A catholic defender agreed about "Far East-Philippines" discussion

This debate is between the Catholic Church represented by a member of St.Peter's men society, Mr. Casa and Iglesia ni Cristo represented by minister Bro. Bunag in Plaza Miranda, Philippines.

See it in the video 2:00-2:15, a very "hard to accept truth" that every catholics and catholic defenders always deny by saying that the INC ministers twists and distort the truth, they even create a stories/theories of what the verse really says.

So now, in a FACE TO FACE debate, they CANNOT and NEVER deny truths, one is that the Church of Christ will reemerge in the Philippines, where it is in the "FAR EAST".

(I try to translate it in english^_^)
from 0:22-2:15

Bro. Bunag: If the "Far east" is really in the bible, are you to disagree?
Mr. Casa: No.

Bro. Bunag: If i were to read the bible that says about "ends of the earth", are you to disagree?
Mr. Casa: I also read it.

Bro. Bunag: So, are you not to disagree?
Mr. Casa: Oh yes. (blah, blah, blah) [sorry, i cant hear what he said^_^]

Bro. Bunag: That's it!, On about the "redemption on Israel", do you skip to read it or not?
Mr. Casa: I skip it to read... (blah, blah, blah)
Bro. Bunag: That's it!!

(noise from the audience)

Bro. Bunag: On about to those who walks in water and walks in fire that will not be burned, do you know who they are?
Mr. Casa: Yes, I know it.

Bro. Bunag: So, who are they?
Mr. Casa: It is the Israel nation.

Bro. Bunag: That's it!, Therefore that what's being said in 4:1-3, right?
Mr. Casa: Yes.

Bro. Bunag: In verse 4, that you read...
Mr. Casa: I haven't read it yet, because im not yet finished.

Bro. Bunag: Is it in the verse 5, there will be sons and daughters?
Mr. Casa: Yes. It is the Israelites!

Bro. Bunag: Is it the sons and daughters as written in Rome will come from the Far east?
Mr. Casa: Yes, its right. But not in the Philippines!

Bro. Bunag: Is it that "Far east" from the reference material, Philippines is in the Far East?
Mr. Casa: Yes. Philippines is in the Far east!

(noise from the audience)

Here are the videos:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8


See? I think in the history of debates between the ministers in the INC and CFD of the RCC, there are no CFD wins over the ministers of our church. This is not my opinion just to say that CFD are loosers. But you know, in the past, where there are lots of debates happened, that's one of the biggest reasons why the INC converts thousands and thousands of people. Because of these such debates where the opponents always loose in debates and then convert in the INC.


See? the 2nd comment in here?
That's what i am talking about. If that is really the explanation to that, why does CFD always loose on that topic? Why they do not say about their created explanation/theory about that "Far East-Philippines" discussion?

Or by facing the fact, that the explanation only emerge nowadays?

By the help of the joined force catholic defenders in creating such "explanation" to that verse, so that it may not look like that what the bible refers to "far east" is not the Philippines.

Catholic Church, begins in its near end!

Im searching about the "hostage-taking" here in the Philippines, happened just days ago that brought to us shame from other countries.

But as i kept on searching, i found a shocking and revealing story, that the Catholic Church is really (not just my opinion), but looking forward to its near END!

How can i say this?

Ive been on Anthony Y's blog, and an article named The Catholic Church: On the brink of Collapse.

Most of our Catholic Defenders/Priests and catholics always say that the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) is going down and will be vanished. Look what religion really in this scenario.

REALITY: As many didnt know, The Catholic Church in other countries suffers bankruptcy and decline of member's attendance.

I will not say words anymore, ill just post what is in that article, here it is:

You guys probably didn’t know this, most especially those who are in Asian countries; where Catholicism still holds much influence. You may not have heard it on the media, well that’s because the church don’t want the story to spread, but I’m going to leak it anyway.
Most of us here on the catholic dominated country may not have felt this, but on Europe, and some other Western countries, believe it or not, the Catholic Church is steadily eroding.
For those who don’t believe me… read these:
Europe, the Collapse of the Catholic Church — Mass Attendance at Cities Like Paris Down to 5%
The Beginning of the End of the Catholic Church
OK, now that you’ve read them, you may call me a liar.

