WS-II - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Obedience and Sacrifice Call and Mission When Saint Paul was struck by spiritual lightning on the road to Damascus, he experienced the demanding presence of God deep in his soul. This was not simply a conversion to the new Christian faith.

More than that, Paul received a mission to preach Christ to the Gentiles. That sense of mission burned in his heart and motivated him to strive for the rest of his life to plant churches throughout the Greco-Roman world.

Thenceforth he devoted himself as a “living sacrifice” in obedience to God’s call.

Throughout history, God has commissioned saints and righteous people like Paul to be His instruments.

God needs people of faith who will take up various missions and fulfill them in His name. The prophets of Israel, the disciples of Jesus, the Companions of Muhammad and countless believers ever since have answered the call to mission. Obedient to their calling, their lives have been challenging and difficult. Yet because they cherished that divine purpose in their hearts and felt a strong sense of responsibility to fulfill it, they persevered.

1. God’s Call and Our Sense of Mission Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”

Genesis 12.1

Believers, be God’s helpers. When Jesus the son of Mary said to the disciples, “Who will help me on the way to God?” they replied, “We are God’s helpers.”

Qur’an 61.14

I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the peoples, a light to the nations, To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Isaiah 42.6-7

Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is

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praying… for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

So Ananias departed and entered the house.

And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized.

I, an idle bard, by Thee am a task assigned: In primal time I was commanded night and day to praise Thee.

The bard was summoned by the Master to the Eternal Mansion, and honored with the robe of divine laudation and praise.

On the holy Name ambrosial he was feasted.

As by the Master’s guidance on this he has feasted, has felt blessed, the bard has spread and proclaimed divine praise by the holy Word.

Acts 9.3-18

Adi Granth, Var Majh, M.1, p. 150 (Sikhism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon God’s plan is to call good individuals out of the sinful world and have them… accomplish His work. Thus did God call Abraham out of the sinful world to be the standard-bearer of goodness and blessed him with descendants who would uphold the Will of God. (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Parallels 7.1) God’s providence of salvation—a work of re-creation—cannot be completed in an instant. It begins from one point and gradually expands to cover the whole. Therefore, in the providence of salvation, God first predestines one person to be the central figure and then calls him to a mission…

God, being omniscient, foreknows who has the qualifications necessary to become a central figure in the providence of restoration. God predestines those whom He foreknows; then He calls upon him to fulfill the purpose of the providence. Calling the person is God’s responsibility, but that alone does not entitle the person to be justified before God and given glory. Only when the person completes his responsibility after being called by God is he justified and then glorified. (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Predestination 3-4) Fallen people’s spiritual sensibility is extremely dull. Hence, they generally tend to adhere strictly to the letter of the truth in their efforts to follow God’s providence. Such people cannot readily adjust themselves to the dispensation of the new age, even though the providence of restoration is moving toward it. They are generally too strongly attached to the outdated perspective provided by the doctrines of the old age. This is well illustrated by the case of the Jewish people of Jesus’ day who were so attached to the Old Testament that they could not respond to Jesus’ call to open a new chapter of the providence. On the other hand, those believers who receive divine inspiration through prayer are able to grasp spiritually the providence of the new age. Even though this may put them at odds with the doctrines of the old age, they will still respond to the promptings of the Spirit and follow the calling of the new dispensation. (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Eschatology 5.2) Ten years ago God sent me to America, the representative nation of the free world, and directed me to speak His message to all Americans. If people ask me, “Reverend Moon, what is your purpose

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here?” I would tell them, “When people are sick, they send out for a doctor. Since the American people are sick, I came from the East as a doctor to heal America. America is burning. I am the firefighter who will put out the flames.” This is what I am fulfilling. (123:320, January 9, 1983) Each of us should think: “God has expectations for me; He tells me to build a new world. He commissioned me with the responsibility to resolve all the complicated problems of the past. Then, what is my position? I am not an ordinary individual who is perishing; now I belong to humankind, the world, and my Heavenly Father.”

Our hearts should be awe-struck over the fact that we have been called, although we are an unworthy people and an unworthy lot. While countless others who volunteered themselves in service of their nation were not chosen, God chose us and made us His children. For this we should have grateful minds and reverent hearts. (9:344, January 30, 1960) What more could I ask for, that in these historical Last Days, I could be appointed as an object partner to my lonely God? Is there anything more I could ask for? Even if I die, my bones crushed into powder and dispersed in the wind, could I hold any resentment? The world will always have plenty of worthless lives, people who die like pigs and dogs. (62:140, September 17, 1972)

❖ 2. Efforts and Hardships of the Mission I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for

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us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: ‘Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive.’

Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Isaiah 6.1-10

O Lord, thou knowest; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.

In thy forbearance take me not away; know that for thy sake I bear reproach.

Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O Lord, God of hosts.

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I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because thy hand was upon me, for thou hadst filled me with indignation.

Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?

Wilt thou be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?

Jeremiah 15.15-18

The Thaqif… stirred up their louts and slaves to insult [Muhammad] and cry after him until a crowd came together, and compelled him to take refuge in an orchard…

When the Apostle reached safety he said, so I am told, “O God, to Thee I complain of my weakness, little resource, and lowliness before men. O Most Merciful, Thou art the Lord of the weak, and Thou art my Lord. To whom wilt Thou confide me? To one afar who will misuse me? Or to an enemy to whom Thou hast given power over me? If Thou art not angry with me I care not. Thy favor is wider for me. I take refuge in the light of Thy countenance by which the darkness is illumined, and the things of this world and the next are rightly ordered, lest Thy anger descend upon me or Thy wrath light upon me. It is for Thee to be satisfied until Thou art well pleased. There is no power and no might save in Thee.”

If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel… as to righteousness under the law blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you.

Philippians 3.4-15

Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah (Islam)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon Living a life of faith presents many challenges. No doubt you received a call, but the question is: are you following it? It is hard to follow your call. It is even harder to be loyal and filial to God. (40:86, January 24, 1971) When following the path of God’s calling, you will surely face internal struggles. You who are called must be skillful in sorting them out. Since you are responsible for many people, if you make a misstep a large number may perish and you will have created a huge problem. Therefore, you should not act hastily or carelessly. Do not be overly joyful when you see something good, and do not grieve too much when you see something bad. You should always straighten your mind, sort out right from wrong, and move forward with care. (40:98-99, January 24, 1971)

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May we may be intoxicated with our sense of mission, that we might receive Heaven’s commands and fulfill our responsibilities completely.

To establish Heaven’s Will on earth, let us become sons and daughters who know only to fight without resting or deviating, who know the laws of Heaven and the laws of this cosmic battle, and who will represent the unchanging Center, until the glory of restoration and the ideal of the eternal God are revealed in all things of creation. (2:180, April 14, 1957) After receiving the call to walk the way of God’s Will, you should always search with sincerity for the objective you are meant to fulfill. I am moving forward with the entire problem of the providence of restoration; that path is not peaceful. I have to surmount many disturbing and ever-changing situations, beyond anything I could have imagined when I started.

