Our Mission
A Call to Action and Effort for the Urantia Movement and Myself By Christopher Lepine
(Please note: You will need your Urantia Book open next to you.)
As tears filled my eyes and my heart soared, I knew I was reading the truth and beginning a journey that would never end, one filled with new wonders, stupendous realities, and great responsibilities. The Fifth Epochal Revelation had entered my life, that Spring of 1980, and it transformed my whole world. Finally, as the Spirit of Truth filled my mind, I was able to satisfy so many questions and discover the real techniques of living--the gospel of the kingdom. From then on, I was taken care of. I was home at last with my God in my universe. It was now time to get to work.
Thus were my first experiences with the Revelation. Take a good moment and think of yours. Feel the total joy of God's promises revealed in the Urantia Book. Be a Urantia "virgin" once again.
As we recall our wonderful and mysterious personal experiences, let us look at the present: The Urantia Movement is in a profound state of flux. Events continue to unfold which require us to reevaluate priorities and loyalties in order to make new decisions or to decide not to decide. I want to take you on a journey to the world's spiritual hunger, the needs of the Urantia movement, the challenge of the Master, and where I think we should head. Please join me with an open mind and pray on what I have to say. It is my deep hope that all of us realize what we should be doing, truly understand how we should carry out the Father's will above all else. It is a time to be frank on all sides and make progress: God is standing before us and watching.
The World's Need
Just before each of us had our first satisfying experience of God and the truth of His promises, there was the search, the sometimes interminable long walk to the light, the oftentimes confusing and painful struggle. Just as we go through the stages that presage choice and growth, our sisters and brothers, billions of them, yearn, cry, suffer, and struggle without ever knowing what we know. Most never get the pure teachings of the Master nor the expansive cosmic context of Parts I, II, and III of the Revelation.
As the UB says (1041:5), everyone is waiting for the real teachings of Jesus. We're not just talking about the United States, Europe, or Canada, but instead, an entire planet filled with Islamics, Jews, Jains, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Shintos, Sikhs, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, children, adults, and all seekers. This phenomenon and convergence of human spiritual starvation is the stage upon which we are called to act, upon which the Fifth Epochal Revelation and all spiritual agencies are challenged to meet the needs of the upwards of six billion people on this confused and darkened sphere on the edge of a galaxy.
Not only is there such an abundance of need, but it is presently intensifying. "'This is a generation of seekers,' writes Wade Clark Roof, professor of religion and society at the University of California--Santa Barbara. 'Diverse as they are-from Christian fundamentalists to radical feminists, from New Age explorers to get-rich-quick MBAs--baby-boomers have found that they have to discover for themselves what gives their lives meaning, what values to live by (CQ Researcher, Nov 25, 1994, Clarke).'"
Our entire planet is being consumed in a gradual and intensifying spiritual cry to the heavens for answers and salvation. Just look at the U.S. "Almost nine out of every ten people interviewed (88.6%) express agreement with the statement, 'There is a personal God who can answer prayer . . . 80.3% of people interviewed believe in life after death . . ." says Gerald Goldhaber on a new poll he conducted for Free Inquiry (Free Inquiry, Summer 1996, Goldhaber). The United States, especially, is ripe with searching. But, as we all know, the signs are everywhere. It is undeniable.
". . . Urantia is now quivering on the very brink of one of its most amazing and enthralling epochs of social adjustment, moral quickening, and spiritual enlightenment (UB 2082:6)." As always, the UB is right on the money: The world needs spiritual help and is about to accept it. Aside from this major conclusion, five key needs arise, unmatched thrilling service opportunities for us: 1) salvation, 2) growth, 3) a definitive source of truth, 4) a new personal religion, and 5) religious fellowships to nurture personal spiritual growth, serve their members, spread their messages, attract converts, and, ultimately, transform the world.
Since people have seen and tried most of the available substitutes for the truth, they have almost reached the end of their spiritual ropes. The current generation of seekers and their to-be-born or mature children (the baby busters), have sampled or are soon to sample the confused teachings and diluted truths of humankind. In fact, there is some evidence that the heralded return to church of baby-boomers has peaked and is now dropping off (Just imagine how disinterested their children are or will be.) ". . . In telephone interviews of 1,004 U.S. adults 18 and over, Barna Research Group said 37 percent of Americans now report going to church on a given Sunday. Attendance peaked in 1991 at 49 percent and dropped to 47 percent in 1992, 45 percent in 1993, and 42 percent in 1994 and 1995 . . .' Increasingly, we are seeing Christian churches lose entire segments of the population . . . (Christian Century, Sept 11, 1996, (Editorial)). Can the mega-churches, which use the delivery of market-driven extra-religious member services such as childcare, counseling, etc., be far behind? "Child care and singles groups are not much help giving religion meaning. In strong churches, those things are ancillary to a core of central meaning, not a facade that doesn't have much inside," says Dean Kelly, an advisor to the National Council of Churches (CQ Researcher, Nov 25, 1994, Clark).
