On his recent visit to
Korea, Hyun Jin Nim spoke to the general membership and
also to church leaders. As many more senior church
leaders have in recent years become national messiahs or
been mobilized to Japan, the majority of church leaders
in Korea are young.] Instead of going my usual route of
asking the audience what I should speak about, I will go
right ahead and address the topic I feel needs to be
addressed today. Is that all right?
The first thing I
would like to say is, we have to recognize that
especially at this time we are entering a new era in
God's providence. In the past whenever I heard people
talking about a new era, it always implied that there
was some type of break or end to the previous era, or
that this new era was separate from the era that
preceded it. But what do I mean by saying that this is a
new era? Do I see this era as separate from the
preceding era? Or is it a continuation of it?
At this point I want
to ask if I can walk around while I speak. Is that okay?
[Yes!] Standing before you I feel that we are working
together. So we have to be one in mind and spirit. I'm
going to forego the formalities and conventions and try
to communicate with you from the outset on a level of
heart. The reason being there is not enough time. This
is a new era. Either you're with it or you're not.
That's why in coming here before you, instead of
building formality I want to come to you on a level
where we can relate. Then you can truly understand that
this is an era we have to be prepared for and accept.
So what do I mean by a
new era? Does this mean that my vision is separate from
the vision that Parents have given you? Or is it the
fulfillment of Parents' vision? To answer this question
I'd like to use an analogy. When I was at the
headquarters church on Sunday I gave members the analogy
of the Israelites following Moses to the Promised Land.
God promised the Israelite people that He would deliver
them from the hands of Egypt and give them a new land in
which they could create their own nation. Of course
making the break from Egypt took forty years in the
wilderness - before they actually saw the border of the
Land of Canaan. Do you think God meant for the people of
the Israelite nation to perish in the wilderness? [No.]
There was the promise of the land of Canaan.
If we look at that
whole process, the people walking in the wilderness
recognized that wilderness as their reality, as their
vision at that time. They didn't talk about the land of
Canaan; they had to think about finding food, shelter
and clothing, the fundamentals of life. They could not
think of other things. Yet when they came upon the
border to the land of Canaan, then they realized the
ultimate fulfillment of God's vision and promise, which
was to deliver them to the land of Canaan.
Parents have said that
we have now entered the settlement era. What does that
mean? It is analogous to the Israelite people arriving
out-side the land of Canaan. Yet before they entered,
they had to leave behind all the baggage they had
carried from Egypt and during their years in the
wilderness. They had to start fresh and move forward.
That was the new vision they had to accept.
This time is also such
a time. We have entered the settlement era, the time in
which we are to build God's Kingdom. If we want to enter
that era, we have to leave all our past bag-gage behind
and start afresh. Think about it. At the last blessing
in June, Parents gave a heavenly proclamation liberating
even the worst people in human history, including Hitler
and Stalin. This was unprecedented. Isn't it also
unprecedented that the standard of the blessing is lower
than previously? The conditions are very simple now,
right? One accepts the four pledges and drinks the holy
wine and is then a candidate for the holy blessing.
Isn't it so? That is the reality now. Does this mean
that all the past values and all that Parents have
taught before were false and are nullified now? No. It
means we are entering a new era.
Does that mean the
conditions you set to receive your blessing were just
suffering that had no meaning because blessing in
essence is this simple? No! Think about it. Those
Israelites who followed Moses on the trek from Egypt to
the land of Canaan, did they not suffer and have to set
a higher condition of faith and loyalty? It was upon the
kinds of conditions that they set that a foundation was
created to build a nation - a nation that could work on
the worldwide level.
So what is happening
to the Unification Church right now? I have had the
opportunity to travel around the country and around the
world talking to members, and I know some are concerned
about the standard of the blessing, by the fact that it
is getting lower. Sometimes they say, "The blessing
standard was so high before; I set such a high standard.
Yet we give the blessing away so easily now. We are
diluting the value of the blessing. "As pastors, I'm
sure you are faced with this kind of questions or
concerns. Is the Unification Church just going for a
numbers game, because we just want the number are we
therefore diluting the standard?
I think to understand
this we have to reflect on the purpose of the
Unification Church and the purpose of God's providence
and Parents' mission. Ultimately God's purpose is the
restoration of all humanity. Why do we always come to
Cain and Abel struggles? Because the ultimate purpose of
restoration is to create an ideal family, to bring the
Cain and Abel camps together, and to bring the vertical
standard of parents and children together. That is our
purpose.