As you walk this way, purge your mind of greed and rid your heart of pride. It is impossible to succeed with the mind of “I am going to try this; I am going to attempt that.” Even if your plan succeeds, it may contradict the Providence since it was planned from a human perspective. (40:77, January 24, 1971) Father! Thou knowest the direction that we, Thy sons and daughters, should go; Thou knowest the path we shall have to walk. Our minds do not begin from within ourselves, for we have been chosen as Thy helpers, not for ourselves. Since it is for others and for Thee, Father, we pray Thou wilt take dominion over our hearts and not let them change to the very end. (6:62, March 29, 1959)

❖

Obedience and Submission OBEDIENCE IS NECESSARY AS LONG AS secular goals and worldly lifestyles continue to deviate from God’s will and God’s standards of conduct. Ever since God commanded Adam not to eat the fruit in the Garden of Eden, God has repeatedly set forth commandments that conflict with self-centered and humanistic desires. Therefore, relating with God requires submitting to God’s will and denying self-will. This is an especially prominent theme in Islam, whose name, islam, means “submission.”

Obedience requires sacrifice. When Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Thy will be done,” he was practicing the way of obedience even to the point of giving his life. Obedience is not about doing God’s will when it is convenient or agreeable to our one’s way of thinking. As Abraham found out when God ordered him to sacrifice his son, obedience can require doing something inconceivably difficult.

Nevertheless, the hardships of obedience and submission are ultimately for our good. God lays out commands to guide humankind on the path of growing to perfection; don’t all parents require their children to follow rules so that they might grow up to be mature and well-adjusted adults? God had that loving purpose in mind when He gave the commandment to Adam and Eve, and that same loving purpose lies within His commandments to us today.

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1. Obedience to God’s Will and God’s Commandments Whosoever submits his will to God, while doing good, his wage is with his Lord, and no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they sorrow.

How then to become true to the Creator?

How to demolish the wall of illusion?

Through obedience to His Ordinance and Will.

Qur’an 2.112

Adi Granth, Japuji 1, M.1, p. 1 (Sikhism)

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I [Moses] command you this day for your good?

Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.

When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deuteronomy 10.12-13

Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken to the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15.22

Ritual purification, though million-fold, may not purify the mind.

Nor may absorption in trance still it, however long and continuous.

Possessing worlds multiple quenches not the rage of avarice and desire.

A thousand million feats of intellect bring not emancipation.

Romans 6.16-23

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon You should establish the heavenly law in yourself by absolutely obeying in your appointed duties, in your daily life, and regarding matters of the heart. (45:88, June 13, 1971) I am not the origin. My origin must be the Being who transcends me, and my purpose must be transcendent of myself. If it were not the case, how could I stand in a position to confront this world?

My life did not begin from my parents, my society, tribe or nation, but from one transcendent Origin—God, the Absolute Being. My will must be firmly connected to His transcendent, absolute Will. My motivation must not be tainted by any relative factors stemming from history, my circumstances or the society in which I live.

Only when a person’s origin is linked to the transcendent Cause, the transcendent Purpose, can he or she leap, transcend and extricate him or herself from worldly circumstances. (36:64, November 15, 1970)

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When you are working in a company, what would happen to you if you took the attitude, “This work is inane. I will do what I want to do”? Living in America, suppose you took the attitude, “This country has too many laws that restrict what people can do. I will simply ignore them!” What would happen to you? No good can come from denying the rules of work or the laws of your nation. Likewise, no good can come from denying the tenets of religion.

Everyone must come under the rule of law and the regulations of the workplace, but the laws we follow in the religious life are different. The former are promulgated in this world, but the laws of the religion originate from the other world. The religious life is actually to live in two worlds. Do you understand? You are actually living in two worlds. (92:298, April 24, 1977) When you go to the hospital, two beings know your condition well. One is the germ—that is Satan’s position. The other is the doctor—he represents God. Should you relate with the germ (Satan)? No, you should team up with the doctor (God). Then, you have to do what the doctor says. You must absolutely obey; that is the only way. What if you said to the doctor, “I’ll do whatever I want”? You would have to pay a price. (189:49, March 12, 1989) Father! We face the reality that we are far too distant from Thee— sublime, majestic, dwelling at the center of the universe, Lord of the ideal, Center of love.

To span this great distance we know the path that lies before us: not the original, natural path but a path going the opposite way— the grief-filled course of restoration. (110:65-66, November 9, 1980)

❖ 2. Striving for Absolute Obedience—to Make My Will as God’s Will A sacrificial vessel: The superior man, taking his stance as righteousness requires, adheres firmly to Heaven’s decrees.

I Ching 50 (Confucianism)

Be not like the servants who minister to their Master upon condition of receiving a reward; but be like servants who minister to their Master without the condition of receiving a reward; and let the fear of Heaven be upon you.

Mishnah, Avot 1.3 (Judaism)

Make [God’s] will as your will, so that He may make your will as His will; make naught your will before His will, so that He may make naught the will of others before your will.

Mishnah, Avot 2.4 (Judaism)

O you who believe! Be mindful of your duty to God, and seek the way to approach unto Him, and strive in His way in order that you may succeed.

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Qur’an 5.35

We sent not an Apostle but to be obeyed, in accordance with the Will of God. If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come unto thee and asked God’s forgiveness…

But no, by thy Lord, they can have no real faith until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against thy decision, but accept them with the fullest conviction.

If We had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them

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would have done it; but if they had done what they were told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone furthest to strengthen their faith.1 All who obey God and the Apostle are in the company of those on whom is the grace of God: of the Prophets, the Saints, the Martyrs and the Righteous. Ah! What a beautiful fellowship!

Qur’an 4.64-69

I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.

John 6.38

By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Romans 5.19

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.

Hebrews 5.7-8

“Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

Luke 22.42

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon Complete obedience means that a person has no sense of self in front of his Subject Partner. (271:118, August 23, 1995) Everyone should practice obedience. However, while anyone can obey, not everyone can totally surrender him or herself. Only through total surrender can we fulfill the indemnity condition. (18:188, June 7, 1967) Why does God require of us obedience? It is not to please God, but for us—for our joy. God puts us in the position of His ideal object partners and gives us responsibility to complete the purpose of re-creation. Therefore, we must push away and overcome the elements of the Fall. Because the Fall originated from disobedience, God commands us to have absolute obedience as the necessary condition to restore it. Therefore, in our religious way of life we should not complain. Nor should we make excuses. We must have absolute obedience.

Absolute obedience requires hard work, but the purpose of that hard work is to set conditions that enable us to stand in the perfected position and achieve God’s original goal of creation.

Therefore, if we sacrifice and work hard, we can enter the realm of perfection. We must go this way because there is no other way. Hence religion cannot emphasize enough the necessity of hard work, undertaken in faith.

On the path of restoration, complaint is absolutely prohibited. The path of restoration is a tear-stained path of total sacrifice. Nevertheless, we should go joyfully and hopefully. It is the path of re-creation, which is hopeful for us, and we should rejoice in that hope. We are walking in faith, so we must not despair. Why, then, should we go the way of obedience? Sacrifice and hard work are the means by which we give everything and gain everything. (God’s Will and the World, September 11, 1972)

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Jesus showed us obedience and complete submission. Obedience is following an order when the circumstances allow, and complete submission is obeying even in impossible circumstances. Jesus taught the dutiful way of obedience and complete submission to the disbelieving people. By this he showed us the way to block Satan’s basic nature and life elements.