Our sisters and brothers are increasingly ready for the real thing--the teachings of the Master as found in The Urantia Book. We will have that wonderful future, sooner or later. As each person responds to and lives the truth, everything that he or she touches will be changed, transformed. This is the only way to change the world. Our sisters and brothers will respond to the real gospel of eternal reality, sooner or later. Yes, we (or some other group that finds the UB) will bring them the truth, sooner or later.
The Urantia Movement's Need
Just as our sisters and brothers have a yearning and desire for improved lives, a satisfying relationship with the Heavenly Father, and a new type of religious community of common believers, so too does the Urantia movement. Indeed, confused ideas about God, lack of spiritual habits, negative behavior, drug abuse, divorce, crime, job dissatisfaction, and all manner of individual and family problems painfully afflict and inexorably retard all of us in some degree because we--the Urantia movement--are born and live within the context of a confused philosophic, religious, and scientific stew, a time of fragmented personalities, viewpoints, and societal institutions. We are a subset of this world and often fall prey to its confusion.
Is it no wonder that our personal relationships, local groups, and national organizations have been so dissatisfying and oftentimes destructive? Are we that surprised when believers often delay or modify outreach for concern of being drawn into a distasteful, destructive, and wasteful legal procedure instigated by another Urantia organization? Are we flabbergasted when many within the movement initiate seasons of self-delusional prophecy, bizarre behavior, personality worship, and produce teachings inconsistent with those of the Master or Parts I, II, or III? It is no secret that readers across the world are dissatisfied with what happens in reactions with other readers, within study groups, and at a national leadership and organizational level.
With the deepest and most sublime spiritual priorities, most of us have failed to give the one thing necessary for change and success, the aspect of being which is the key to realizing our ideals. This is the root of our dissatisfaction. It is not him or her, the Fellowship, or the Foundation, but the person in the mirror. Yes, there are deep problems with the Fellowship, the Foundation, and those that may have done us wrong, but, the only way to make it better has been largely avoided and lies in our hands.
We are well-meaning and good people. We have a wonderful climate of acceptance and a common bond. Recent devlepments provide great hope. But, we must be more. We must use new priorities which will be the foundation not only for satisfying our individual needs and group needs, but the needs of a planet.
As with our sisters and brothers, we are also looking for the real thing in an individual and group experience. We want what most want (as I said earlier), "1) Salvation, 2) Growth, 3) a definitive source of truth, 4) a new personal religion, and 5) religious fellowships to nurture personal spiritual growth, serve its members, spread its message, attract converts, and, ultimately, transform the world."
How do we do it? In a word, WILL--God's and ours. How do we, as those blessed with the Revelation, go about doing it to meet our individual and group needs? Let's listen to the Master and the Revelators before making our plan.
The Challenge of the Master and the Revelators
We know God is watching and it is up to us. Just think about what a wonderful gift, such a stupendous source of truth, such an enduring and matchless present we have! Remember how you felt when you knew, when you discovered the truths of salvation and the universe. We must remember our fellows, the billions waiting. We must try and do something different than we have been doing. The Master can help us here.
Jesus makes it clear to us what we must do (1569:1-4). Learn, live, and spread the gospel to such a degree that the entire planet will ring with adoration and praise for the Universal Father, First Source and Center. Such a living, serving, preaching, evangelizing fellowship will not only get out and be bold, but, live incredible lives of spiritual brilliance to lead, nurture, and retain hungering brothers and sisters.
The Brilliant Evening Star in paper 87 makes it clear that we need a new cult of religious fellowship based upon the highest ideals of the gospel of the kingdom and the highest concepts of the modern age, ever adapting and evolving (965:5-966:5). We are given further guidance in the religion papers and other areas numerous areas in the book (i.e. 2077:3, 43:3, etc.).
Considering all that we know, this we are most sure of: If we do God's will above all else, whether it be above the will of wife, husband, family, friend, supervisor, any person, The Fellowship, The Foundation, or any organizational or governmental entity, personal hurt, fear, disappointment, handicap, attitude, or problem, then, and only then, will we realize improvement in our individual or organizational lives (1467:5). If we do this, success is guaranteed. If we follow Michael, success is ours.
