By Weichen, a Falun Dafa practitioner in China (Minghui.org) I have read multiple experience sharing articles written by Falun Dafa practitioners that concern the importance of withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its other organizations. Some of these practitioners tell people that it is fine for them to just quit the CCP “in their heart”.

I feel that quitting the CCP is a very serious matter. Without having the person formally make the decision to quit it, they might verbally agree to withdraw from the CCP, but not truly mean what they say. If that’s the case, the toxic CCP influences will stay inside them. They will not be cleansed or saved.

When the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak in China, some Falun Dafa practitioners, as well as non-practitioners, had symptoms, although they had already quit the Party. We know that the virus is here targeting the CCP. I believe that’s an indication that these people had failed to completely annihilate the demonic influences and other elements of the CCP in them. The CCP virus would not have had any effect on them, had they purged all the CCP elements from inside out.

Master told us,

“It’s necessary to remove the mark left by the evil. Even though declaring withdrawal is a formality, if the person can come forward and make that statement, that is, if he is able to take that step, then his thinking is changing through that process and his body is cleansed of the poisonous factors. Some people have said, “I don’t need to write it out. In my heart I have withdrawn.” That might not really effect a cleansing of poisonous factors from the body. And gods are watching whether people are firm. Since the deeper motives behind a person’s thoughts are complicated, his actions are the most accurate expression of himself.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume VII)

“It’s still the same issue. The problem is not just with the formality of joining the Party. [The Party] has truly branded people with the mark of its sinister cult and made people join its ranks. That mark must be erased. The mark doesn’t manifest in the human world, and what is at work also includes the [Party’s] factors that are inside people’s bodies. People made deadly pledges to its blood-red flag, promising to give even their lives to it, so would you say that only thinking about it in your heart, instead of renouncing it openly, could do the job?” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume VII)

Verbal promises can be easily forgotten, and people who only agree to quit the CCP without sincerity may not be truly saved.

If people fear that their true identities may be exposed by making a public statement to quit the CCP, we can tell them that they have the choice to use a nickname or even a pseudonym, but they must be sincere and genuine about their decision. Only then will it count and they be truly saved.

Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s understanding in their current cultivation state meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare in studying, compare in cultivating.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)