The satanic world incessantly tries to exploit and take advantage of human beings and the creation, but Jesus took the opposite direction. Jesus lived a life that Satan could not live—he was meek and humble, he practiced obedience and complete submission, and he lived a life of sacrifice and service. Because he lived with these qualities, Satan had to surrender. Jesus is the representative of all human beings. Likewise, unless you can live as Jesus taught in your daily life, being meek and humble, practicing obedience and complete submission, and ever sacrificing and serving others, know that you still belong to Satan’s tribe. (3:188-89, October 27, 1957) Throughout the long eons of history, God has been carrying out a providence to set up ways by which people ignorant of the human portion of responsibility could claim that they have fulfilled their portions of responsibility. This has always required absolute obedience. The original portion of responsibility was not fulfilled because Adam and Eve failed to obey God’s commandment. Obeying God’s Word is the first condition to complete the human portion of responsibility. For Adam and Eve, they could have completed their portion of responsibility by absolutely obeying God’s command, “Do not eat of the fruit.”

Therefore, those seeking the way of restoration must absolutely obey God’s words. You should not just obey to some extent. You should say you will obey even at the cost of your life. Step forward on the path of obedience and climb over the summit of the satanic world. That is what Jesus meant when he said, “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (139:255-56, January 31, 1986)

❖

Self-Sacrifice SELF-SACRIFICE IS TO OFFER ONE’S ENTIRE SELF—body, mind and spirit—to the service of God and the fulfillment of His will. In times of oppression, self-sacrifice may mean literally to give up one’s life as a martyr. In times of relative ease, self-sacrifice means to be a “living sacrifice,” dedicating every action to the divine purpose.

Jesus offers a model of self-sacrifice in his death on the cross, and teaches the same by the commandment he gave his followers—“take up your cross and follow me.” As individuals, each of us has a cross to bear, maybe several, and religion commends that we deal with our burdens with an attitude of submission and selfsacrifice. However, Father Moon, like other great saints before him, takes up public crosses, putting his life on the line to save others and confront the evils of the world. This is the noblest way of life.

1. Offering Oneself as a Living Sacrifice I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

To Thee as a sacrifice Zarathustra offers the very life and being of his self; He dedicates the first fruits of his loving thoughts to Ahura Mazda;

Romans 12.1

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He offers the best of his words and deeds and willing obedience to the Divine Law. Avesta, Yasna 33.14 (Zoroastrianism)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2.20

O Son of Man! If you love Me, turn away from yourself; and if you seek My pleasure, regard not

your own; that you may die in Me and I may eternally live in you.

Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic 7 (Baha’i Faith)

Man, in truth, is himself a sacrifice.

Chandogya Upanishad 3.16.1 (Hinduism)

Would that I were an offering, Taken up in the kami’s hand, Drawn near to my god, Drawn near to my god.

Kagura-Uta (Shinto)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon Human beings should present themselves as living offerings before God and become the fruits of goodness who can demonstrate Heavenly Father’s internal heart. (2:77, March 3, 1957) An offering should not have any concept of possession. A person who would be an offering should sacrifice for his people; he should move forward for the purpose of the whole, not for his own purpose. As an offering, you should set a public goal and exert yourself for that, not for a private goal.

As an offering, you should become a foundation, or good soil, upon which God can destroy evil and establish the way of goodness. (14:10, April 19, 1964) The Chinese character for “righteousness,” 義 (eui in Korean), is a combination of two Chinese characters, 羊 (yang) meaning “sheep” and 我 (ah) meaning “self.” [In other words, when you put yourself in the position of a lamb, you will create the condition for righteousness.] (92:309, April 24, 1977) All human beings have to travel a course of re-creation and restoration, and this requires that we walk the path of sacrifice. We cannot re-create ourselves by ourselves; we must walk a path by which God invests His energy to create our ideal selves. That is why we must sacrifice. We sacrifice so that God has room to re-create us as His partners. This is the original standard of the Principle. Therefore, a religion that seeks human perfection or the ideal world must inspire its followers to make extraordinary efforts. We sacrifice our self-centeredness, and in proportion to that sacrifice God restores our original nature. This course is necessary because we are products of the Fall. Accordingly, all religious people must walk a path of effort and endure hardships. It is the fundamental point of re-creation. (God’s Will and the World, September 11, 1972) To reach the ideal of perfection is not easy. It requires a state of absolute self-denial. We cannot do this if we insist on our own viewpoint. (God’s Will and the World, April 3, 1983) The God of goodness is the God of sacrifice and love. Love cannot exist apart from sacrifice. Love is the essence of sacrifice. If you sacrifice yourself for someone you love, you do not consider that sacrifice to be a sacrifice. The more you sacrifice yourself, the more fulfilled you feel. Love has this

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paradoxical nature. The size of one’s love always becomes apparent in the degree of sacrifice. That is what determines whether a love is great or small. The greater the sacrifice, the greater is the love.

A small sacrifice only demonstrates a lowly love. (63:25, October 1, 1972) When you see things with the mind of love, you do not think of yourself but deny yourself and go the way of sacrifice. You must become a perfect minus in front of a perfect plus. When a perfect minus appears in front of a perfect plus, another plus is attracted to it. For example, if I am a perfect minus before a nation, the ultimate plus, God, will be attracted… This is a principle of heaven and earth.

Therefore, the tradition of patriots is one of blood, sweat and tears. The tradition of filial piety is one of blood, sweat and tears. It is the same with the way of virtuous women, virtuous men, patriots and saints. This is the mainstream tradition: only through sacrificing our blood, sweat and tears are we connected with the Kingdom of Heaven, the world of unity. This is an infallible truth. (113:118, May 1, 1981) Many people worship Thee hoping for Heaven’s blessing; others make devotions to become Thy children; but today, even after six thousand years have passed, it is difficult to find devoted people, Thy true sons and daughters, who want to be offerings to Thee. (5:8, November 9, 1958)

❖ 2. Taking up the Cross—Sacrifice unto Death Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”2

of the chalice of his Passion. Many honor his miracles, but few will follow the shame of his Cross and his other ignominies.

Thomas á Kempis, Imitation of Christ 2.11 (Christianity)

Matthew 16.24-25

In accepting the true Dharma, may I abandon body, life, and property, and uphold the true Dharma.

Lion’s Roar of Queen Srimala 3 (Buddhism)

Jesus has many lovers of his kingdom of heaven, but he has few bearers of his Cross.

Many desire his consolation, but few desire his tribulation. He finds many comrades in eating and drinking, but he finds few who will be with him in his abstinence and fasting. All men would joy with Christ, but few will suffer anything for Christ. Many follow him to the breaking of his bread, for their bodily refreshment, but few will follow him to drink a draft

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It is better to suffer for doing right, if that is God’s will, than for doing wrong.

1 Peter 3.17

The Master said, “The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.”

Analects 15.8 (Confucianism)

Fish is what I want; bear’s palm is also what I want. If I cannot have both, I would rather take the bear’s palm than fish. Life is what I want; dutifulness is also what I want. If I cannot have both, I would rather take dutifulness than life.