What We Should Be Doing
We must strive for the highest and the grandest that we know and experience. "The goal of human self-realization should be spiritual, not material. The only realities worth striving for are divine, spiritual, and eternal (UB 1096:3)." Yes, we are into this stuff, do a lot of writing, talking, discussing. But, we must remember that the key here is action, not just thinking (We are damn good thinkers.). We must risk. We must exhaust and renew ourselves in this joyful striving.
Individually, we should 1) believe the gospel of the kingdom, 2) pray and worship a significant time each day (Make it a priority.), 3) give total dedication to God's will, 4) understand and accept the teachings of Jesus and the UB, and 5) serve family, friends, and other believers first before doing other outreach. With this foundation, we will achieve the organizational goals we set.
Organizationally, we should 1) create new churches and fellowships to firstly and mostly nurture members' spiritual growth, help their families, serve church members with church members, proclaim the gospel, conduct religious instruction, and socialize, 2) restructure our moral and ethical standards to improve group functioning and emphasize spiritual growth, limit offenders and reward servers, and 3) restructure The Fellowship and Urantia Foundation based on the gospel and the UB, plus the best of business management paradigms. Make the upper leadership levels constitutionally accountable and removable through direct action by a majority of the membership in a defined process.
Open the encased and defensive shell of Urantia Foundation. Increase the number of trustees, some elected by the Fellowship, some renewed under the current system. Build in checks and balances. Transcend the theophobia--this fear of religious expression and activities--that so intellectualizes and cripples the movement.
My God, how can the Foundation be expected to be balanced and self-controlled if it is answerable to no one. Do we know of any institution (human or divine) that has a self-perpetuating oligarchy so prey to unbalance, abuse of power, and diseased or iniquitous personalities taking control. Let's wake up! If the administrators of the universes are held accountable and can be overruled, how much more do we need these measures. The Foundation is just five confused and imperfect humans like the rest of us, controlling the Revelation. Therefore, until Urantia Foundation is reformed, we will continue to relive the problems of the past and present but with a new set of ever-self- assured characters. THE FOUNDATION WAS SET UP FOR FAILURE AND DISASTER FROM THE START!
In looking at the Fellowship and the Foundation, we must realize that they are born of the same intellectual tradition that was the Sadlers and the Forum. Our sisters and brothers who created this movement and made the UB possible are heros. Their hard work and sacrifice is honored. Many of the policies they pursued were wise and required for a time. Now, it is time to fulfill the trust the revelators placed in them, and they in us. We must keep evolving and changing.
For our groups and ourselves, this means setting aside time each day to think about and write down what needs to be done. It means allotting time for prayer and worship, reading the UB, teaching our children, socializing, etc. No successful and growing organization or individual does so by spontaneity alone: priority, organization, and structure are key to use the gifts of God.
Until, we devote ourselves to what we know we need to do, we will remain dissatisfied and unfulfilled. To those that do this already, I admire you; I look up to you as an example (All of us know these people.). For the rest of us, the vast majority, let us in humility step forth.
What is Needed
The key principle for change is total focus. Nothing else will work. All we have to do is look in business, when going to school, at a sporting event, in art, etc. We must keep this in mind. We really know what we should be doing but remain dissatisfied because of one thing--lack of effort, dedication, and discipline. The spirituality of the Master requires nothing less-- simply our will in accord with God's.
To give all, we must be willing to "lose" all. Our Teacher tells us that to realize the new joys and spread them we must be willing to give up EVERYTHING that gets in the way (1869:3-1870:2), EVERYTHING, no matter what, that would keep us from doing the Father's will, and learning, living, and spreading the teachings of Jesus. I don't know about you, but this brings real fear to my animal mind. It's almost hard to imagine this kind of devotion, being willing to give up everything if it gets in the way. Being willing to ask for and accept the Father's will, knowing it may require giving something up.
But as you and I know, the only progress we or this movement will make is by wholehearted devotion to God's will and the teachings of the Master. No progress made. Not one inch. No wonder we have been dissatisfied for decades! We haven't given ALL. Just as a person must realize the rigors of spiritual maturity after accepting the divine realities of God's gifts and salvation, so too must this movement, or another will rise to carry this torch.
Furthermore, we will be held accountable for that which has been put in our hands (1875:6-1877:1). Surely the psychic pain and disappointment from realizing we didn't do much could be profound, the lost opportunities, the squandering of time. Let us do our utmost and enjoy the sublime thrill of advancing truth on this darkened little sphere. Let us use the essence of success.
The Key To Success
I think it's easy to forget how simple the process truly is. I believe we make it complicated to avoid full commitment; we find so many reasons and contort logic to avoid the struggle and all the effort it requires. However, we can transcend this animal sloth to be invigorated with the absolute power of the Universal Father.
