Every pioneer members/ministers and etc. in the Iglesia ni cristo, Church of Christ knows how the church suffered from the great persecution coming from nonmembers. Since then its very beginning and until now, the church and members not only having persecuted but also have been discriminate by other faiths in many aspect.
There were stories that in the time of Bro. Felix Manalo's and even ministers preaching in the worship service, that the roof of the house of worship were being thrown by stones. And in the side of the members, others were also being thrown not just by stones but also negative comments and they were being hated. And so many stories that you cant even imagine that was overcome by the INC and its members!
(Nowadays, the groups/people who still doing this most were the Cathholics, especially the Catholic faith defenders and Members of the church of Eli Soriano [MCGI] and other faiths.) How? By making articles using propaganda materials and specially through the use of the Internet or web... Many blogs and sites of these anti-INC people contains accusations, destructive opinions, lies and everything. Why? Very simple. They want others to have a bad impression to the INC as well as its members. Other reason? Because they get envy because of how far the Iglesia Ni Cristo accomplished as it is being a small group with few members but now, the INC spreads in 92 countries and 100+ nationalities! (That's how God guide and still guiding the church)
But we, as the members of the Church of Christ were not surprised in all of these, why? it is because the bible itself testifies:
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. " Matt 10: 22We know that we will also suffer being hated by other. Because it is Lord Jesus Christ first who suffered all of these:
And we, as the members of Christ's Church doing God's will wants to be saved.
"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first." John 15:18
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," II tim. 3:12BUT, should we be ashamed because of these?
"But if you suffer because you are a Christian, do not be ashamed. Praise God because you wear that name." I pet. 4:16Clearly, we should not be ashamed instead, we must be thankful coz' we are in the Church of Christ and that we are called Christian because we are member of Christ's body or Church. (Church of Christ --> ...rch of Christ --> CHRISTian)
Also because we will be blessed,
"People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will be blessed." Matt. 5:11
"Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the prophets who lived before you." Matt. 5:12
"When people insult you because you follow Christ, you are blessed, because the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is with you." I Pet. 4:14Another, we should not afraid of our enemies, because those will be destroyed and that we will be saved.
"and that you are not afraid of those who are against you. All of this is proof that your enemies will be destroyed but that you will be saved by God." Phil. 1:28
Lets go back on being ashamed, and it is answered, we should not be, because the one should be ASHAMED were:
"Those who worship idols should be ashamed; they brag about their gods.Why idol worshipers should be ashamed? Because they changed the glory of god in CULT-IMAGES!
All the gods should worship the Lord. " Psalms 97:7
"Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles."And what?
Rom 1:22-23
"They traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and served what had been created instead of the God who created those things, who should be praised forever. Amen." Rom. 1:25OKAY, Very clear, again, the one who SHOULD be ashamed is those who WORSHIP IMAGES because they traded the truth for a LIE! They made statues/images and worship it rather than the CREATOR OF LIFE(God, the father)!
Ask this to yourself, "Do i feel guilty for this?"
Is it true? that only the INC members will be saved?? If it is, i will not be surprise if you will receive a lot of critics because that is very wrong. For God so love the world that he gave his only son shall not perish but will gain eternal life.Jn3:16....the bible said that only if you believe in Jesus, you will be saved..example, the criminal beside Jesus at the cross, he said. Lord, i only ask to remember me, but Jesus promised him that he will be in paradise...He wasn't even part of any congregation or even baptized or even taught the lesson..Ergo..Therefore, it is not necessary to become INC to gain eternal life, but to believe Jesus with all of your heart and repentance will be enough..That's what the bible said..
ReplyDeletethanks for your comment, please read my post regarding "only INC members will be saved?" here:http://readmeiglesianicristo.blogspot.com/2012/06/do-we-hate-those-people-who-are-not-inc.html thanks again^^
DeleteOKAY, Very clear, again, the one who SHOULD be ashamed is those who WORSHIP IMAGES because they traded the truth for a LIE! They made statues/images and worship it rather than the CREATOR OF LIFE(God, the father)!
ReplyDeleteTO THE OWNER OF THIS BLOG,
I know Catholics and INC has different interpretations, but it's very wrong to put wrong information. Prove to me that Catholics worship images. Here, copy and paste
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
show me a phrase from official teaching that Catholics worship images.
“13. Is the worship of the saints confined to their persons?—No; it extends also their relics and images… 15. Ought we to worship holy images?-- We should have, particularly in our churches, images of our lord, as also of the blessed Virgin and the saints, and we should pay them due honor and veneration.” Catechism of Christian doctrine, no. 3, p. 87
DeleteEduard Syndicus, a Jesuit Priest says:
“Moreover, following other schoolmen, Thomas also showed in a wonderful section of his summa Theologica, his understanding of the irrational element in the cult image and its veneration: When one turns to an image, he says in so far as it is a thing—either a painting or a statue—it deserves the same reverence as Christ himself. ‘Since Christ is worshipped with humble veneration, it follows that his image, too, must be worshipped with (relatively) humble veneration’ ”
(Summa Theol. III, pu. 25, art. 3, Early Christian Art, p.151)
The Catholics really WORSHIP the images.
MEANING OF ‘worship’ IN THE DICTIONARY:
>The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
>The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.
>Ardent devotion; adoration.
>To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion.
THESAURUS:
>The act of adoring, especially reverently: adoration, idolization, reverence, veneration.
>Deep and ardent affection: adoration, devotion, love..
>To regard with great awe and devotion: adore, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate. > To feel deep, devoted love for: adore, love.