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On the one hand, though life is what I want, there is something I want more than life. That is why I do not cling to life at all costs. On the other hand, though death is what I loathe, there is something I loathe more than death. That is why there are troubles I do not avoid. If there is nothing a man wants more than life, then why should he have scruples about any means, so long as it will serve to keep him alive? If there is nothing a man loathes more than death, then

why should he have scruples about any means, so long as it helps him to avoid trouble? Yet there are ways of remaining alive and ways of avoiding death to which a man will not resort. In other words, there are things a man wants more than life and there are also things he loathes more than death. This is an attitude not confined to the moral man but common to all men. The moral man simply never loses it.

Mencius VI.A.10 (Confucianism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon Jesus sacrificed himself in order to make the people worthy of receiving God’s love, that the world might be lovable to God. Even in death, he remained completely faithful to his mission. If a religion arises that inspires its believers to voluntarily walk the path of death that Jesus walked, that religion will build the final foundation to defeat Satan’s realm and save the world. Jesus willingly bore the cross to his death, out of love for the world. A worldwide religion that is willing to walk the same path of sacrifice will become God’s hope and Jesus’ hope. (124:299, March 1, 1983) A complaining person cannot go this way; a person who makes excuses cannot go this way; a person who puffs himself up will retreat from this way.

It is the way of the cross that Jesus trod, shedding blood; the prolongation of Golgotha. (6:125, April 12, 1959) What is a religious life? Religious people base their lives on a different philosophy from other people.

They approach life with the attitude: “Regardless of my circumstances, I will not take the road to hell by acting for my personal benefit, for that is the devil Satan’s foundation. Instead, I will take the public road to heaven, no matter what sacrifices it may entail.”

We seek to act as God acts and live for the sake of the public good. For the sake of the public good, God sacrifices His own family, sacrifices His own nation, and even sacrifices His own world.

Although God has all authority, He has endured immeasurable sorrow and suffering as He journeyed through history alone, ever seeking the public good—the welfare of humanity. Yet He accepted it all, never blaming anyone else or making excuses for Himself. We need to understand that God stands in such a position because He is absolutely public-minded. He does not boast about what He has done. He does not boast that He has worked to benefit others. Working quietly to the end, God devotes Himself entirely to public tasks until the day the public world is completed. (101:146-47, October 29, 1978) The more difficult the task, the more blessings come. Right now what I miss the most is being tortured in prison and vomiting blood.

Your bodies should resonate with God’s vibration, but they cannot because they are stuck to Satan’s stony rock. You must be shaken loose from that rock if you are to be free to resonate with God. That is why religion teaches us to sacrifice. Practice asceticism and do penance! Why? It is to cut off all satanic attachment and become God’s resonant counterpart. (102:35, November 19, 1978)

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So far the basic error of religious teaching has been this: though religion has taught the basic value of sacrifice and service, it has valued sacrifice mainly for the purpose of receiving salvation. The purpose of self-sacrifice ought to be to liberate God and humankind; people have been ignorant of this truth. Instead of sacrificing for the selfish purpose of attaining a high place in heaven, we should sacrifice for God and humankind. The purpose of sacrifice determines whether a believer’s religious path ends up being good or evil. (102:234, January 1, 1979) This is our motto: “Let us go forth with the heart of a parent in the shoes of a servant, shedding sweat for the earth, tears for humankind, and blood for heaven.” Why do we need this motto?…

The eternal God has been weeping countless tears as He seeks to eradicate the path of pain, path of sorrows, and the path of death. As God has shed His sweat, tears, and blood first, today we should take up that task in His place. (14:244, January 1, 1965) I worked to accomplish this task oblivious to rain and snow. Nightfall was like dawn, and I would even forget to eat. I could not take things lightly because I knew God and felt the serious responsibility that comes with knowing God. More than anybody else, I knew how sorrowful God was. Thus, even if my body were torn apart, crumbled into dust and blown away, all those scattered cells could still cry out as God’s cells. I grappled with this path of death, accepting it as a worthy death for a man. (137:178, January 1, 1986)

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War against Evil LIVING FAITH IS ROBUST AND UNCOMPROMISING in the fight against evil. Goodness requires striving in the ways of God—what Islam calls jihad. One level of striving is the inner struggle against demons and selfish desires—what Christians term “spiritual warfare” and Islam calls the “greater jihad.” Yet as long as society is filled with injustice and peace is threatened by aggressors, the world will need fighters who will stand up for a righteous cause. Indeed, in many traditions passivity in the face of injustice is regarded as sin, whereas love calls us to fight to defend the weak and stop the oppressor from doing wrong.

Some situations call for guns, notably for self-defense and to defeat an aggressor. However, there are better ways to fight for goodness than by taking up arms. A spiritual view of the warrior’s task sees the struggle for justice in the world as primarily a spiritual battle. Behind the hostility of earthly enemies lie the “powers and principalities” of the Devil. Defeating an opponent physically does not necessarily overcome his inner hostility; it can rather exacerbate it, particularly if the victors are vindictive or uncaring. On the other hand, once we win over our opponents’ hearts and minds, the Devil is defeated and flees away. Even if the enemy is hostile and must be defeated by force of arms, the real victory is not secure until we have educated them to realize God’s Will.

Therefore, the way of the spiritual warrior is to practice the maxim, “love your enemy.” This means we should sacrifice ourselves and live for our enemy’s sake, even though they reject, ridicule and persecute us.

Our love for the enemy only becomes apparent in sacrifice. Death is no problem if in dying we can touch our enemy’s heart—as Jesus did on the cross. (See Chapter 13: Love Your Enemy) It takes a great deal of courage and fortitude to fight this kind of war, for it is as dangerous as any military engagement. Father Moon’s statements about the fighting spirit mainly describe fighting in the way of such a spiritual warrior.

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1. The Warrior for Righteousness He is the true hero who fights to protect the helpless.

Adi Granth, Shalok, Kabir, p. 1412 (Sikhism)

For a warrior, nothing is higher than a war against evil. The warrior confronted with such a war should be pleased, Arjuna, for it comes as an open gate to heaven. But if you do not participate in this battle against evil, you will incur sin, violating your dharma and your honor…

Death means the attainment of heaven; victory means the enjoyment of the earth. Therefore rise up, Arjuna, resolved to fight! Having made yourself alike in pain and pleasure, profit and loss, victory and defeat, engage in this great battle and you will be freed from sin.

Bhagavad-Gita 2.31-38 (Hinduism)

O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be a hundred steadfast they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they [the disbelievers] are a people without intelligence.

Qur’an 8.65

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him.

2 Timothy 2.3-4

Those are the future saviors of the peoples Who through Good Mind strive in their deeds To carry out the judgment which Thou has decreed, O Wise One, as righteousness.

For they were created the foes of Fury.

Avesta, Yasna 48.12 (Zoroastrianism)

The Lord said to Joshua… “Be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; turn not from it to the right hand or to the

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left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1.7-9

They that are desirous of victory do not conquer by might and energy so much as by truth, compassion, righteousness, and spiritual discipline.

Discriminating then between righteousness and unrighteousness, and understanding what is meant by covetousness, when there is recourse to exertion fight without arrogance, for victory is there where righteousness is. Under these conditions know, O king, that to us victory is certain in this battle. Indeed, where Krishna is, there is victory.

Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva 21 (Hinduism)

O my Father, Great Elder, I have no words to thank you, But with your deep wisdom I am sure that you can see How I value your glorious gifts.

O my Father, when I look upon your greatness, I am confounded with awe.

