WHAT IF GOD WAS ONE OF US?

Is God some aloof being out there who moves us around like pieces on a chess board? Or, is God a loving being with whom we are able to have a personal relationship? Is God a Man or a Woman? Both? Who is God? If life is a journey and that journey is to move us towards God, how then are we to know who God is? Is not all of humanity on their quest for God striving to reach the same God, be we Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu or something altogether different?

One of my favorite songs of recent years is Joan Osborn's "One of Us". The song poses some very deep questions about God. The song puts the deity in human terms. "If God had a name, what would it be and would you call it to his face, if you were faced with him in all his glory? What would you ask if you had just one question? If God had face what would it look like? And would you want to see if seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints and all the prophets? What if God was one of usJust a slob like one of us, Just a stranger on the bus, Trying to make his way home"

Well, how do we answer those questions? Even those of us who profess a faith in God might be challenged to answer those questions. The imagery of those lyrics is staggering. Would we be so bold as to call God by name? The most striking image in the lyrics to me is that of being on the bus with God, being just like us, trying to make his way home. It doesn't get much more personal than that.

Here's my confession: I believe there is some truth in all the world's religions, although I profess to be a Christian. I believe that God is ultimately a loving and caring being who allows us the freedom to make our own choices. One of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard was by a United Methodist minister who once opened her prayer with "God our Father and our Mother..." That was deep. That was profound. It was at that very moment I began to see God in a new light. God is everything we need. God is a Mother, a Father, a Lover, a Friend. It's unfortunate that some groups view God as a hateful, evil dictator, for I believe this view robs humanity of peace. God is often used as a scapegoat to justify hatred. So, what if God was one of us? What would you ask if you had just one question? Would you want to see if seeing meant that you would have to believe?

YOU GIVE GOD A BAD NAME

There is a middle-aged man who stands on the street corner in the financial district of downtown Birmingham during lunch several days a week holding a sign that reads, simply, "Trust in God". He's done this for years. He's quiet, respectful and gentle. Motorists passing by will honk their horns at him as a symbol of their agreement with his message, smiling and waving at him as they go about their business.

In stark contrast to his methods, there is another group of "evangelists" who have arrived at this same corner over the last week or so to "spread the Word". They have come bearing signs, some indicating that "Jesus Is The Way" and, my personal favorite, a hand-drawn banner on a white bed sheet held up by two sticks, stating that "Marriage is between a man and woman, with a hand-drawn picture of two men holding hands with a circle and a line drawn through them. In addition to their message through their signs, they are also handing out Gospel tracts.

The first day I passed these "new" evangelists, I politely took one of their tracts. When I crossed the street, yet another young man offered me yet another tract, which I politely refused. I couldn't help thinking about the message they are sending and the message they came to promote. Was this what Jesus meant when he issued "The Great Commission", admonishing us to go into all nations, proclaiming and baptizing..." or did he have something more subtle in mind?

Here's my confession: I know I am preaching to the proverbial choir here. The people who need to be reading this probably never will. Were I not already a Christian, I doubt that these "evangelistic methods" would persuade me to become one. I wonder if they realize that while their hearts may be genuine and their motives pure, their tactics are quite possibly turning more people away from Christ than they are actually bringing to Him. They offer a fundamental, literal and sometimes brain-washed interpretation of the Gospel. Is guilting someone into repentance true conversion? We live in a society that has been damaged by this approach. We live in a society that often views organized religion as inherently flawed. Street corner evangelists screaming "REPENT AND BE SAVED!" aren't helping to change this perception. We also are fortunate to live in a country where we are free to express our opinions and religion. So, I ask, What Would Jesus Do?