Reason of apparent collapse
Unfortunately, there is not only one, but numerous reasons why it is on the brink of collapse. Here are some of the reasons…

Lies and deceit

I know you guys hate me say this, but when I took a research on the history of the Catholic Church, I discovered that the church was lying and deceiving the ignorant and the gullible. Maybe not most of the time, but the fact that they lied and deceived people just to gain popularity is a sign of fraud.
One of their frauds perhaps was in the case of incorruptible bodies (saints whose bodies remained intact for years, decades, and centuries even after death.) I cannot say that all of them are fraud, that is because they refuse some of these to be investigated.
But among those that are fraudulent or apparent fraud includes:
The body of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes. Found to be incorrupt by the Catholic Church but is now wearing a wax face. We all know that wax does not decay.
The body of Saint John Mary Vianney wearing a wax mask.
The body of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina wearing a silicone mask.
The body of Saint Zita. Although it was not given a wax for a face, just take a look at it. See picture. It now resembles a mummy, and has molds growing on it.
For reasons why it failed to decompose, see it here: http://www.skepdic.com/incorrupt.html
So much for miracle.

Participated in wars

Not only the Muslims, Catholics too. They did it to expand their religious empire. OK, kids, just check your history books for more details.

Involved in conspiracies

To name one – assassination plots against Queen Elizabeth I, a protestant queen of England.

Inquisitions

The Catholic Church was involved in a series of inquisitions during the dark ages. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition. The church is the absolute truth before the dawn of science. Anyone who would go against their teachings are branded as heretic. Heretics are sentenced to death by hanging, torture, burning, etc.
Would you believe it? Before the church was established, christians were persecuted. When they rose into power, they were now the ones that do the persecuting. So much for a religion that is based on Christ’s teachings.

Scandals

One of the recent scandals that took the church by storm is the Catholic sex abuse (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_sex_abuse_cases. These are a series of lawsuits, criminal prosecutions and scandals related to legally documented sex crimes committed or allegedly committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders, while under diocesan control or in orders which care for the sick or teach children, that first rose to widespread public attention in the last two decades of the 20th century. Although awareness of the scope of these cases first received significant media attention in Canada, Ireland and the United States, other cases were also reported in a number of other countries.
In addition to cases of actual abuse, much of the scandal has focused around members of the Catholic hierarchy who did not report abuse allegations to the civil authorities and, in many cases, reassigned the offenders to other locations where they continued to have contact with minors and had opportunities to continue in their sexual abuse. In defending their actions, some bishops and psychiatrists contended that the prevailing psychology of the times suggested that people could be cured of such behavior through counseling. Members of the church hierarchy have compared the church with the secular world, arguing that media coverage of the issue has been excessive given that abuse occurs in other institutions.

Effect on the Church

European churches suffered heavily from these abuses. Because of these, people lost their trust on the supposedly universal church of Christ. Mass attendance have dwindled significantly. Most churches that were ones filled with enthusiastic souls is now left with a handful of faithful followers. Parents would hesitantly entrust their children to priests because of fear of abuse. The vatican city was also stormed by a number of protesters, some of them were raped by layman, others were parents of the victims of pedophilic (predator) priests.
The universal church of Christ is nothing more than a shadow of its former glory. A symbol of Imperialism. Evil has now corrupted its core.
Here is what Fr. Tom Doyle (Catholic priest and canon law expert) commented to the Church’s response to the child abuse crisis:

“All of this points to the governmental system of the Catholic Church. The closed clerical club that is concerned more about itself than it is about these children who have been abused by priests. The reason for the cover-up all along has been to protect the bleed of money. But, more importantly, it’s to protect the reputation of the Catholic Church.“
“What we’ve learned over 25 years is that the Vatican has stayed mostly hands-off until forced to on this. They first said it was an “American” problem. That has been debunked. They then said it was Western secularism and materialism aided and abetted by the anti-Catholic press. That has also been debunked.”
“This issue goes right to the subculture that runs the Catholic Church. At no time have they been willing to look (at the larger issue). They’ve prosecuted priests (in-house and in secret) by the hundreds since 2002. But not one bishop who has been accused of sexually abusing children himself has been subjected to any kind of penal process. All they have been asked to do is resign, and then they go and live a fairly comfortable retirement.”
“To begin the process of restoration, I believe that the current pope needs to stand up and make a public apology. Not that those mistakes were made in the past — they always do in the past tense and there’s a subtle message there that this is in the past and not now. The pope should say: “I’m sorry for what I did in my negligence to allow this to happen. I’m sorry that I did not fire bishops when I knew they were covering up.”
“But I don’t believe that will ever happen in my lifetime.”
“To protect their own self-identity, they will cling to the premise that they are appointed by the Almighty and are the vicars of Christ and the essence of the church. They believe this will dissolve their power. It’s all about control, and it’s all about power.”
“It’s certainly not going to go away. It’s not going to go away, and I think it’s the beginning – or it’s along the way – of a serious change for the institutional Church, especially for the ruling elite in the Vatican.”
“It’s definitely a moment of truth, and among other things it’s a sign that the world, the society, is no longer going to show the deference to the Vatican, to the Pope, that they always expected. This is a time for accountability.”
“I think a significant number of Catholics react with denial and anger because what this does is it seriously rocks the source of their spiritual security. They don’t like to hear it, but it’s true. I mean, the Catholic Church, the men in the Catholic Church, are human beings – they’re not supermen and they’re not junior gods, they’re people. And there’s a lot of serious, serious corruption that needs to be taken care of so the Church can really be what it’s supposed to be.”
“The Church is really supposed to be about Jesus Christ, not about the Pope. And the fact is that, whatever his intentions were, the Pope and the Vatican have been knowledgeable of this incredibly serious, horrendous plague that’s been inflicted on the people of the Catholic Church for a long time, and they’ve done exactly the wrong things – they’ve tried to cover it up and lie about it to save their own skin, to save their own reputation and image, forgetting what is most important. And what is most important is that these children, the victims – many whom are now adults – they are the ones who need to be taken care of. They’re the ones who are important.”
“They see themselves as some sort of an elite that’s better than everyone, above everyone, and they’re engulfed in secrecy and mystery and everything else.”
“I’m not one anymore to mince words and be diplomatic and fart around with this. I mean, this is it. I’ve spent 25 years talking to people who’ve been ruined because of this stuff, and you know, the whole damn thing, they ought to sell the Vatican to the Mormons or to Disney or something and go out and start all over again.”
Source: http://guttertrash.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/catholic-church-on-brink-of-collapse/

Final Word

You may wonder why this news hasn’t reach you? OK folks, that’s your assignment.

Related ARTICLES: (2010 news)
Catholic Church Can Blame Itself for Sex Scandals, Declining Confidence
The Church In Decline
Church in Ireland has lost all its credibility, says Archbishop of Canterbury
The end of the Catholic Church?

Want more?

search it on your fav. search engine!
(Its time for you to know the truth, dont deny it!)


Want another shocking news? Here's the link:
http://www.perrybulwer.com/religion-and-child-abuse-news/2010/6/29/dan-rather-exposes-catholic-tactics-to-shield-assets-from-li.html


So now its true...

"And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast." Revelation 18:2

They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” Revelation 18:10

Got the clue? This "Babylon" is said to be a "mighty city"! So, if it is a religion, what is it? Can anyone give a guess? This "mother of harlots", being "universal", a "mighty city"? Ok, i will not say words anymore so you may not call me BIAS.^_^

the name “Babylon”, which, according to the new American bible, is the code name for “Rome” (I pet. 5:13, footnote).

Catholic Catechism, Part II:

“… The Church is called Roman Catholic because its chief ruler is the lawful bishop of Rome…”

“The word ‘Catholic’ means ‘universal’ or ‘extending all over the world’

And lastly...

"...For in a single hour your judgment has come..."

Blind followers, AWAKE!!

What they say about the INC... (1982) part 2

The members

“the most outstanding mark of the INC is the apparent unity of its membership…

…Their unity is best reflected by their brotherhood. They consider themselves members of one huge family.”

Ben Lara,

Iglesia—disciplined and cocksure (Last of a series)

Bulletin today, July 15, 1973

“The Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines has managed to retain a high degree of unity.”

David J. Hesselgrave, ed.;

Dynamic religious movements : Case studies of rapidly growing religious movements around the world, 1978, p.308

“The Iglesia moves forward like an army, each member in his proper place and under recognized authority.”

Arthur L. Tuggy,

Iglesia ni Cristo, p.258

“A highly organized disciplined membership mobilized through a cell (“committee”) system for mission and propagation of their church.”