O Great Elder, Ruler of all things earthly and heavenly, I am your warrior, Ready to act in accordance with your will.

Kikuya Prayer (African Traditional Religions)

There came out of the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had

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greaves of bronze upon his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid…

David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth; and if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and killed him.

Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”…

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When the Philistine looked, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, ruddy and comely in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.”

When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground… Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with it.

1 Samuel 17.4-51

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon From morning until night you must be strong warriors. No matter how big the obstacles are in front of you, you must have conviction that you can overcome them. Set your determination: “I will break through the barrier, though my fist be mangled and my body crushed.” Never forget that God has made you His instruments to complete the mission for the sake of humanity’s future. By joining this fight you can become God’s princes and princesses, who resurrect the people of the past, liberate the present, and give hope to future generations. (73:106, August 4, 1974) “I will become God’s true soldier. No matter how terrible this battlefield for God may be, I will join the front line.” That is my spirit. I never once complained to God even when the world’s persecu-

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tion swarmed about me—even when I was in a position of utter loneliness due to persecution and suffering. This is what I can take pride in. (193:73, August 20, 1989) I did not pray to God asking Him to save me even when I collapsed under torture. When people were pursuing me, I did not pray to God asking Him to protect me on my path or to save me from my pursuers. As a man of character, I have my own reserve of strength. I have the spirit and inner strength to fight. I say to my self, “God will probably save me if I collapse unconscious due to lack of strength. But before that, with my own power…” I know that God is waiting, preparing things in advance before I go. (138:358, January 24, 1986) Each of you should pledge, “I will win God’s victory.” What is your attitude? Is it, “When the battle is joined, I will be the first to volunteer. When a Goliath appears, I will be David”? (118:129, May 9, 1982) Twelve men representing the twelve tribes were sent to spy on Canaan. All except Joshua and Caleb reported that they would not be able to defeat seven tribes of Canaan. While the Israelites had lowered their flag to half-mast, Joshua and Caleb proclaimed, “God is alive. Believe in Him, who parted the Red Sea for us and kept us alive thus far.” They proclaimed that the only way for Israel to survive was to believe in God, who does wonders for His people. Know that it was on the basis of Joshua and Caleb’s faith that God opened the way for Israel. (19:240, January 15, 1968) Our situation is analogous to David and Goliath’s. We don’t have weapons and we didn’t receive any military training. We are like the humble shepherd David, a mere child, who had no armor but wore only patched-up rags. His only weapon was a sling; ours is the Word of God. Whether in America, Korea, the Middle East or Russia, we will clash with Satan’s forces and keep fighting until we win. We are training and focusing our strength for the battles to come. Although my forehead is crushed, my eyeballs pop out and my lifeblood drains out, I have to go this path for the sake of God’s work.

United Nations soldiers from sixteen nations fought and died for the sake of Korea. Perhaps Unification Church members throughout the world may have to shed more blood in the fight against communism than those United Nations soldiers did in the Korean War. Regardless, we must go forward. If we retreat from the challenge, then God will lose any basis for hope in this world.

Therefore we march forward, knowing that the destiny of heaven and earth is in our hands. (88:32333, October 3, 1976) “With the forceful and courageous sound of my pledge, the sound of my youthful heart beating, and the uproar of the corps running towards the enemy camp, I hold on to the thought, ‘Everything depends on this moment!’”—if you have this attitude, billions of spirits in spirit world who have been waiting for this moment will welcome you with applause. Even the spirits in hell will say, “Please, please be victorious. We will help you even if we have to crawl.”

In a few years, such a breathtaking moment when all heaven and earth are mobilized will come to this land. Then you should fight courageously, even if you fall down on the battlefield and vomit blood. Fight to the end for the cause of righteousness. If in the battle you must offer your life as a loyal subject of Heaven, your sacrifice will resolve countless sins. On that battlefield will begin a new history.

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We have been preparing ourselves for that final, critical moment, always maintaining a righteous and courageous standard and cherishing the desire to secure the final unification. Have we not willingly endured rejection by our own family, our own nation, and numerous religious denominations? God, history, and all humanity have been waiting for that final day. For its sake have we not suffered the sacrifice of many loved ones, wishing that they too could realize that solemn and magnificent victory? Now, when everything can be consummated by the stroke of my sword and by my own words and deeds, is this not a moment unprecedented in history? To fight on the actual battlefield, witnessing it with my own eyes and feeling it with my senses—what life can be more fruitful than this? (57:352, June 5, 1972)

❖ 2. Spiritual Warfare Though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10.3-5

Humility is my mace; To become the dust under everyone’s feet is my dagger.

These weapons no evildoer dare withstand.

Adi Granth, Sorath, M.5, p. 628 (Sikhism)

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to

stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6.10-17

Invincible is the army of the Saints.

Great warriors are they; humility is their breastplate; The songs of the Lord’s glory are their weapons; The word of the Guru is their buckler.

They ride the horses, chariots, and elephants Of the understanding of the Divine Path.

Without fear, they advance towards the enemy.

They ride into battle singing the Lord’s praise.

By conquering those five robber chiefs, the vices, They find that they have also conquered the whole world.

Adi Granth, Slok Sehskriti, M.5, p. 1356 (Sikhism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon We can stand on God’s side if we have the heart to love the enemy. (52:87, December 22, 1971) You can expect fierce battles, but you must love your enemies whenever you encounter them. If you possess this spirit, someday victory will be yours. (March 12, 2000)

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The enemy we must fight against is not a certain person on the earth, but rather Satan, who grasped the height of authority, raised the banner of rebellion against God, and has been accusing God throughout the course history. (3:180, October 27, 1957) The kind of fighting we are involved in is more intense than physical fighting with guns. We are using ammunition of love, while Satan is shooting arrows of jealousy and slander. My determination is this: the more the forces of evil shoot at us, the more intensely we have to return volleys of love.

Our love must be greater than the enemy’s opposition. Their weapons are ineffective against us; their bullets they just bounce off us. In con­trast, our bullets are extremely powerful; whomever they strike are melted in love and born anew.

The more people harass me, the more progress I make. The more they pursue me, the more I advance. Look at this court case: the United States government versus Reverend Moon, a religious leader. Its absurdity has become apparent to almost everyone. The government’s arrogance makes the contest more dramatic—like David versus Goliath. (119:111-12, July 4, 1982) God works through one good person to make ten evil people surrender. It is God’s will for evil to surrender voluntarily. When evil obeys goodness absolutely and without any reservations: that is a real victory. Therefore, God requires us to go through such difficulties that even evil people will take pity on us. God is still searching for such sons and daughters whose determination to gain victory on this earth is such that they will induce the evil side to surrender before the good side. (41:115, February 14, 1971) In order to build the ideal world, there should appear people on God’s side who are stronger than any individual, family, tribe, people or nation, stronger even than the entire fallen world. God and Satan are fighting over human beings, who stand in the midway position. Even though a person may be on God’s side, he cannot remain if he can be broken when someone on Satan’s side strikes him.

But if a person overcomes no matter how much he is oppressed, persecuted and driven to the point of death, then Satan himself will testify, “He is a person on God’s side,” and God also will acknowledge him. Sons and daughters should emerge who are victorious in this battle, overcoming Satan, the angels, and any person who comes against them. (54:36-37, March 10, 1972) Father! We have gone through the exhausting historical age of indemnity, and a new age is before our eyes.

