Why did God become a human being?

I recently joined a book club made up of retired Presbyterian clergy.  The first book I read with them was BLUE LIKE JAZZ by Donald Miller.   It's basically a slam against the institutional church and Christianity as a religion.  The author finds life outside the church in Christian spirituality.

The question, "why did God become human?" has been asked since day one.  Many theories have been offered in response -- most having to do with the idea of providing a substitute sacrifice to pay the penalty and satisfy God's anger over human sin.  Such theories, particularly the idea that God is bloodthirsty, have always left me cold.  (A quick read of history would reveal that it's humans who are bloodthirsty, but that's another "sermon".)  Miller tells a story (parable?) that resonates with my spirit.  The story was told by a folk singer whose friend was a Navy SEAL.  (page 33ff)

"The folksinger said his friend was performing a covert operation, freeing hostages from a building in some dark part of the world.  [The] team flew in by helicopter, made their way to the compound and stormed into the room where the hostages had been imprisoned for months.  The room ... was filthy and dark.  The hostages were curled up in a corner, terrified.  When the SEALs entered the room, they heard the gasps of the hostages.  They stood at the door and called to the prisoners, telling them they were Americans.  The SEALs asked the hostages to follow them, but the hostages wouldn't.  They sat there on the floor and hid their eyes in fear.  They were not of healthy mind and didn't believe their rescuers were really Americans.

The SEALs stood there, not knowing what to do.  They couldn't possibly carry everybody out. One of the SEALs got an idea.  He put down his weapon, took off his helmet, and curled up tightly next to the other hostages, getting so close his body was touching some of theirs.  He softened the look on his face and put his arms around them.  He was trying to show them he was one of them.  None of the prison guards would have done this.  He stayed there for a little while until some of the hostages started to look at him, finally meeting his eyes.  The Navy SEAL whispered that they were Americans and were there to rescue them.  Will you follow us? he said.  The hero stood to his feet and one of the hostages did the same, then another, until all of them were willing to go.  The story ends with all the hostages safe on an American aircraft carrier."

Religion, with all its rules and regulations, can suck the life out of people, the very life Jesus wants to give.  The story echoes a thought I once quoted in a sermon:  "God comes to us in Jesus who is the way.  We are like people who have fallen into a pit and in that fall have been injured.  Our legs and our arms are broken.  For anyone to lower a ladder into the pit and say, 'This is the only way out, climb it,' only adds to our desperation.  But if the ladder is lowered not for us to climb out, but for one to climb down and life our broken body into his arms, carrying us upwards and to safety -- that is good news indeed."

Is the story of the Navy SEAL just that, a story, or is it a reporting of an actual event?  Who knows?  Either way it's a great parable and points to a great truth.  As Jesus might say, "Let those who have ears, hear!"