The Same Position as the Pilgrim Fathers
Excerpt from ‘Becoming a Second Reverend Moon’
by Rev. Sun Myung Moon
May 19, 1984. East Garden (USA)
Edited by esgd
4 minutes
However, is the Christianity of today ready for that kind of revolution? Ready to be united by the Holy Spirit? No, but somebody has to do it; there is no question. And that mission is upon you. You are the ones who must ignite the new spiritual revolution, become the second Pilgrim Fathers and touch off another war of independence. Therefore we are in a situation parallel to that of the Pilgrim Fathers three hundred years ago. For that reason we are here to redetermine ourselves.
The Pilgrim Fathers were ready to give up their lives for the cause. After they landed in this “New World,” they fought many varieties of opposition. Being the minority, the Pilgrim Fathers were terribly oppressed. However, in those times of battle and difficulty, God was always their ally. They said: GOD IS OUR ALLY, OUR POWER; IN GOD WE TRUST. That was their only power, so they had the courage to go on.
Also, when the Pilgrim Fathers crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower, they faced a desperate 57-day ordeal. During that time their only hope was God, nothing else. The captain of the Mayflower prayed a tearful prayer at the ship’s wheel, because there was no other hope but God. And after they landed, they had to face other desperate situations. Again, they trusted that God would protect them.
When their descendants declared the war in which they would have to fight the British Royal Army, the power of which was great, whereas George Washington’s army, consisting of volunteers and ragtag American militia, was very weak, again they had one thing in common: the belief that “God is on our side.” Every soldier who died on the front line knew that his death was not in vain, that he was dying for the great cause. Each of the soldiers had that conviction, and they stood up for God. They died for the sake of the Will of God.
Today, you are in precisely the same position as the Pilgrim Fathers and the Independence Army soldiers. The difference, however, is that a Pilgrim father was all alone and by himself, but you have many powerful allies. In addition to the support of God, you already have so great a foundation horizontally.
Furthermore, we know the lessons of history, so we understand what is happening today. And we have a reality in front of us [Father], so our position is infinitely stronger than that of our predecessors. If we now can stand up and make a commitment to God in the same way as those brave persons, then we become invincible. In what way do you make your recommitment? There are only two options: one is, I want to accomplish the goal, but I want to save my skin first. The other way is: I commit my life, my way of life and every ounce of energy, sweat and blood to achieve this goal. I will sacrifice for that battle.
We must realize that those Pilgrim Fathers made their pledge to God. Also the Independence Army soldiers pledged to God. We have this heritage, this tradition. Today we have the same mission, though now the worldwide Providence is in our hands. Therefore we should make the same pledge.
Now we know clearly to whom we pledge, and what kind of pledge to make. Which is your pledge: the one in which your own salvation comes first, or the one where the first thing is committing every ounce of your energy to the goal?
Remember that you made this pledge in front of God and the Tie Parents. That will be your source of power, your powerhouse. You can draw from it all the energy you need in your battle.
Join your hands, and look at your ten fingers. Pledge that you will not make your hand, your fingers, your body, your legs or your mind a betrayer. You will never become a betrayer to these “pledge hands.” Thank you all!