Tough question – I like dinner to be relaxing. If I was with someone famous, I’d be a bit nervous 😁. I have read plenty of fiction over the years, but mainly the classics. So, it would need to be someone like Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, George Elliot, Jane Austin , Anthony Trollope, or Emily Bronte. But I generally prefer non-fiction.
Over the years, the book that I’ve spent most time in, apart from the Bible, is Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. It would be fun to have dinner with the Apostle Paul. I have so many questions that I’d like to ask him, but I’ll be realistic and choose a living person. Wayne Grudem doesn’t have the authority of an Apostle, but great theologians and teachers point us to the Bible and provoke us to read and meditate on it.
I did meet Wayne Grudem in London in 2010. I think that I initially bought the book in 1995. Then, I found some lectures based on the book in 2006. I remember buying a DVD series of related lectures. And, I got the Olive Tree Bible app at one stage where you could purchase online versions of Christian books. You can click all the Bible references and have them pop up as you’re reading the book. So, I purchased his Systematic Theology on that.
And then, in recent years, I found the second edition of his book on Audible. With Audible, you often get the first month free or you might get a few months at an exceptionally low price. And when you unsubscribe, you can keep the book. I have bought other modern systematic theologies on Audible too. I do enjoy them all, but Grudem’s is still my default. Theologians do sometimes disagree and debate issues. That isn’t a problem for me. I’d hate to be in some silly cult, where you had to follow the leader’s view on everything 😁. I certainly don’t agree with Wayne Grudem on everything, but his book has been a great resource.
He has some other shorter and lighter books on Christian doctrine. But this one is quite easy to read or to listen to.
And we can have a meal with Jesus Himself quite regularly – at communion. We can come into God’s presence anytime. It doesn’t need to be at communion, but communion always feels particularly special, given that Jesus asked us to gather together and remember Him. And He did promise to be with us always. In heaven, it’ll feel much more tangible, but we can feel His presence even now.
Hibernia Gospel 