God - Like A Complete Unknown

Last month, Bob Dylan ran into a little trouble at the Jersey Shore while wandering the streets of Long Branch.  Looking at a house for sale, poor Bob was unrecognized by a neighbor who called the police to report him.  The officer at the scene had difficulty believing it was Dylan, not so much because of his appearance, but because it just seemed so improbable that Bob Dylan would be wandering that neighborhood.

Our lack of recognition is not limited to wandering music legends. We humans do this all the time with God.  Although some compassionate action or truthful idea may appear God-like, there is always some watchdog to “call it in” with the authorities.  There is always someone who says, “God would never act through those people” or “that religion.”  When God does something new or interesting in the world, religious people are always the first to correct belief, label heresy or enforce orthodoxy, before even considering that God might be up to something new.  They always have a proof-text or denominational policy handy, like a cell phone to “call it in.”  Too often, they just smother some new thing God is doing.

Ironically, Christianity is based on a God who was not recognized.  He came to his own and his own knew him not.  How’s that for a proof text?  We fail to recognize and acknowledge God in the world, not because we don't know what he looks like, but he keeps showing up in places he's not supposed to.

It reminds me of a song recently recorded by Kate Campbell, “Would They Love Him Down in Shreveport Today?”

 

If they saw Him riding in, long hair flying in the wind,

Would they love Him down in Shreveport today?

If they heard He was a Jew and a Palestinian too,

Would they love Him down in Nashville today?

 

If they saw Him talk with ease

To the junkies, whores, and thieves,

Would they love Him out in Wichita today?

Would the rich men think it funny

If He said give up your money?

Would they love Him up on Wall Street today?

 

If He made the wine from water,

Gave it to their sons and daughters,

What would the folks in Salt Lake City say?

If He talked of brotherhood

As He walked their neighborhoods,

Would they love Him up in Boston today?

 

Oh, If He said love those who use you,

And forgive those who abuse you,

If He turned the other cheek, what would you say?

Would you laugh and call Him crazy,

And just send Him on his way,

If He walked right into your town today?

 

Would you laugh and call Him crazy,

And just send Him on his way,

If He walked right into your town today?

Most Christians have no problem recognizing God showing up in junkies and hookers anymore.  But what about gays, lesbians and Muslims?  What about churches that don't look like "regular" churches?  What about atheists?  Ever see God in any of them?

Has God ever wandered your neighborhood, as a complete unknown, unrecognized?  Have you ever been guilty of not recogizing God’s new activity and “calling it in”?  Have you ever had it done to you?

Comments

[Jeff]

great blog! i didn't hear that about dylan. amazing.

[Don Heatley]

Thanks Jeff. Since it was the Jersey Shore, maybe he should have identified himself as Bruce's main inspiration ;-)

[Carol]

If I saw him in that condition I would not him either I don't blame the neighbor at all because he looks like a typical bumb.
Besides you would thnk he would a lot of people around him for some kind of pertection.

I think it was very good of neighbor because if I were them I would feel much more comfortable and safe living near this person pertecting me and all of neighbors.

[Carol]

I left a word out on what I said:

I would not know him either sometimes my fingers don't do the what my brain wants to write down.

[Louis Dandrea]

What strikes me in your premise, is that within it, there is a little bit of bias all its own. Its not the label..gay, junkie, straight, or even the red-neck , the religious or the non-believer, thats in the town He maybe walking through that will tell us where He is..Its the actions and the attitudes of His children, that will show us where He lives.