We see that all our enemies, who were once so powerful, who carried such authority when they took the offensive against us, approach the setting of their sun. However, we should not wish them to quickly perish.

We now realize that Heaven left them in their positions in order to save everything at once, to expand the domain of the Providence, and to establish the standard to divide good from evil in this age by which every sin can be liquidated. Therefore, we will have to open a way for even them to live.

As Jesus, while he was dying on the cross, asked for blessings on the Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross, we pledge anew to take upon ourselves the mission of the Savior, who saves people in their actual situations. (75:244-45, January 5, 1975)

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3. Situations When War is Justified 3 And if God had not repelled some men by others, the earth would have been corrupted.

Qur’an 2.251

brought me in to possess this land”; whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you.

Deuteronomy 9.1-4

War is an evil thing; but to submit to the dictation of other states is worse… Freedom, if we hold fast to it, will ultimately restore our losses, but submission will mean permanent loss of all that we value… To you who call yourselves men of peace, I say: You are not safe unless you have men of action on your side.

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War (Hellenism)

Let those fight in the way of God who sell the life of this world for the next. Whoso fights in the way of God, be he slain or be he victorious, on him we shall bestow a vast reward.

How should you not fight for the cause of God, and of the feeble among men and women and children who are crying, “Our Lord! Bring us forth from out of this town whose people are oppressors! Give us from Thy presence some protecting friend! Give us from Thy presence some defender!”

Those who believe do battle for the cause of God; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil.

Lo! The devil’s strategy is ever weak.

Qur’an 4.74-76

Hear, O Israel; you are to pass over the Jordan this day, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall…

Know therefore this day that he who goes over before you as a devouring fire is the Lord your God; he will destroy them and subdue them before you; so you shall drive them out, and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, “It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has

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When the Prophet assigned a leader to an expedition squadron, he would enjoin them… saying, “Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight those who disbelieve in God. Do not use treacherous means, do not plunder and do not mutilate. Do not kill children or hermits and do not set fire to date palms or drown them with water. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees and do not burn crops, for you never know when you might be in need of them. Do not slay animals whose meat is edible except what is necessary for you to eat.

If you should meet an enemy to the Muslims, then invite them to one of three things; if they respond to you accordingly then accept them and refrain from any action. Call them to Islam… invite them to emigrate to the lands of Islam… or call them to pay the jizyah from their wealth and in a state of submission.”

Hadith (Islam)

Revolution: Water and fire extinguish each other, behaving as two women who live together but whose wills conflict—such is the nature of revolution. “Faith is not reposed in it until the day of its completion” means that revolution must come first, after which public faith will be established.

A civilized and enlightened attitude brings joy; great success makes it possible to put all things to rights. Upon the achievement of a necessary revolution, regret vanishes. The renovating activities of the celestial and terrestrial forces produce the progress of the four seasons. T’ang and Wu rebelled in accordance with Heaven’s decree, and the people responded to them.

I Ching 49 (Confucianism)

King T’ang said, “Come, you multitudes of the people, listen all to my words. It is not I, the Little

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Child, who dare to undertake a rebellious enterprise; Heaven has given the charge to destroy the sovereign of Hsia for his many crimes.

“Now, you multitudes, you are saying, ‘Our prince is not compassionate to us but is calling us away from our husbandry to attack and punish Hsia.’ I have indeed heard these your words. But the sovereign of Hsia is guilty and, as I fear God, I dare not but punish him.

“Now you are saying, ‘What are the crimes of Hsia to us?’ The king of Hsia in every way

exhausts the strength of his people and exercises oppression in the cities of Hsia. His people have all become idle and will not assist him. They are saying, ‘When wilt thou, O sun, expire? We will all perish with thee.’ Such is the course of the sovereign of Hsia. And now I must go punish him. I pray you assist me, the One Man, to carry out the punishment appointed

by Heaven.”

Book of History 4.1 (Confucianism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon Not many people on this earth welcome an individual who pursues a different kind of goodness.

When a good individual works to form a family of goodness, the surrounding people do not welcome him. When that good family strives to expand into a tribe of goodness, the tribulations besetting his path become even more difficult. And when that good tribe tries to form a nation of goodness, certainly an even greater evil power will rise in rebellion to block its way. Moreover, when that good nation pursues a world of goodness, the nations of the existing world, which is not good, will oppose it in every way possible.

Evil tribes rose and fought against the way of the good tribe. All nations opposed the good nation; none welcomed it even though it had long been the hope of humanity. A nation of goodness must survive this confrontation with the evil nations and prevail in the battle of good versus evil. We know well that this is why history developed through this kind of struggle. (36:52-53, November 15, 1970) It is an error brought about by ignorance of the fundamental providence of God to regard the cause of struggles and wars as mere conflicts of interests and contests between ideologies. Humankind has suffered through a sinful history ever since the first human ancestors fell under the subjugation of Satan. However, as long as God’s purpose of creation still stands, the purpose of this history must be to cut out ties with Satan and restore God’s kingdom. If there were no wars or divisions in this fallen world, then the sovereignty of evil would continue forever and the world would never be restored.

Therefore, God has worked His providence to restore the heavenly sovereignty by degrees. He sends prophets and saints to the fallen world to found religions and raise the level of morality. He establishes governments with higher standards of goodness which come to oppose and destroy regimes with lower standards of goodness. To fulfill the providence of restoration, therefore, conflicts and wars are unavoidable…

Although there have been times when evil seemed to prevail, in the end the relatively evil social and political forces declined and were absorbed by the more godly forces. The wars which have shaped the rise and fall of nations are thus unavoidable during the course of the providence to re-establish the reign of good.

For example, in the Bible God ordered the Israelites to destroy the seven tribes of Canaan.

When Saul disobeyed Him, leaving some of the Amalekites alive with their cattle, God severely punished him. (1 Sam. 15.18-23) While on that occasion God commanded the Israelites to destroy the Gentiles, at another time, when the Israelites of the northern kingdom turned to evil, God

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delivered them into the hands of the Assyrians. (2 Kgs. 17.23) We must understand that God’s only intention by these events was to obliterate the sovereignty of evil and restore the sovereignty of good. Therefore, fights between individuals within the same good sovereignty on the side of God are evil, because they can weaken and even cause the disintegration of the good sovereignty itself.

On the other hand, wars conducted by a good sovereignty to destroy an evil sovereignty are good in that they further the fulfillment of the providence of restoration. (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Eschatology 4.2) Do you respect King David? Did he do a good deed when he killed Goliath? Or was he no better than a common street fighter? From God’s point of view, David did well. For by that one deed he saved the foundation of Israel’s nationhood that God had labored for 3,000 years to build. (103:18182, February 25, 1979)

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Persecution SACRIFICE IS OFTEN THRUST UPON A MAN OR WOMAN in the form of persecution. Few desire to be mistreated, misunderstood, slandered, ostracized and harassed. Yet persecution often follows righteous believers like a shadow. Persecution is of no value if it crushes us. However, those who can persevere with faith and digest these troubles without complaint or resentment can attain the highest goal of fellowship with Heaven.