Arthur L. Tuggy,

Iglesia ni Cristo, p. 249

“..even those who deplore the Iglesia because of its political pushiness admit that it’s one church in the Philippines that communicates with the poor and that has the power to reform lives. The stories of drunks who gave up the bottle, of gamblers who forsook the table, of thugs who turned into men of peace when they became a kapatid are not apocryphal. In the Iglesia, and perhaps only in the Iglesia, do conversions in the fullest sense of the word still occur in our day,”

Quijano de Manila (Nick Joaquin),

Ronnie Poe & other Silhouttes, p. 105

“…The changes wrought upon the lives of her members are remarkable. Those who have led vicious lives are changed into a pattern of wholesomeness, cleanliness and usefulness. Those who once had no fear of defying the law were made law abiding citizens. Those who used throw their hard-earned income in gambling ceased to be such, and began to lead and manage a peaceful like the moment they embraced the Church of Christ.”

Zoilo Galang, editor

Encyclopedia of the Philippines, 1958, p.466

“The members are well-disciplined churchmen and they are exemplary citizens of the nation.”

Gerald H. Anderson, editor

Studies in Philippine church history, p. 364

“…This wonderful change in the lives of her members are attributable to the fact that, the time one signifies his intention of joining the church, he is subjected to a rigid indoctrination by duly qualified ministers who enjoin and admonish him to lead a life strictly patterned after the will of God; thus, only those who by conviction and faith manifest an unconditional surrender to scriptural teachings and mandates find entrance into the Church.”

Zoilo Galang, editor

Encyclopedia of the Philippines, 1958, p.466

“And Iglesia congregation often will become the home of a ‘lonely soul’, for he finds congenial fellowship with people like himself, is given what he regards as a responsible God-appointed task and enters with others in the common worship of God. These congregations are close-knit, self-contained, and separist in nature. They are havens which separate and protect the individual from the world with all of its ungodly ways and temptations.”

Gerald H. Anderson, editor

Studies in Philippine church history, p.357

“Their sincerity, their devotion to the Gospel, the honesty of their intentions, cannot be doubted. They strove to practice the Christianity that had so charmed them in the Godspel and they saw all men as their brothers.”

Quijano de Manila (Nick Joaquin),

Ronnie Poe & other Silhouttes, p.107

The Church and social action

“The most telling argument that the (Catholic) Church is a failure is the Iglesia ni Cristo which has given the common man that sense of social justice and moral order which an impersonal, rich Church (Catholic) has not been able to give. The Catholic Church should learn from the dynamics of the INC (Glesia ni Cristo).”

Vitaliano R. Gorospe, S.J

Philippine National Problems and Development

“In practice, both Catholics and Protestants neglect poor of our land. The group that has significantly moved into this vacuum is the Iglesia ni Cristo…

By passing the enigma of how many members they really have, we must acknowledge that the Iglesia ni Cristo provides much that the common tao needs; a sense of belonging, of community, of being part or a successful enterprise”

A.Leonard Tuggy & Ralph Toliver,

Seeing the church in the Philippines, 1972, p.140

“As manifestions of its charity for its members, it has set a huge farm in Maligaya, Nueva Ecija, to accommodate tenant-farmers who were ejected from their land during the old order.

For those who want to earn more money by learning new skills, the INC has established the New Era Schools which give vocational training from hairdressing to dressmaking and from tailoring to automechanics.

Doctors go around to local communities to heal and comfort the sick.

For the jobless, the INC has a placement bureau.”

Ben Lara ,

“Iglesia—disciplined and cocksure flock”, Bulletin Today, July 15, 1973

“The Iglesia ni Cristo has fielded mobile clinics to help the poor, regardless of creed and race.”

Teodoro F. Valencia, columnist

“Over a cup of coffee”, Bulletin Today, Aug. 9, 1978

The Houses of worship

“Looming up against the skyline in various parts of the city are the towers of the impressive Iglesia ni Cristo chapels.”

Tuggy & Oliver

Seeing the Church in the Philippines, p.131

“So rapid has been the rise of the Iglesia ni Cristo during the postwar years that the Church was able to build an imposing cathedrals in San Juan, Rizal, and stately churches in other parts of the city.

The sect has a cathedral in Baguio.”

The Philippine Herald

Mar. 27, 1963

“In terms of buildings, there can be little doubt that the magnificent Iglesia ni Cristo churches reflect and in most cases surpass the grandeur of the Roman Cathedrals of the Philippines.”

David J. Hesselgrave, editor

Dynamic Religious movements, p. 314

“Today in Tondo Manila, for example, men look at the aging Roman Catholic Cathedral and they look up to the spires of the newly constructed modern Iglesia ni Cristo cathedral chapel. The psychological impact of this on the masses of people in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation should not be underestimated.”