The blessing is not
something reserved just for Unification Church members,
just as the purpose of the Israelite nation was not to
exist for the sake of Israel alone but for the world.
Father said that if Christianity had accepted him in
1945, the foundation for the restoration of the world
could have been fulfilled in seven years, by 1952.
Although our theology is very closely aligned with
Judeo-Christian theology, especially the Old and New
Testaments, do you think God's purpose of restoration in
sending Parents here was for Jews and Christians alone,
or for the world?
The foundation of
Christianity on the worldwide level at that time was to
receive True Parents. Parents were to use that
foundation to build a God-centered world. But not for
Christians alone -- for the whole world. Because
Christianity did not accept Father, he had to establish
the Unification Church. All that Parents needed to be
fulfilled through Christianity they had to re-indemnify
through the establishment of the Unification Church.
Father had to re-create a worldwide foundation.
Now we are at the
stage in which we have a worldwide foundation, but do
you think the purpose of restoration stops at the
Unification Church alone? Remember, the purpose of
restoration and True Parents' mission is to restore the
world, to bring the Cain and Abel camps together. If the
Unification Church stands in the position of Abel, and
the world stands in the position of Cain, the purpose is
to bring those worlds together. Therefore, Parents had
to set the conditions by which that unity could come
about. Why? Because conflict between brothers can never
be resolved by the power of brothers alone. They need
the central authority of parents.
The history of
humanity has been a history of conflict because True
Parents had not come. That is the fundamental essence or
core of our theology, isn't it? That is why we first
have to understand what the mission of the Unification
Church is. It is a public mission - to exist for the
sake of the world. We have built the foundation up to
this point, giving out for the sake of the world in
order to fulfil this purpose.
What is meant by the
settlement era? I think it is analogous to zero point,
or the beginning point in time. When I compare this to
the initial building of the Unification Church
foundation, analogous to the forty years wilderness
course and based on the conditions set then, at this
time we can stand almost at a zero point or beginning
point in human history. Just as God's purpose is to
bring together the Cain and Abel camps of the
Unification Church and the rest of the world; when we go
back to even the individual level, doesn't it make sense
that the internal aspect and the physical aspect come
together? Many times we talk about this on the
individual level. But I want you to think about it for
one moment from an organizational perspective. Why?
Because the settlement era is the time to build the
Kingdom. The Israelites looking at the land of Canaan
and in the process of settling there had to establish a
government and an infrastructure, they had to build
educational institutions, and so on. The attitude, the
mentality and perspective they needed to have were very
different from those needed when trying to find food or
shelter or water for the next day. Don't you think so?
The time of settlement
is one of putting down roots. What does that mean for
the Unification Church and for our leadership? Does
anyone have an opinion? I don't know. What does it mean?
Should I leave you in suspense or should I explain?
[Please explain!] If I always explain, you will never
try to figure things out by yourself. Isn't that so?
[Laughter]?
The answers have all
been give. Father has said everything he needs to say.
What I am saying is nothing new. So what does that mean
for new Unification Church leadership? [Setting the
tradition.] What else? Everything is revolving around
tradition, which is good. But as we enter a new era
there is new focus. I asked Appa, "What does the
settlement era mean, and what does it imply for the
leader-ship of our movement?" Father explained it to me
in this way: In the past, our movement worked on the
family level. That is why many of you are talking about
tradition. Tradition is very important in maintaining a
vertical standard within the family. However, now when
we talk about the settlement era we are entering the
level of the nation. In other words, the foundation on
the family level having been fulfilled, we are therefore
moving to the level of the nation. I don't want you to
misunderstand me. It does not mean that tradition and
understanding Father's heart are not important. They are
absolutely important. When I began speaking I asked you
if talking about a new era implies a discontinuation of
the previous era. It does not. It is a building upon
what was established in the past. But now we have to
work on the national level.
All of you here today
are pastors of your own congregations. I look at you as
the leadership of our movement. When I ask this
question, it relates directly to your responsibility. So
I ask you, what does it mean for you? (Foundation of
substance.] That's right, building the foundation of
sub-stance. Methodology is also part of building the
system. The method used has an effect on what is
created. For example, let's say you are writing
something-the way you write will determine how the
writing looks, won't it? You can write upside down,
lying down, you can write on a table or on your lap. Try
those different positions and observe your writing. The
method you use will determine the type of sub-stance you
create. I think one way to put this in context is to go
back and re-read the message Father gave during my
Family Federation inauguration. Appa set there a new
paradigm for leadership. It's not only the internal
foundation. Appa said that the future leadership of our
movement has to have a substantial foundation. Why is it
so important at this time? Because we have risen to the
national level. When you are working on a family level
it is usually the elders who take responsibility and the
leadership positions. But when working on a national
level, we are dealing with many many different families.
