Every now and then I hear a so called secular song that so clearly and definitively speaks to human needs or theological realities that I just have to promote it. This week I heard a new song that really touched me because I think it represents a great example of how people who don't follow Jesus perceive us.
The song is called “Laughing With” by Regina Spektor. I don’t know much about this artist but she sounds like a cross between Michelle Branch and Jewell to me. But take a look at these lyrics:
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor
No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from the party yet
No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken
No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood
*Chorus*
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha
It’s a pretty interesting point. No one laughs at God when they face life’s most awful moments. But when things are fine He’s just a joke. This artist is saying that those of us who claim to know God the best are the one’s who make Him seem so funny to people who haven't decided to follow Jesus yet.
I see this song as the lyrical confirmation of the basic point in David Kinnamen and Gabe Lyons' book called “unchristian.” The research in that book basically makes the point that the reputation of the Church has sunk to new lows precisely because we have made Christianity about things that really don’t have anything to do with God’s story of redemption at all. It’s a great read and I’d encourage everyone to give it a look.
Here’s the thing, in spite of all our faults we do have a story to tell about Jesus’ ongoing work on this earth. When Jesus decided it was time to reach out to a town in Samaria He didn’t just go to that town, identify the strategic leaders and give them the good news. Instead, He waited outside the city for a woman who was too ashamed to come to the well when everyone else was there. She got to hear first and then she delivered the message to the town.
He’s doing that with us now, all over the world.
When the people around you are dealing with life’s worst days will the God they see in you tell them how He loves them? Will they know that God is closest in these terrifying moments? Or will they first think they need to change their party affiliation, their taste in clothes, their language or their friends before they can talk to our God?
It actually is funny how God works in this world. He uses imperfect us . . . somehow.
You can learn more about unchristian here: http://www.unchristian.com/default.asp
If you'd like to watch the video of this song it is available on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rov3pV9PsRI
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