Artur L. Tuggy

Iglesia ni Cristo: A study of Independent church dynamics, p.257

“The Kapilya is first and foremost an assembly where the faithful meet the Lord, not through images or private devotions but through the word.”

Alfredo Roces, editor

Filipino Heritage: The making of a nation, 1978, p. 2728

“One writer has commented that the Iglesia chapel in San Juan makes the Manila Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church appear as “a cheap, ungainly house of devotion in spite of its beauty and worth in cement and marble”. The chapel in San Francisco del Monte, finished in 1963, one of the most beautiful church structures in the Philippines, seats 3,000 people.”

Gerald H. Anderson, editor

Studies in Philippine church history, 1969, p. 352

What they say about the INC... (1982) part 1

The Church and its growth

“Today, religious sects are flourishing in the Philippines. Some of these have been brought in by missionaries, but others are indigenous having sprouted and grown in the Philippine soil without being introduced or supported from other countries. One of the best known of the latter type is the Iglesia ni Cristo, which came into being in 1914 through the preaching of Felix Manalo. Its more or less distinctive chapels have become familiar landmarks in many cities and towns of the Philippines. Its membership appears to be increasing yearly; and it exercise a measure of influences in the political life of the nation.”

Albert J. Sanders,

A protestant view of the Iglesia ni Cristo 1962 p. 3

“Independent churches have sprung into vigorous life in many, if not all, countries in the Third world. One of the largest, wealthiest, and more powerful of these is the rapidly growing Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines.”

Arthur Leonard Tuggy,

IGLESIA NI CRISTO: A study in Independent Church Dynamics 1976 p. vii

“On the worldwide scene, its significance is great primarily, because of its size and wealth. The Iglesia ni Cristo is the largest (non mission related) independent church in Asia. It is about fifty percent larger than the Kimbaguist Church in Zaire, the largest independent church in Africa, and about the same size as the Congregacao Crista in Brazil. …,its existence as an independent church must be taken very seriously.”

Arthur Leonard Tuggy,

IGLESIA NI CRISTO pp. 244-245

“No one however would doubt that the Iglesia ni Cristo is a dynamic religious body which has shown intense vitality, endowed, as it is, with a sturdy organization that many other religious groups in the country patently lack.”

Pedro S. Archutegui, S.J

Director Cardinal Bea

Institute for Ecumenical

Studies from the Foreword of the Iglesia ni Cristo: Its Christology and Ecclesiology

“The Iglesia ni Cristo has increased in its expansion under Erano Manalo. By 1974 it had become the largest non Catholic church in the Philippines.”

Alex Wilson & Christine Tetly,

1978, p.85

“Yet it cannot be denied that the Iglesia is a large, powerful and expanding organization. It may well constitute the most vital and aggressive threat which the Catholic Church faces in the Islands at the present time. It is certainly a force to be reckoned with now and in the years to come by any one interested in the religious welfare of the Filipino people.”

Joseph J. Kavanagh, S.J

Philippine Studies (a quarterly)

“Whatever people say about the Iglesia ni Cristo, it seems to grow in geometrical progression; The show numbers—or some members may be wont call it the infalliability of numbers—at the Araneta Coliseum indicated that behind its growth as an organization and a leadership that is remarkable.”

Faliz M. Caliwag

Sunday times

“The largest and fastest-growing of all these groups—indeed, of any organization outside the army—is the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)…”

Max L. Stackman, “The Phil. Tinderbox (Part I); The Christian Century”

May 15, 1982, p.54

“…the fastest growing religious movements in the Philippines.”

Gerald H. Anderson, editor

Studies in Philippines Church History

“…the Iglesia ni Cristo, which is not a century old yet more powerful than the four-century old Catholic faith in the Philippines.”

Jose C. Balein, Columnist

“Another one”, The Manila Chronicle, Feb. 3, 1965

“It may be significant that the Iglesia has been able to achieve its great growth without the extensive splintering which has occurred among Pentecostals in the Philippines.”

Arthur L. Tuggy,

Iglesia ni Cristo, pp.258-259

“…the decline of Aglipayanism is closely connected with the rise of the Iglesia ni Cristo.”

