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

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)

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

In Ch’en, supplies ran short and his followers became so weak that they could not drag themselves onto their feet. Tzu-lu came to the Master and said indignantly, “Is it right that even gentlemen 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. 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, 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

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, 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

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 burn- ing 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 forever! 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, 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 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 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 Muhammad—were all 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 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 self-denial, but ultimately, 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; 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)