Strange God: A prayer

Strange God,

You have surprised us in coming to us in this man Jesus.

We didn’t expect a saviour like you

“with no beauty that we should desire him”

Nor a God like you—born from that woman Mary

And then slain for us on that Roman cross.

Strange God-man, you surprised us with your words and deeds—

You surprise us still with the astonishing ways of your kingdom

Strange God, who must be behind a peculiar people like us Christians—we pray.

Keep us interesting.

We, like your first disciples so often stray into

Our group versus theirs.

Our boring prejudices

Our tedious slogans

Our tiresome selves

Strange God, you who are much more interesting than we are—make us more interesting than that.

May your kingdom grow within and amongst us

That we may be

Strange and surprising like you.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen.