatest-prophetic-preachers-that-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I went to school four years later than most people because I was a teen father, hustled on the streets, worked, lived on welfare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-went-to-school-four-years-later-than-most-people-because-i-was-a/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [It is true that race is a social fiction, a myth perpetuated by a variety of peoples throughout the modern period, especially, to further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/it-is-true-that-race-is-a-social-fiction-a-myth-perpetuated-by-a/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [ I've written a lot of other books and this book \[Tears we cannot stop\] was different. 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Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I believe in a God of a second chance and a God of love and mercy, because I need so much more of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-believe-in-a-god-of-a-second-chance-and-a-god-of-love-and-mercy/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed levees and exploded the conventional wisdom about a shared American prosperity, exposing a group of people so poor they didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/hurricane-katrina-overwhelmed-levees-and-exploded-the-conventional/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I was very struck when Min. Farrakhan said if Jesus and Muhammad were here today, they'd be embracing each other. That's a tremendous message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-was-very-struck-when-min-farrakhan-said-if-jesus-and-muhammad-were/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“O! save us, we pray thee, thou God of Heaven and of earth, from the devouring hands of the white Christians!!! . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/o-save-us-we-pray-thee-thou-god-of-heaven-and-of-earth-from-the/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [We can't exempt ourselves from the same moral calculus that we are willing to apply to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/we-can-t-exempt-ourselves-from-the-same-moral-calculus-that-we-are/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [New Orleans invented the brown paper bag party - usually at a gathering in a home - where anyone darker than the bag attached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/new-orleans-invented-the-brown-paper-bag-party-usually-at-a-gathering/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“Whiteness is an advantage and privilege because you have made it so, not because the universe demands it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/whiteness-is-an-advantage-and-privilege-because-you-have-made-it-so/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I'm just challenging white supremacy at its intellectual heart every day. It's a pedagogy that I deploy against some of the most vicious resistance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-m-just-challenging-white-supremacy-at-its-intellectual-heart-every/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) [Explore all 242 Michael Eric Dyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you have closed the Bible, you have neither closed God's mind nor shut God's mouth. God continues to speak, live and exist. I think we should consult the living God for the living word for living people dealing with death, destruction and despair in the midst of our hurt humanity. 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