The Nature of God

             I recently saw the blockbuster hit, The Avengers. It was an incredible take on the superhero cohort of greats such as Captain America, Iron Man, and the Incredible Hulk. In the movie, Captain America is having a conversation about the demi-god Thor, and he exclaims, “there’s only one God, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that.” It got me thinking, what in the world might God wear?

            The idea of what might God wear on the surface may seem like a simplistic question that isn’t theological in anyway, but deep down below the surface the question asks what we believe is the nature of God. Who do we believe God is? What do we think the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of the world might look like? The idea of God is seen in people, places and things we have experienced. The very existence of God is proven to us through those situations we live out.

            But let me warn you, it is dangerous for us to picture God exactly like us, believing everything we believe and subscribing to everything we feel is the right way. The God who calls us to live for God is also the God who challenges us to live according to the Gospel. This Gospel we are called to live out is one that challenges us as well. For instance it would be wrong for us to picture God a certain nationality, race or even gender. God is bigger than all of that and we are called to live out a life that is full of that God.

            The God of all grace who establishes us and strengthens us is far more concerned with the love that abides through Christ, than God is about making God like us. If we’re more concerned with what God might wear, then we definitely are not part of what God is calling us to be. If we’re more concerned with what God might look like, then we’ve forgot the mission of the church.

            I’ve always found it fascinating to see the pictures of Jesus in churches I preach at. Jesus is simply and directly a white man, who looks American, and is clean cut even with his long hair. Jesus certainly doesn’t fit into the stereotypes we would want him to fit in, because Jesus was never part of the status quo.

            So this week, consider the nature of God, but always remember that God doesn’t fit into our box. God is amazingly better than any box we have. It is in that hope that we can say, “Thanks be to God.”