Persecution can be a blessing, because it pushes us into the realm of total self-sacrifice and self-denial. Its circumstances allow us to attain an unsurpassed degree of selflessness beyond what we could achieve by our own efforts. In view of the beatification which comes through sacrifice, it is not surprising that people who are persecuted in faith often lose any negative feelings of hate or vengefulness toward their persecutors and even develop compassion for them. Selflessness begets holiness and relatedness to the divine. Hence the paradoxical fact of history that religions thrive in times of persecution.

Father Moon also teaches that God and Satan have, as it were, a contract between them: If Satan unrighteously persecutes innocent believers, God has a right to claim compensation for damages. In this way, throughout history goodness at first suffers attack but triumphs in the end. God takes this principle to its logical application: Believers should welcome maltreatment and even consciously embark on a course leading to persecution as a way to advance the divine purpose.

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5.11-12

Assuredly you will be tried in your property and in your persons, and you will hear much wrong from those who were given the Scripture before you and from the idolators. But if you persevere and ward off [evil], then that is the steadfast heart of things.

Qur’an 3.186

As the elephant in the battlefield withstands the arrows shot from a bow, even so will I endure abuse; verily most people are lacking in virtue.

Dhammapada 320 (Buddhism)

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tlemen should be reduced to such straits?” The Master said, “A gentleman can withstand hardships; it is only the small man who, when submitted to them, is swept off his feet.”

Analects 15.1 (Confucianism)

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.

Romans 5.3-5

Do men imagine that they will be left at ease because they say, “We believe,” and will not be tested with affliction? Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus God knows those who are sincere, and knows those who feign.

Qur’an 29.2-3

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, “A servant is not greater than his master.”

John 15.18-20

The Israelites do not return to righteousness except through suffering.

For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8.35-37

Or do you think that you shall enter the Garden without such trials as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Apostle and those of faith who were with him cried, “When will come the help of God?” Ah! Verily the help of God is always near!

Qur’an 2.214

They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.

Luke 21.12-17

Talmud, Menahot 53b (Judaism)

The right attitude for the seeker of truth on this lofty Path is, “Let my people look askance; let my wife and children forsake me; let men deride; let kings punish; but I shall be steadfast, O Supreme Deity; I shall serve and ever serve Thee with mind, speech, body, and act; I shall not leave Thy Law.” Kularnava Tantra 2 (Hinduism)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

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Monks, this is the meanest of callings, this of an almsman. A term of abuse in the world is this, to say “You scrap-gatherer! With bowl in hand you roam about!” Yet this is the calling entered on by those clansmen who are bent on the good because of good, not led thereto by fear.

Itivuttaka 89 (Buddhism)

After the Buddha’s extinction, In the last dread evil age, We will proclaim this sutra.

Though many ignorant men Will with evil mouth abuse us,

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And beat us with swords and staves, We will endure it all.

Monks in that evil age, Heretical, warped, suspicious, Crying “attained” when they have not, Will have minds full of arrogance…

Abounding in fear and dread, Devils will take possession of them To curse, abuse, and insult us.

But we, reverently believing Buddha, Will wear the armor of long-suffering; For the sake of preaching this sutra Every hard thing we will endure.

We will not love body nor life, But care only for the Supreme Way.4 Lotus Sutra 13 (Buddhism)

The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary.

Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward.

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

For the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me?

Let us stand up together.

Who is my adversary?

Let him come near to me.

Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Isaiah 50.4-9

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King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits… [At] the dedication of the image… the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languagues, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshipped the golden image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

At that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live for ever!… There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

These men, O king, pay no heed to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up?

Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not,

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be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he ordered certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. These men bound them in their mantles, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was strict and the furnace very hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.”

He answered, “But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their mantles were not harmed, and no smell of the fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set at nought the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” Daniel 3.1-28

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon You have to pass through hell in order to reach the Kingdom of Heaven. (Way of God’s Will 1.8) Persecution is God’s strategic expedient to recover the ownership of the satanic world. If you understand this principle, it becomes self-evident why true religions prosper under persecution. The founders of the major religions of the world—Jesus, Buddha, Confucius, and Mohammed—all were persecuted. Yet, because of this principle, these persecuted people became saints. History progresses following this principle; therefore, with the flow of time they were naturally destined to become the victors. (189:205-06, April 6, 1989) Human history has been a history of struggle—a fight between God and Satan, or good and evil, over humanity standing in the middle. Because human history started with the Fall, evil got a head start. Therefore, throughout history the evil side has always taken the offensive and been the aggressor. Good has been passive and defensive; yet, God is on the side of good. In the end, the good side always wins the victory. The good side always begins as the underdog; yet, it comes out victorious and expands. (88:209, September 18, 1976) God’s strategy is to be struck and then be compensated, including an additional amount for damages, while Satan’s strategy is to strike first, for which he must pay compensation in the end. That is why Satan falls after striking, while God is struck and yet prospers. By following that strategy

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and taking up the course of persecution, I could continue to prosper and build an ever-stronger foundation of victories. (249:105, October 8, 1993) Just as religions developed the most when they struggled under the threat of martyrdom, we are free of corruption when under persecution. (Way of God’s Will 3.4) As long as your thinking is self-centered, Satan, the second subject, is your lord. That is why religions require complete self-denial. You cannot sever your relationship with Satan if you insist on yourself.

How does God create the circumstances where we can fulfill the condition of self-denial? We cannot do it by ourselves. Certainly, religions teach people to deny themselves and lead a life of selfdenial, but in the end, we cannot do it by ourselves. The standard of self-denial must be created within reciprocal relationships. If someone else pushes you into the position of being negated, it is equivalent to self-denial. In this way, God creates the sphere of denial for religious people by arranging for everyone to oppose them. This is the motive behind persecution.

When a person comes to believe in God and religion, he or she is often opposed by the people closest to him—his parents and loved ones. It is a case of Satan, the second subject, attacking God, the first subject. When someone strikes a righteous person unjustly, it sets a condition that must be repaid. Because of this repayment, the development of religion is secured. (God’s Will and the World, April 3, 1983) True people of faith accept persecution and trials as nutrition for their spiritual growth, rather than as a source of resentment against those who persecute them. (129:303, November 25, 1983) Bear every cross. Willingly be the first to be hit by the stones thrown by people in the villages. Be the foremost target of all their curses and accusations, and the first to receive their beatings. (96:123, January 2, 1978) Does true love break when hit with a fist? Which would break, true love or the fist? The bones of the fist would break. If it hits again and again, it will disintegrate. That is why God permits Satan to keep striking. Every time true love is struck, the one who strikes it is weakened.

Why does God not stop persecution? Why doesn’t He remove the persecutors? Because He knows that the more they strike, the faster they will decline. In this way, the persecution will completely cease. Then it becomes fertilizer. Once it rots, it will become good soil. (230:131, May 1, 1992) You should experience many tears. The underside of revolutionary history is always filled with blood and tears. It is full of accusations, persecutions, abuses and beatings. It is the path that I, Reverend Moon, also have walked. Yet no matter how many tears you weep, God’s sorrow is millions of times greater than your sorrow. A human being’s two-dimensional sorrow cannot be compared to God’s three-dimensional sorrow. (11:227, September 20, 1961) Running my course ever grateful to Thee, I am nearly 70, having reached old age.