God is this key. whenever we are in doubt in this movement as to what to do to improve a situation, when we've done our best, we should seek the Father and know His gifts. Prayer and worship are more essential to our spiritual health than anything we can do (UB2089:0). And our spiritual health is more important than any aspect of our lives. Thus should we make prayer and worship the cornerstone of action.
We must go out boldly energized and serve each other; confront evil and error with positive action (good), not passive smiles (Let's remember that the Master could get in your face if needed as well as dry the tears on that same face). We must do what is necessary to achieve our goals in accord with the will of the Father in the guidelines of Jesus' teachings. We have to discuss problems when they occur . . . and not stop until we solve them. We have to be frank with each other. Problem avoidance doesn't equal problem resolution: The Master teaches us to go to our brother or sister and then get other help if needed. Through all of these discussions and confrontations, we must remember that the goal is not to "achieve a static and blissful state of mind" or social pleasantries, but to achieve the truth and our organizational objectives.
Personal or organizational problems are only resolved when acknowledged, discussed, and completed. Completion will be the best possible outcome for the most people for the longest period of time. It may mean consequences for the offender, but, most of all, it means steps have been made to prevent the problem from occurring again as well as steps to deal with the consequences of the problem in past. "Pay me now or pay me later."
Our success will also be based on knowing the true gospel. We must drench our minds in the eternal truths of Michael and the Father. The endless bombardment of confusion and stimulation from the outside tends to wash the mind clean of our beloved truths if we don't study, as well as pray, worship, and meditate. Like any field of expertise, the gospel requires no less than total dedication.
Everyone has a different circumstance and, ultimately, a unique role as part of this large fellowship of ours (Romans 12:4, Paul). We can't all sing, or write, or lead, or head a committee, but, that is as it should be. Within our circumstances, we will be judged and rewarded on what we tried to do with what we had. Everyone should be respected and valued, from the new reader to the infant, from the old reader to the confused seeker. God is no respecter of persons and neither should we. The requirement for interacting with and listening to someone in public should not be based on how well we know him or her outside of the event or how he or she stacks up to any criteria we set. Sure, we associate with friends, but to maroon the troubled, the undesirable, or the new reader, is cruel and foolhardy. Do we engage them in conversation? Do we ask them questions about themselves? Do we try to serve them? Think about it. Are there people we ignore? Yes. We know we do it. It must stop.
In essence, if we live the gospel among ourselves, we are then in a position--we have a right--to invite others to join us. We have something of value. In the end, this is what people (ourselves included) are looking for--the real thing.
In The Spotlight
Now, I would like you to please recall the first time you thrilled over the UB, The Fifth Epochal Revelation. Take a good long moment . . . and taste that fresh, glorious, spiritual refreshment . . . . . . . . . . . . Feel what it was like the first time.
It's time, always time, to get going. Our loving Master and our dear Universal Father give us total inspiration and power to do it. So, let us share this gift. Let us meet the dissatisfaction in the world and our movement with total wholehearted commitment to God and each other.
"Jesus continued to teach the twenty-four, saying: 'The heathen are not without excuse when they rage at us. Because their outlook is small and narrow, they are able to concentrate their energies enthusiastically. Their goal is near and more or less visible; wherefore do they strive with valiant and effective execution. You who have professed entrance into the kingdom of heaven are altogether too vacillating and indefinite in your teaching conduct. The heathen strike directly for their objectives; you are guilty of too much chronic yearning. If you desire to enter the kingdom, why do you not take it by spiritual assault even as the heathen take a city they lay siege to? You are hardly worthy of the kingdom when your service consists so largely in an attitude of regretting the past, whining over the present, and vainly hoping for the future. Why do the heathen rage? Because they know not the truth. Why do you languish in futile yearning? Because you obey not the truth. Cease your useless yearning and go forth bravely doing that which concerns the establishment of the kingdom. (my emphasis)
"In all that you do, become not one-sided and overspecialized. The Pharisees who seek our destruction verily think they are doing God's service. They have become so narrowed by tradition that they are blinded by prejudice and hardened by fear. Consider the Greeks, who have a science without religion, while the Jews have a religion without science. And when men become thus misled into accepting a narrow and confused disintegration of truth, their only hope of salvation is to become truth-co-ordinated--converted.
"Let me emphatically state this eternal truth: If you, by truth co-ordination, learn to exemplify in your lives this beautiful wholeness of righteousness, your fellow men will then seek after you that they may gain what you have so acquired. The measure where with truth seekers are drawn to you represents the measure of your truth endowment, your righteousness. The extent to which you have to go with your message to the people is, in a way, the measure of your failure to live the whole or righteous life, the truth-co-- ordinated life." (1724:4-1725:3)
We have quite a task. But, quite a privilege and a wonderful life of adventure and eternal rewards. I suggest that whatever any of us decide to do or are engage in, that we simply ask ourselves if the action brings us or anyone closer to God. Does the organizational decision also help bring members closer to God and achieve the best for everyone in the group? Really, our only valid reaction is one of service where possible to bring someone or ourselves closer to God and or returning spiritual action for evil, sin, or iniquity. There is no other valid reaction in intent, attitude, thought, feeling, word, or deed.
We've got a lot to do for the movement and humankind. God is watching. The joys and rewards are ours for the striving, or another group that finds the UB and acts. "The larger issue is what happens in the general culture . . . The [only] two possibilities are moral anarchy and widespread spiritual revival. We now have the perfect conditions for a revival: alienated people who are questioning and jumping from job to job (CQ Researcher, Nov25, 1994, Clark)." --and a myriad of other dissatisfactions. If it gets any riper, it's going to rot.
My friends, look what awaits us, and entire planet filled with the spiritual adventure of an epoch-- what an astounding opportunity to serve! Could we desire or imagine a more exciting place to be, a more stimulating challenge than to transform ourselves and meet the spiritual hunger of a whole sphere? Our Master stands by us, brimming with good cheer and gladness, ever-ready to work with us in this valiant enterprise. Could any task be more exciting? Could any project be more important? Does any activity take priority over spiritualizing ourselves and presenting truth to our spouses, children, Urantia communities, and the world?
Let us calmly pray. Pray above all else first, each day. Let us activate the total power within and work like crazy. Let us be willing to live on that "fourth philosophic level" and do what God wants above all convention and human influence. Let us lose ourselves to save ourselves. Let us save this movement, propel it out from the ordinary, deadpan ritualistic intellectualism that so infests and cripples so many (What percentage of new readers stay?).
Let us spend our time on spiritual things. Let us do the Father's will. In the end, whatever our gifts or circumstances, we will be judged, restricted, and rewarded based on whether we did what we believed we should have in the doing of the Father's will.
God is watching.
What a wonderful universe. What a glorious time and destiny. What a stupendous Revelation we have. THANK YOU! God is in charge of this Revelation, not us! Let's do what He wants each of us to do. Much good has been done; we have a very talented pool of people, interesting groups, and lots of new activity and experimentation, but it is time for everyone who hasn't, to leave the sandbox of the Urantia movement and attain individual and organizational maturity.
Let's do what we can. Just ask one question: "Am I doing what I think God wants me to do? Am I doing all I can?" Many are. I'll pray for you and you pray for me. You know, when I get lazy or scared, or over intellectualized, or am procrastinating (which is a daily occurrence), I like to read a T-shirt my fiance gave me. It's got four angels surrounded by the clouds, looking divine, singing "Get off your . . . " I think our real angels are always finding creative uplifting ways to get us moving, to get us off dead center, to overcome the human tendency towards uniformity and inaction. After all, we are human!
As I end my plea and call for action, I want to acknowledge all those people in the movement who are active, who are doing what they feel they need to do. If we just look around, we already have examples, brothers and sisters who have begun applying the teachings and thought about the issues and where they stand, people who continually sacrifice and lead us all to seek the Father's will. I look up to you.
So, if you are like me and feel you haven't done enough, believe that you haven't applied the teachings to their utmost, join me in a rededication of your life to the Father's will and the teachings of the Master. Feel once again the thrill of spiritual truth and forward movement. Everyone of us has different callings, roles to play. Only you know where God wants you to be and what He wants you to be doing. The will of our gracious Father can be fulfilled in any occupation and in any station in life. So please, wherever you are and whatever your burdens, thrill to the truths of the UB and live them. As someone in the movement once said, "Grow where you are planted."
We have grave challenges and awesome responsibilities in this movement. Everyone can help in some way: In fact, we need everyone's help. We must be unafraid to do what is best for the Revelation over all else. Let us do our loving heavenly Father's will and learn, live, and spread the teachings of our Universal Brother, Michael. Let us do our best with what we have and where we are. Let us listen to our angels. Let us bring this glorious Fifth Epochal Revelation to this darkened sphere. Let us be frank and bravely do what we must. Let us be faith children of God. Let us transform our lives, this movement, and this world, Urantia. We can do it.
(Note: the last section of this article was updated on 1/12/98 to be more inspiring based on reader feedback.)