Archive for February 17th, 2012
Without official doctrinal statements, Iglesia ni Cristo is building its house on sand
Mr. Sugon:
First off, the true Christian teachings upheld by the Iglesia ni Cristo are readily available on the Web (e.g. Wikipedia), or via radio and television broadcasts. We have cable channel NET 25 where you can watch and learn the doctrines as well as the activities of the church. We may not have what you call official Web site, but, the FUNDAMENTAL teachings are readily available online. That’s why many of the critics of the INC, such as you, can elicit questions against them.
I am just wondering why you still ask for such official Web site if you are able to create a blog that criticizes our beliefs. If you don’t have the knowledge of the doctrines and beliefs of the INC, then why create an online journal such as this with the intention of challenging the truth of our faith. Just a thought, Mr. Sugon.
Also, the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo are FULLY AWARE of the fundamental doctrines of the church FYI. All of us are being instructed to remain steadfast in our faith through the pure teachings of Christ. That is also why you may find some members who may falter in their faith and eventually face excommunication (pagtitiwalag) due to unbelief or unchristian practices….
Reply:
Ivan,
Will INC trust Wikipedia to reflect its true doctrines? Will INC trust Net 25 to explain true doctrine? Humans come and go. If humans can err in grammar and sentence construction, how much more in official doctrines? If there are contradictions in the arguments, INC will just say, “It is not official”. I may make a blog criticizing INC beliefs, but what I am criticizing is what I think INC believes. This may be different from what INC truly believes. Thus, it is important that there is an official teaching that people can scrutinize word for word–a teaching with the seal of approval of the INC hierarchy. As Christ said:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.j15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.” (Mt 5:14-15)
Opinions of men vary in time and place. But since the salvation of men requires that they be taught the truth, it is imperative that truths and doctrines be laid down in written form that will stand the test of time. INC must build its house on rock by writing down its official doctrine. Otherwise, INC builds its house on sand, and when the floods come, the house will be washed away. (cf Mt 7:24-27)
Does Iglesia ni Cristo celebrate the Feast of the Pentecost as its birthday?
Question: From Vincent Cepeda:
it’s ironic how INC reemerged from the philippines, a third world country.
From an illiterate poor man who didn’t even have money to pay his fare at the time that he’s spreading the words of God.
The poor illiterate man, who was tagged as the map, for he only had one pair of coat (amerikana) which from everyday use already formed a map of sweat.
The poor illiterate Felix Manalo who had to battle the then vast Catholic Church and Protestant – during the start of World War 1.
From a poor illiterate man, INC is now worldly renowed, very powerful and influential.
With the economy failing, the world is getting poorer and poorer.
Even the richest country is going through recession and are filing bankruptcy.
INC is buying old Catholic Churches, buying towns and properties all over the world – paying cash, although majority of it’s members belong to society’s lower class.
INC who, in the middle of a World crisis, is currently building the World’s biggest indoor arena in the middle of a community.
From a poor illiterate man.
With all the impossibilities he had overcome, and by looking at INC now,
If it’s not for God, then whose work was it?
Response:
Vincent,
It is ironic how the Catholic Church emerged. It’s founder was born on a stable in Bethlehem. He lived in Nazareth where no prophets have lived. His foster father is a carpenter. He gathered 12 unlikely men, many of them illiterate fishermen. And he taught them the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. The founder died, but the twelve testified that he rose from the dead after 3 days. They saw him ascend to heaven with the angels. And he said to them:
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19h Go, therefore,* and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,20i teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20)
Before the founder ascended to heaven, he told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for “the promise of the Father* about which you have heard me speak;d 5for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5)
And the promise was fulfilled:
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.a 2And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,* and it filled the entire house in which they were.b 3Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,* which parted and came to rest on each one of them.c 4And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,* as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.d” (Acts 2:1-3)
The Feast of the Pentecost is what the Catholic Church celebrates every year as its birthday. The 12 men cowering in fear became fearless proclaimers of their founder, Jesus Christ. And from these 12 men, the Catholic Church grew like a mustard seed: “It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” (Mt 13:32) The Catholic Church has 1 billion members spread in all countries of the world.
Question: does INC celebrates the Feast of the Pentecost as its birthday? If not, then INC is not biblical. And we may, therefore, conclude that INC was not built by Christ and his apostles. In other words, INC was only built in 1914 by one man named Felix Manalo and that INC’s doctrines were only made by Manalo, even though he used the same Bible compiled by the Catholic Church.