Frederic H. Chaffee et. Al.,

Area Handbook for the Philippines, Feb. 1969, p.163

“…the Church of Christ in the Philippines has converted millions of people of various nationalities. The phenomenal growth and unchecked progress of evangelization have caught the imagination of many. Her achievements, both spiritual and temporal, are too marvelous to be considered as the work of man.”

Zoilo Galang, editor

Encyclopedia of the Philippines Vol. XX Manila, Phil.

C1958, p. 466

“With its serious and larger following, the Iglesia ni Cristo was organized in 1914 by Felix Manalo. It has since become one of the richest and most powerful religious groups in the country.”

Alfredo Roces, editor

Filipino Heritage: The making of the nation, c1978, p.1624

“The Iglesia ni Cristo or Church of Christ in the Philippines is the fulfillment of the prophecy written in chapter 7, verses 2 and 3 of the revelation and in accord with various prophecies in the books of Prophecies of God recorded in the Bible, such as in Isaiah 41:9, 43:5-7, 46:11”

Zoilo Galang, editor

Encyclopedia of the Philippines

“The Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) has developed from proverbial mustard seed to a full frown oak since its emergence in 1914 in Punta, Sta. Manila, under the leadership of Felix Manalo.”

Philippine Daily Express

“Iglesia ni Cristo: From mustard seed to full-grown oak”

The doctrines

“Actually, Iglesia doctrine is a much firmer structure than many of its opponents are ready to admit.”

Arthur L. Tuggy,

Iglesia ni Cristo, p.255

“… the Iglesia’s liturgy is unique… The liturgy celebrated every Thursday and Sunday, is essentially a liturgy of the Word, consisting of choral and congregational singing, Biblical preaching and communal prayers. … For the Iglesia the most important of all is the Word of God that weekly nourishes the spirit.”

Alfredo Roces, editor

Filipino Heritage: The making of the Nation, p. 2728

“Adherents of the Iglesia, it must be assumed, are earnestly seeking for the fullness of God’s truth. The Bible for them is the only rule of faith and practice. God’s oneness and creatorship are recognized, and Jesus Christ is accepted and trusted as Lord and Savior.”

Gerald H. Anderson, editor

Studies in the Philippine Church history, p. 364

“The Iglesia claims to be neither Catholic, for it worships no graven idols, nor Protestant, for it form a single body, firmly ruled by a bishop and is not a multiplicity of sects. The Iglesia is the true long dead Church of Christ, quickened to life by the Lord’s own Messenger—Bishop Felix Manalo.”

Alfredo Roces, editor

Filipino Heritage: The making of the Nation, p. 2728

The last Messenger

“Today religious sects are flourishing in the Philippines. One of the most formidable of these is that founded by Felix Manalo in 1914 and officially designated as Iglesia ni Cristo … Many of its members come from Protestant churches. Manalo is a dynamic leader who has demonstrated unusual ability in influencing people in building up a strong organization. His churches are found not only in Luzon but also in Visayas and Mindanao.”

Albert Sanders

A protestant view of the Iglesia ni Cristo

“… the Iglesia ni Cristo has shown a phenomenal growth. Starting from Manalo who, in 1914, constituted a religious hierarchy of one, the church has grown into a nation-wide organization noted for its ornate cathedrals, centrally located chapels and well knit ministers and members. A kind of organization like it had never before been known in the Philippines. That Manalo made such an organization possible in the country is remarkable; that he was able to make it a great social force is a tribute to his indigenous aspiration and spiritual leadership.”

Mac A. Fabian

“Felix Manalo (A great Spiritual leader)”, 1969, p.9

“Iglesia leaders are loyal, aggressive hardworking.”

G.M. Roperos

Sunday times magazine, Jan. 11, 1959

“…Bishop Felix Manalo, consistently upheld in his sermons, in the Church Congregations, in his utterances in public rallies and in writings, that he is a mere brother and, in keeping with his commission, and teaches nothing in his own but merely converts people in the Church of Christ, these people should follow and obey only that which God commands. This he does, for he seeks only the glory of him that has sent him.”

Zoilo Galang, editor

Encyclopedia of the Philippines

“Factors Contributing to the growth of the movement.”

“First has been the dynamic leadership of Felix Manalo who dominated the movement for a period of forty-nine years.”

Gerald H. Anderson, editor

Studies in Philippines Church History

Who's truly "Born Again"?

-->“Are you a Born Again Christian?”
This is a common question asked by many religious groups today professing to be Christian. It may appear, at face value, to be but a simple, innocent question rooted only in curiosity.

However, the question itself bears significant implications.

