Discovering God


Br. Martin

 

Extract from the ‘The Four O’Çlock Talks’ Discussions with John Martin Sahajananda

compiled by Carrie Lock–  Page 89 - 90  

 

When Christ spoke about God he wasn’t speaking so much about the historical God, he was speaking about the eternal God. Christ said, ‘The truth will set you free’ (John 9:32). What type of truth will set us free? Historical truth will not set us free because historical truth takes away our will and intellect and creates a God of authority. But eternal truth makes us free because eternal truth gives back our will and intellect. Where is the freedom in Consciousness? If a person doesn’t have will and intellect, can we say this person is free? No, because this person cannot think or will for himself. He wills what other people tell him to will, he thinks what other people tell him to think. This person has no life, because life is freedom. Christ said, ‘For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself’(John 5:27). ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’(John 10:10). Christ was not just referring to a physical life, but to the eternal life.

            Christ was not bound by religion; he was not bound by the God of history, because he was in touch with the God of eternity. Christ said, ‘You have heard that it was said… But I tell you…(Matt.5).The God of eternity is one who gives freedom, and this is very important to keep in our mind, because otherwise, we present a God of history, and this God becomes an authority who controls people. People have tremendous difficulties with this image of God as an authority and that is why atheists want to deny this god of authority, because this god is against human freedom. The so-called atheists who deny God are more concerned with the God of history, but by denying the God of history, they are also closing the door on the God of eternity.

            We need to understand what type of God Christ presented to the world. Christ did not present the God of history, the God who demands the obedience, will and intellect of human beings. Christ presented the God of eternity who gives back freedom so that human beings are no longer creatures of God; they become Sons and Daughters of God. To be a Son or Daughter of God means to have will and intellect in conformity with the Divine. This is not a type of licentiousness but rather a tremendous responsibility.

 

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