Latest Richard Urban Show: #107-Strengthening Families & Communities Forum: Richard Urban
Cheon Seong Gyeong 675
Jesus strove to establish his family but could not fulfill that portion of God’s will. He then went the path of the cross, putting behind him the thought of bride and bridegroom. Hence, he said that he would come again and hold the Marriage of the Lamb. This refers to the appearance of the ideal family in which God can find rest. Then the Lord can attain the position of True Parent. As the True Parent, he has to give birth to true children and then form true brothers and sisters. Centered on this true family, by forming true clans and true races, he has to establish a new race and a new nation. We come to the conclusion that Jesus has to come again to realize this. (39-345, 1971.1.16)
Cheon Seong Gyeong 1056
Your family should not become secularized or slaves of habit. You should not think, “Things will be better in the future even though it is terrible now.” You are to be perfect now; the present is the problem. When the past and the present are perfected, the future will be perfect. Not having had a perfect day in the Garden of Eden still causes us to suffer the effects of the Fall.
The ideal is the place where the past, present, and future can be united into one. You should be able to offer up the present. God’s desire is to set up the eternal stepping stone on earth. This is the historical point of synthesis. (21-77, 1968.10.20)
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.
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
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.
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 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 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.
Doctrine and Covenants 135.1 (Latter-day Saints)
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.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (Christianity)