For almost six years now, I have been reading and reflecting with deep interest and concern what many of our dear brothers and sisters and former-members (that are always our dear brothers and sisters) are writing and freely expressing in several Internet lists. I am particularly interested to understand deeply the ones that feel abused, burn out, disillusioned, disappointed, resentful and even hostile to the movement.

I have not arrived to any final conclusions yet on this issue. Because, every person, every case, every situation is very unique and particular. But, one thing which I have found in common often is the following:

"Important decisions were/are taken, with a lack of full control of our lives, without a profound and proper conversion (that should be a totally independent, free and volunteer act of affirmation). In other words, we should always act and be inspired and guided by our heart, following the internal voice of God in our conscience with the unbreakable and sure force of our own convictions, and not by the external and foreign pressures, no matter what they are, or were they are coming from, being justify or not."

You can't wring the love out of people.... and God would never even think of trying to. As everyone knows, True love comes from the heart and is given naturally and voluntarily.

The always Unseen and Patience God has always respected the principle of free will, human responsibility and not interference. On the other hand, we tend to not respect such a principle, regardless of our good or bad intentions in doing so, we have, unfortunately, a tendency to control and dominate others.

Without our internal freedom, it is very difficult to be of good use and follow God, the Messiah, the Providence or any other spiritual path.

I really want to know and discover the best practical ways to help and to avoid such recurrent errors and abuses in managing others. Three points to consider are:

1. Providential needs - Any effort or sacrifice (big or small) should be given always in freedom with the absolute and conscious consent of the volunteer.

2. Purpose of the whole - Always in balance with the purpose of the individual.

3. The supposed spiritual well being impose to the members - The "leader know best" attitude should be change for "our conscience knows best"

We are in a big providential time with endless demands, so, no matter how much we accomplished, how much we have given, it's never enough. There's always something new that we 'must' do, another providential offering that we 'must' give.

I do not have a problem with that, as a matter of fact, I believe that we should always be giving and giving during all our lives. That's the only way the world can function well. Everyone gives, and also everyone naturally receives.

The problem is that Father's loving philosophy of: "Give, forget you have given, and give again" seems to be mirrored in reverse by some, whose approach to its good and generous members often seems to be: "Take, forget you have taken, and take again."

Mere duty or obligations undermines creativity and the natural joy of giving. Freedom and responsibility should lead naturally to voluntarism and VOLUNTARISM IS THE KEY FOR THE SUCCESS OF ANY SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT.

Despite all the problems past and present, I am optimistic because the movement is now in a time of transition. Current problems are the best opportunities for change. We should take advantage of the following:

- Home-church, Home-town (No reasons to justify, excuse or complain about "leaders" or the "movement", because everyone now has the freedom and the authority to make their own physical and spiritual foundations independently)

- WE as blessed couples have now full authority to give the blessing, be messiahs (tribal, national) in our own merits, pray in our own names, etc.

- Take advantage of the absolute power and authority of our individual conscience, that was always there, but has been officially recognized and declared by Father himself as the supreme power and authority. (Internal liberation)

- FFWPU is a movement now and not merely a Church (UC) with the limitations of a specific dogma and the rituals of another organized religion - a very important distinction. In the statement from Father himself about the change, he declare that FFWPU should be non-denominational and focus on Family values. So, Unificationists need to learn to be humble and compete and cooperate with everyone in the same common ground of Universal Common and Divine Values and their implementation.

In other words a movement...

with loyalty to principles rather than hierarchies or personalities.

with substance and real fruits over image

with rationale for decisions

with democracy, cooperation, honesty and humility

In other words, "We do not need to reinvent the wheel". We should learn and respect the timeless wisdom (ingrained in all different spiritual traditions, particularly in Christian principles developed by 2000 years) that some in their immaturity and arrogance wish to bypass or forget. We need a system that operates base on this timeless and perennial wisdom, therefore:

- "The principle of creation should take precedent over the principle of restoration"

Because the principle of restoration derives from the Principle of Creation, which is the only PRINCIPLE, the rest is just the application of it.

Often the abuses I have seen in our movement were justified or excused in the name of restoration, indemnity, etc., not under the principle of creation

- "Heavenly ends do not (and should not) justify unethical means"

- "Persons are ends in themselves and not means to an end"

- "Although we need to hate evil and sin, we always need to love unconditionally the sinner"

- "We need to be able to distinguish God's message from the limitations of the messengers"

- "Individual responsibility and merit over inherited or ancestral merits (or de-merits)"

and many others... 

 Download entire page and pages related to it in ZIP format
Table of Contents
Information
Tparents Home