Therefore the criteria will change. Those who have not
only an internal foundation but also external capability
can be effective leaders. Do you think the position of a
nation's president is something that is determined by
age or by ability? By ability. To you, the Unification
Church leadership, especially here in Korea, this should
be a liberating revelation. Have you not wondered, on
reading the Divine Principle? It says clearly that we
have to build the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth before
we build it in the spirit world.
I know there are many
mysteries about the spirit world, but more and more we
have been receiving revelation about what it is like.
One such revelation has come from Dr. Sang Hun Lee. What
did he say about the spirit world? What is it like? Do
you reside close to heavenly Father based upon the
position you held on earth, the amount of money you had
or other similar criteria? Or is your position
determined by the merit of your life? Is it determined
by age or by seniority? If so Adam and Eve would be the
closest to Heavenly Father. Or is it based upon the
merit of the life you have lived, the degree to which
you have lived in dedication and service to Heavenly
Father, that determines your place? It is focusing on
the realm of shimjung. As Unification Church members who
strive to establish mind and body union and perfection,
we should strive not only for the highest place in the
spirit world but also for the highest place on earth.
That way we bring the two worlds together. Then we
establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth as well as in
the spirit world. Do you think this is right or wrong?
Effort and merit.
I had a chance to meet
with all the regional leaders before meeting with you,
and I also spoke to them about a new paradigm. The
foundation that Parents have built is tremendous. The
direction that Father has given me as his son is to put
the flesh upon the bones of this foundation. However, I
cannot do it by myself. I need your support. You have to
come with me, walking side by side with me, to put the
flesh on the bones of this movement. It is not going to
happen easily. That means you have to strive hard to
keep up and to follow.
Can you do this? If
you want to be the true future leaders of our movement,
you have to be able to keep up. You have to look at
yourselves as historical people, as historical leaders
setting the precedent for a new generation. Think about
the situation right now. The young people of this world
are lost, especially in modern societies. I'm sure that
some of you are overwhelmed by the small problems in
your churches, but you have to look beyond them and
recognize, "As a historical man, as a representative of
God and True Parents at this time, regardless of how
small my foundation seems to be, I am connected to God's
worldwide providence! This providence is moving forward,
and I am moving forward with it!" That's the way you
have to think. Can you do that?
This is a new time.
The slate is clear; a blank slate. What we harvest in
the future all depends upon what we sow. This is not a
time for self-centeredness, or for petty rivalry or
differences between, for example, first and second
generation. It is not a time for comparison with others,
for thinking one per-son is better than another.
Remember what I am saying, that the slate is clean. We
are at the borders of the land of Canaan, and just like
the Israelites we have to leave all our old bag-gage
behind as we move forward. This is a time in which we
have to work together in common effort with the focus of
building God's kingdom first. It is the people and the
leaders who put His kingdom and providence before
themselves that God needs in the future.
All of you gathered
here today, are you such people? If you are, raise your
hands. Great! I'm glad that you are such people. Then
this movement has a future, and our future has a
foundation.
One thing I would like
to emphasize is, although we have entered this new era,
it is not a time in which we will face no opposition.
Doesn't the Bible say the Last Days will be a time of
judgement, and that great chaos will flow through the
land? Don't you feel now that the spirit world is
working more than ever? Just as the Christians in Korea
have stood against the advancement of the Unification
Church, so too there is interference from the evil
spirit world. But the way I view this is not from a
position of defeat or cowering. I look at it as a
challenge for our movement. I look at this time of
unrest as one in which leadership can rise up. When
people are con-fused and lost, isn't that the time when
true leaders arise? True leaders, through the blood,
sweat and tears of their own merit, rise and lead into
the future. I look at this as that kind of time, and I
want to propose a challenge to each and every one of
you. Will you become that type of leader? Will you be
strong enough, regardless of how hard the wind blows, to
lead your congregations and the Korean people in the
building of God's kingdom? Yes or no? [Yes!] Those who
make their pledge raise your hands and stand up! How
great!
