Although
when we say the scriptures of the ancients misrepresent him, are we not doing
exACTly what they did and creating a God that fits the image of what we expect
of him?
Looking at what God does not do would also
reveal some details about God (which is not same as carving “an image of what
we expect of Him”). For example, He is the recipient of our worship, says the
scripture which is obviously written by humans who are known to put their own
thoughts into the mouth of characters. For example, Jesus did not say what is
said in John 3:13 where he supposedly said: “he has ascended into heaven” which
he did after 3 years. If he has not said John 3:13, what about the famous verse
in John 3:16? This shows scripture writers were putting their own thoughts as
though dictated by God, hence we find too many human thoughts in the
scriptures.
That means God is for receiving our
worship is a human concept. But the fact is that He is the giver of worship (not recipient of worship). For example, when
a child is born, or when a child grows and accomplishes something parents say
(outwardly or inwardly): “Look at him, he is our child.” By saying this parents
unwittingly take credit (as though being worshiped) for something which came
into existence without them doing any programming. Truth is that parents were
only seeking sexual pleasure from each other, and in the process a child came
into existence.
Yet, Bible is like a forest where you
find both wild animals and mild animals, sweet waters and muddy waters.
Similarly, in the Bible too some truths have crept into by chance. For example,
Mathew 5:44-48. A careful and impartial reading of those verses show that God,
like sun, does not receive anything, but only gives; and He neither wants nor
receives worship, but wants us to become worship-worthy by being a giver with
no expectation from others.
When I tried that it made me happier
than that is in receiving. This is in contrast to what the world understands to
be love. For example, we have heard the proverb: “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” And most people would agree
with it. But deep down that reveals a commercial attitude! That is not
friendship; that is not love. You want to use the other as a means. But the truth is that no man is
a means, every man is an end unto himself. One need not be worried about who is
a real friend?
The real question has to be: “Am I friendly to people?” Friendship is the
highest form of love.
In love, idea of getting something from
the other does not exist, and a question of using the other does not arise. You
have too much and you would like to share. And whosoever is ready to share your
joy with you, your dance, your song, you will be grateful to him, you will feel
obliged. Not that he is obliged to you, not that he should feel thankful to you
because you have given so much to him. A friend never thinks in that way. A
friend always feels grateful to those people who allow him to love them, to
give them whatsoever he has got. Similarly, God feels thankful to us because His love has meaning only because we
are there as recipients.
Making friendships with the idea of
using people is taking a wrong step from the very beginning. Friendship has to
be a sharing. If you have something share it and whosoever is ready to share
with you is a friend. It is not a question that when you are in danger the
friend has to come to your aid. If he comes you are grateful, but if he does
not come, it's perfectly okay and he doesn’t automatically cease to be a friend.
It is his decision to come or not to come.
You will not say to him, `When I was in
need you didn't turn up what kind of friend are you?' Friendship is
absolutely human. It has something for which there is no inbuilt mechanism in
your biology; it is non-biological. Hence one rises in friendship; one does not
fall in friendship. It has a spiritual dimension—something we gleaned from look
at the way God acts.
No wonder, in some ancient languages,
worship literally means egolessness, living in the now … etc. which means
worshipfully engaging in whatever you do with 100% involvement. Those who have
done this do not feel time passing as though living in heaven (compare Luke 17:21)
