While doing sermon prep work this morning at our favorite local coffeeshop, NPH was politely interrupted by a gentleman at the next table who had been eyeing the loveable blogger's Bible and Minor Prophets commentary for some time. "Excuse me," he said, "I don't mean to be rude, but can I ask you something?"We braced ourself and said a smiley, "Sure."
"Do you think that the world, in the 21st century, would be better off without the Old Testament?"
Thinking ourselves to be faced with the ghost of Marcion, we covered our discomfort with a chuckle before answering, "No." He stared blankly back for a moment, and then, thinking the conversation over, made to get up and leave. So we added, "I think the Old Testament read rightly has some remarkable things to say about God's purposes for the world, purposes for healing and salvation and peace."
That seemed to be the ticket. He took up our response into a larger reflection on the many ways in which people mis-read the Old Testament. We carried on for a minute or two more before he promptly said "Thank you" and left.
He's somebody that NPH has seen at this coffeeshop multiple times over a span of several years, but has never, before today, spoken to. What were we waiting for? He seems a delightful guy.
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