“By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies.” (Hebrews 11:31)

Oh, I can hear it now. Arnold Jones, Trinity College 1938, accosts me at the door of the Chapel after the service. “Is it not enough that I come to the Chapel and am shocked by Jazz Music on All Saints, but also must listen to scripture about a whore.” Arnold, you have your point. It's shocking, in the midst of the Epistle for All Saints, to come across the name of one engaged in a most unsaintly profession -- Rahab the Harlot. How dare the writer of Hebrews? We've got young people present.

Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, yes. But Rahab? One can imagine “Rahab the Sunday School teacher,” or “Rahab the President of the United Methodist Women,” among the…