But because i am not bias, i would say the truth that the Catholic Church doesnt teach to WORSHIP the images/statues, the same worship they offer to their Triune God, but it was the CATHOLICS who worship those, believe it or not because most catholics are uncatechized, they do it just because it becomes their tradition and they do not really know what they are doing. (i know this because i even make a poll and ask former catholics, now INC members, if they really worship those in the past, and the result?) read here:http://readmeiglesianicristo.blogspot.com/2012/08/sumasamba-nga-bang-talaga-ang-mga.html
Its interesting to know that most pagan religions ALSO CLAIM that they do not worship images/statues, the same claim the Catholics do.
http://readmeiglesianicristo.blogspot.com/2012/05/who-is-worshiped.html?m=0
Nagtatanong si Riel Lopez kung:
ReplyDelete"Sino ba ang nagtatag (founder) ng Iglesia Katolika???? wag kang mag bigay ng opinion o hula...magbigay ka ng documento (genuine documents ) para suportahan ang iyong kasagotan..."
http://catholicdefender2000.blogspot.com/2013/02/where-are-they.html
Para malaman po natin kung sino ang nagtatag ng Iglesia Katolika ay dapat po munang maunawaan na ANG IGLESIA KATOLIKA AY BUNGA NG PAGTALIKOD SA PANANAMPALATAYA SA IGLESIA NA ITINATAG NI CRISTO NOONG UNANG SIGLO.
Nagsimula ang tunay na Iglesia noong unang siglo pero pagkatapos ng panahon ng mga Apostol ay nagsimulang dumaloy ang mga batis ng lason o mga maling aral sa Iglesia na sa pagpapatuloy ng panahon ay siyang tinawag na Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana. Ito ang ilan sa mga sinasabi ng mga aklat kasaysayan:
DINALUYAN NG MGA BATIS NG LASON ANG IGLESIA ROMANA
“At first the history of The Roman Church is identical with the history of Christian truth. But unhappy there came a time when streams of poison began to flow from the once pure fountain.” (World’s Great Events Vol. II, pp. 163-164)
NAGKAROON NG MGA CORRUPTED DOCTRINES
The Christians of the second and third centuries battled not only against a persecuting heathen world, but also against heresies and corrupt doctrines within their own fold. (Hurlbut, Story of the Christian Church, p. 64)
SA PAGPASOK PA LANG NG IKALAWANG SIGLO AY IBANG-IBA NA ANG IGLESIA (TOTALLY DIFFERENT) SA IGLESIA SA PANAHON NI APOSTOL PABLO AT PEDRO
“Around 120 A.D. through the writings of those who came to be known as the early Church Fathers we find a Church totally different, in many aspects, from the Church at the time of Peter and Paul.” (Story of the Christian Church, p. 41)
PINATUTUNAYAN NG KASAYSAYAN NA NAGKAROON NG “GREAT APOSTASY” SA IGLESIA
“The imperial Church of the 4th and 5th Century had become an entirely different institution from the persecuted Church of the first three Century. In its ambition to rule, it lost and forgot the spirit of Christ.
The Church had changed its nature, had entered its Great Apostasy.” (Halley's Bible Handbook, p. 760)
Ang nangyari sa Iglesia Katolika ay kagaya nang nangyari sa Israel na noong simula ay itinatag ng Diyos na maging bayan Niya pero sa paglipas ng panahon ay di nanatili ang mga Israelita sa aral ng Diyos-tumalikod na sila sa Diyos kahit sabihin pa nila na naniniwala pa rin sila sa iisang Diyos ni Abraham.
SINO ANG NAGTATAG NG ISRAEL NA ANG RELIHIYON AY TINAWAG NA JUDAISMO AT UMIIRAL PA RIN HANGGANG NGAYON PERO HINDI NA BAYAN NG DIYOS? ANG DIYOS BA? SI CRISTO BA?
TIYAK NA HINDI! Kaya nga umalis si Apostol Pablo sa relihiyon yon bagaman yon ang dati niyang inakala na tunay na relihiyong sa Diyos at inusig pa niya ang Iglesia ni Cristo pero ng kaawaan siya ay naging kaanib na rin siya sa tunay na Iglesia sa panahon niya.
Ang Judaismo ay nagpatuloy sa pamamagitan ng mga kinikilalang mga Rabbi ng Israel. Hindi nila inaamin na ang mga Rabbi nila ang nagtatag ng Judaismo kundi naniniwala pa rin sila na ang Diyos ang nagtatag sa kanila. Mali yon dahil hindi ang Diyos ang nagtatag sa kanila sapagkat bagaman nagpatuloy ang organisasyong Judaismo pero ito ay bunga na ng pagtalikod nila sa Diyos. Ganyan din ang nangyari sa Iglesia Katolika. Ang Iglesia Katolika ay nagpatuloy sa pamamagitan ng mga kinikilala nilang mga Church Fathers at mga Obispo. Tiyak na tiyak na HINDI SI CRISTO ANG NAGTATAG NG IGLESIA KATOLIKA dahil sa marami aral sa Iglesia Katolika na labag sa aral ng Biblia at sa mga aral ni Cristo at ng mga Apostol.
KUNG PAANONG ANG DIABLO ANG NASA LIKOD NG PAGTALIKOD NG ISRAEL SA DIYOS, ANG DIABLO RIN ANG NASA LIKOD NG PAGTALIKOD NA GINAWA NG IGLESIA KATOLIKA SA IGLESIA NA ITINATAG NI CRISTO NOONG UNANG SIGLO.