Until When You Will Stay In the Church?

During this transition period, confusion is unavoidable and division is inevitable when it couldn’t be overcome. That’s why I always admire elder members who keep their faith stable and their church life active despite their old age and have family to feed while attending our True Parents and working for the providence of Kingdom building.

I vividly remember Rev Jack Corley way back in 1988 when he visited our church to speak in the gathering of fulltime members of the region as the assigned IW missionary to ASIA. He asked each one of us to sit according to our spiritual age from eldest to youngest. We, being the younger ones then were situated at the back. Then he began speaking by throwing the question: UNTIL WHEN YOU WILL STAY IN THE CHURCH? He repeated the questions 3 times and pointed to a sister seated in the very front to answer that question as she was the eldest among all of us gathered.

That elder replied by saying, “I’m not sure until when since we are not yet perfect and vulnerable to commit sin anytime.” Without even finishing her sentence, Rev Corley quickly replied in a loud voice, “YOU ARE GIVNG SATAN ROOM TO INVADE YOU.” Rev Corley is right, because that elder is now one of the SC members in the Philippines.

So what are the elements that we need in order to keep our faith strong and active even the passing of times? I would like to render some reflections based on my experiences:

What are the Elements to Keep a Stable Spiritual Life?

1. True Parents are my PARENTS! Unification Community is my Family

With this in mind, our relationship with True Parents & our position in the church are both eternal and fixed. I am inseparable with them. I am their daughter. Because they are my parent I absolutely trust them. They are not just Messiah whom I can reject if I don’t have faith anymore nor they are founders of an organization whom I can just disregard if ever I no longer belong to their group. As a daughter I have filial duty towards my family. This is the very ROOT of my existence…

In truth, we can’t choose our parents as we can’t choose who can be the messiah. It is an eternal destiny made by heaven. Heaven sent the Messiah. Recognizing our True Parents as our parents is actually returning to the very origin of where we really belong to.

The same holds true in our relationship with members who also consider True Parents as their parents. They are our brothers and sisters! Because of this even though there are grudges and misunderstanding along the way, we digest and overcome and even continue loving them. Because we belong from the same family, we can’t just abandon any of them when they are not connecting anymore nor neglect them when they are in trouble.

I develop the attitude that as a sister I have responsibility to guide my younger siblings and respect with gratitude my elders.

2. Unification Principle and True Parents words are Heavenly Law

Because I believe that True Parents are the absolute and only God’s representatives, I consider their “WORDS” as wisdom for life and heavenly laws. For me they are the center and standard of judgment. True Parents said, the principle is the backbone of our faith and True Parents words are the flesh of the truth.

I could stand IMMOVABLE and doubtless when spiritual confusion is polluting the environment and affecting many faithful souls because there is the “standard law” that clearly discern right from wrong and good from evil. It is not fanatical belief but because I experienced the truth is real and is working well.

3. I’m a Historical Person and Restoration is Inevitable

True Parents said we are all historical people therefore I am aware that I would be facing circumstances of historical figures (on my level) that I need to overcome too like our True Parents especially when we are in a given leadership responsibility of any kind.

Also, being the very first to join from our lineage, I kept the idea that I am the responsible person who will carry all the restoration of my family and tribe, therefore suffering and sacrifices are inevitable because they are twins of restoration. So with this in mind, I never lost the vision of the future, nor lose the power to move on despite the long thorny journey we have to thread on.

4. The Spirit world is Real and Earthly life is Limited

Because there is spirit world, life is not ending here on earth but continues until there. Therefore, there are so many things to do in preparation for eternal life and thinking about sinning is really conscience striking moment. The saying we reap what we sow is actually terrifying when we think that there is eternity - eternal VICTORY or damnation is awaiting as judgment of how we spent our life on earth in the span of time given to us.

5. Witnessing & Tithing Tradition is my life

I have always included this topic in many of my testimonies because it’s a proven fact - the more I testify about True Parents, their works and the Principle, the more I gain confidence in this chosen path. True Father said: Spiritual Children are our property rights in the spirit world

Same holds true in tithing. It’s not about the amount of donation that matters but the attitude when we are making the offering. I found it to be true that material fortune is stored in our treasure boxes when we fulfill this condition.

6. Everybody has its own course of Restoration Incomparable with each other

After the fall, our ancestors inherited all kinds of sins and fallen natures and went over their own way of fallen life. Each one of us has different ancestral backgrounds, has grown from different kinds of environment, has different kinds of life experiences and each has laid its own spiritual foundation… Due to these issues, there is no comparison in our life course. Some may be in thorny and steep course of suffering life while others are in easy path. Some may have long winding road to go through while others are just enjoying. Some can easily understand God’s heart and God’s words while others take too much time to comprehend.

To compare ourselves with others will only lead us to sin by complaining to heaven followed by creating conflict with others and later harbor dissatisfaction, resentment and entitlement attitude that will block our eternal destiny.

Whatever situation we are in, there is only thing we need to keep in mind: God is the parent who knows us best, love us much and cared for us the most. Always remember he is with us, living with us and watching us as loving parent carrying with Him the hope of our eternal return to His bosom.

In relation to the question of Rev Corley “until when we will stay in the UC?” The answer is: FOREVER and for ETERNITY. Because Unification Church is not just a religion and True Parents are not just founders.

UC is God’s family and True Parents are our parents. Since God is eternal and True Parents are their substantial bodies on the earth, UC & TP are forever and eternal. We are not just faithful church goers who just observe rules and take responsibilities BUT we are pious sons and daughters of Heavenly Parent with the vision to live with them in the eternal world in familial relationship centered on true love and with filial duties towards heaven, nation and humanity.