Why? There are preachers today whose teaching leads others to conclude that one must wear the title “Born Again” upon himself so as to be considered a Christian, and thus be worthy to attain coveted salvation offered by our Lord Jesus Christ.

This led some to merely search out groups that use the phrase “Born Again” believing that if affiliated with such group, their salvation is secured. But, is that so? Is joining any group whose members simply call themselves “Born Again” a guarantee of salvation? Is being born again just a change in a person’s way of life, or there are more involved?

These are some very important questions that one must ask before embracing a group declaring itself to be “Born Again”.

Being Born Again

First, does the expression itself have any biblical basis? It was no less than our lord Jesus Christ who spoke it in a conversation he had with Nicodemus:

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:1-3

It can be easily gleaned from this conversation that our lord Jesus Christ gave much importance to being born again and that it has direct relevance to one’s attaining eternal life. However, just as so many still today, Nicodemus misunderstood the declaration of the savior. He asked Jesus:

"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." John 3:4-5

Clearly, Nicodemus misunderstood and was corrected by our lord Jesus Christ. Jesus went on to explain that being born again meant being born of water and spirit. The question that people must then ask themselves with a religious group that has for themselves a title of being “Born Again” or not, but rather if they have been born of water and spirit or not.

How can a person determine if he has yet undergone such a rebirth via water and spirit?

The water and spirit

Which are the water and the spirit one is to be born of? Jesus spoke of the water, not as that which would only quench a literal thirst:

"Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

If it is not a literal water that will quench one’s thirst being referred to, but rather a water that will bring one eternal life, what then is being referred to as the eternal life-giving rather that leads one to become born again?

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." I pet 1:23

It is the word of God that will lead a person to become truly born again, not merely a self-proclamation. There is a process one must undergo, which begins with the cleansing power of the words of God.

If that is what is meant by being born of water, what about the expression of Jesus when he mentioned that one must also be born of the spirit so as to be born again? Who is the spirit of which one must be born? Our lord Jesus Christ teaches:

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24

The bible teaches us that god is spirit. Thus, to be born again, one must be born of God and of his words. If not, one would only be laying claim to a position of being born again but without sound biblical basis for such claim.

Undergoing rebirth

The bible teaches us how the process of becoming born anew takes place.

Apostle Paul taught:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Cor. 5:17

What takes place is a complete rebirth or the making of a new creation, according to apostle paul? If a person has not undergone this process of renewal, he could not truly born again.

So, who have become a new creation? Are they those who have merely made such a claim for themselves? No. According to Apostle Paul, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature”. The Apstle identified those who are “in Christ”, thus:

"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace," Eph. 2:14-15

The new creation or those who are truly born again, therefore, are those who became part of the “one new man” which is composed of two parts. Anyone who wishes to be reborn or born again must be brought into the one new man by God through his words. It cannot be done by self declaration or only by affiliating oneself with a group that merely calls itself “Born Again”.

What are the two parts of the one new man which we are to become part of?

"And he is the head of the body, the church;...". Col. 1:18

The two parts of the one new man are Christ as head and the Church, his body. Which Church is Christ head of? It is the Church that carries his name—the Church of Christ:

"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood." Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation

All truly born again Christians, therefore, are those who have undergone the process of becoming a member of the true Church of Christ. They have been born of the spirit, born of God, or born of his word; therefore they have been added as parts of the one new man composed of a head and a body. They are in the body of Christ or Church of Christ.

Membership in the true Church of Christ is therefore necessary for one to become a true born again Christian. One question people should ask themselves is whether they are in the true Church headed by Christ.

Complete renewal is needed

But is entering the Church of Christ the only thing needed so as to be truly born again? No. The renewal of one’s life is an important requirement in the process as well. As mentioned by Apostle Paul in the verse quoted earlier, “the old things have passed away” (II Cor. 5:17).

The ways of life that must be left behind by anyone becoming part of the Lord’s body or Church were described also by Apostle Paul, thus:

"throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes." Eph. 4:22-23

The apostle also taught the church about what happens to the former self of a person once he becomes part of the new creation or is truly born again. It dies and is buried:

"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Rom. 6:3-4

Jesus taught that we need to be born again to receive eternal life. We must therefore not resist the correct process of becoming truly “born again”.

The bible does not show any shortcuts. One becomes a born-again Christian by becoming a member of the true Church of Christ and by living a life in accordance with the will of God.