In the prime of my life when I was healthy and strong I burned up all my passion attending Heaven;

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now gone is the time to return glory to Thee.

Since the day I was driven out as one rejected by the people, a rebel against humanity, I endured in silence while the Unification Church was struck.

Yet I thank Thee because it could endure and progress through the heavenly principle of being struck and taking back what was lost…

Father! Thou art love.

Thou didst put me behind steel bars to prepare for me the measure of joyful circumstances, to place me in the position to inherit, to give me blessings.

Now that it is over, I see that everything was love, and the touch of Thy expansive generosity.

Recalling it now, I can only thank Thee. (164:334, April 17, 1987)

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Martyrdom WHEN PEOPLE OF FAITH ENCOUNTER HOSTILE AUTHORITIES who feel threatened by their convictions and values, some may pay the ultimate price. Father Moon explains from a spiritual viewpoint that whenever goodness advances, Satan exacts his toll. That is why it is often the best people who are sacrificed.

The word “martyr” means witness. In their steadfastness in the face of death, the martyrs bear testimony to their faith and to God who inspires such faith. The example of the martyr, who places God above his or her own life, is powerful and inspiring. Martyrdom, therefore, strengthens the community of faith, deepening its roots and furthering its growth. Tertullian famously wrote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

Today some regard fighters who die in the course of offensive operations that take innocent lives, e.g., suicide bombers, as martyrs. If that is martyrdom, it is the weakest form. The highest form of martyrdom stands on the foundation of goodness and mercy, even as Jesus blessed the Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Psalm 116.15

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.

Matthew 24.9

Surely, the gates of Paradise are beneath the shadow of swords.5 Hadith of Muslim (Islam)

Count not those who were slain in God’s way as dead, but rather living with their Lord, by Him provided, rejoicing in the bounty that God has given them, and joyful in those who remain behind and have not joined them, because no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they sorrow, joyful in the blessing and bounty from God, and that God leaves not to waste the wage of the believers. And those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had smitten them—to all those of them who did good and feared God—shall be a mighty wage.

Qur’an 3.169-71

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Holy is the death of heroic men, Who lay down their lives in an approved cause.

Such alone may be called heroes, as at the Divine Portal obtain true honor: Obtaining honor at the Divine Portal, with honor they depart, And in the hereafter they suffer not.

Such reward they shall obtain if on the Sole Lord they meditate, Whose service drives away all fears.

They utter not aloud their suffering; they bear all in their minds— The Lord himself knows all.

Holy is the death of heroic men, Who lay down their lives in an approved cause.

Adi Granth, Wadhans, Alahaniyan Dirges, M.1, pp. 579f. (Sikhism)

When Rabbi Akiba was taken out for execution, it was the hour for the recital of the Shema, and while they combed his flesh with iron combs, he was accepting upon himself the kingship of heaven [by reciting the Shema]. His disciples said to him, “Our teacher, even to this point?” He said to them, “All my days I have been troubled over this verse, “with all your soul” [Deut. 6.5], which I interpret “even if He takes your soul.”

When shall I have the opportunity of fulfilling this? Now that I have the opportunity, shall I not fulfill it?” He prolonged the last word [of the Shema] until he expired while saying it.6 Talmud, Berakot 61b (Judaism)

When the Rajah of Kalinga mutilated my body, I was at that time free from the idea of an egoidentity, a personality, a being, and a separated individuality. Wherefore? Because then when my limbs were cut away piece by piece, had I been bound by the distinctions aforesaid, feelings of anger and hatred would have been aroused within me.

Diamond Sutra 14 (Buddhism)

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the congregation of

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the Freedmen [as it was called], and some of the Cyrenians, the Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated men, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place [the temple], and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. And the high priest said, “Is this so?” And Stephen said, “Brethren and fathers, hear me…

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together against him.

Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he died.

Acts 6.8-7.2, 7.54-60

To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o’clock p.m., by an armed mob—painted black—of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first

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and fell calmly, exclaiming: “I am a dead man!”

Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming, “O Lord my God!” They were both shot after they were dead, and both received four balls.

If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive.7 Martin Luther King, Jr. (Christianity)

Doctrine and Covenants 135.1 (Latter-day Saints)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon Great religions were born and grew up in the soil of persecution and martyrdom. They stand on a foundation of the precious traditions of their founders. Therefore, we must not avoid sacrifices as we recover the original honor of our religions. (271:72, August 21, 1995) Throughout history religions have taught the value of sacrifice, ultimately to guide people in approaching God. The stairway to Heaven has thousands of steps. For each step God must triumph and Satan must be defeated, but each time Satan demands his maximum price—a sacrifice. Satan does not like to be defeated. That is why so many martyrs appeared in Christian history.

Christianity has produced more martyrs than any other religion because it is the central religion of the providence. To human eyes, each martyr’s death looked like a setback, yet in fact it was a victory for God. The martyrs are the reason Christianity kept advancing victoriously despite opposition and persecution. At every step, Satan demanded a huge sacrifice as the price for his defeat. (130:283) Christianity today is proud of its history of martyrdom. In every place and in every age, wherever Christianity spread its martyrs have shed blood. The blood they shed laid the foundation for Christian missions. However, we should not just reflect on the miserable sacrifices suffered by individuals, families, or groups. Know that God, in guiding them, walked a path more tragic than theirs.

(13:220-21, March 22, 1964) Have you ever thought that you might be defeated or fall away? Never allow it to happen, even at the point of death! You should not waver even in the face of execution by a firing squad or the torture of having each knuckle of your fingers severed. Live your entire life this way and you will have transcended life and death. Then you can be a friend of God, because He is transcendent of life and death. Though you may be killed, since you transcend life and death, you will live on as a friend of God. (66:317, May 17, 1973) No matter what pain, sorrow, and sufferings they may face, those who know that their position based upon the Universal Teaching are not shaken; they shall overcome those hills. Those who think, “I am a person who can tolerate this suffering, and I will not surrender even on this hill of death,” are successful in the course of life. Those who think, “I will not change the direction of my life, no matter what hills of persecution and death come to me. I have a value that cannot be replaced with anything under the sun,” are citizens of Heaven. Whether on earth they live or die, they still belong to Heaven. (9:166, May 8, 1960) Many people were martyred in the two thousand years of Christian history. You should be ready to follow in their footsteps, saying, “I offer my life for Heaven. My death will lay the foundation to

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liberate all the people.” Then you will surely create that foundation. When the time comes, instead of ten thousand people dying, God will fulfill His promise to you and save the important people in your family and tribe. Your sacrifice is that important. As long as your foundation remains, future generations will stand on that foundation and rise up. (218:236, August 19, 1991) At the time of Jesus’ death, Israel and Rome were his enemies, but rather than curse these enemies Jesus loved them and taught his disciples to love them. He resolved, “Rome may be my enemy today, but in the future Rome will surely be blessed through my followers.” That blessing was more than enough to save Rome. Jesus wanted more than anything to give Rome this blessing. Thinking of Rome’s future, he forgave the Roman soldiers and blessed them. (101:151, October 29, 1978) A person who becomes a martyr in order to enter heaven will fall down to hell. However, a person who is willing to go into hell in order to send the whole world to heaven will be brought into the Kingdom of Heaven, even if he protests. (39:197, January 10, 1971)

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