History of unity on voting in the Iglesia ni Cristo

(UPDATED SEP. 14,2015) Jealous and ignorant nonmembers who doesnt know more about the doctrine in the INC concerning voting in unity, make attacks to the church every now and then, in the time of the 1st ever election in the Philippines until now.

That is why i make posts like this to show them the truth and for them not to easily be convinced on what the media is saying about it. Nonmembers say that unity on voting in the church was just a recent addition on the doctrines in the Iglesia ni Cristo, that is why im showing you the history on voting in the church.


List of Philippine Presidents:

1st- Emilio Aguinaldo
2nd- Manuel L. Quezon
3rd- Jose P. Laurel
4th- Sergio Osmena
5th- Manuel Roxas
6th- Elpidio Quirino
7th- Ramon Magsaysay
8th- Carlos P. Garcia
9th- Diosdado Macapagal
10th- Ferdinand E. Marcos
11th- Corazon C. Aquino
12th- Fidel V. Ramos
13th- Joseph Ejercito-Estrada
14th- Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
15th- Benigno C. Aquino III

The 1st election happened was in the time of the Commonwealth Era, and the 1st elected President was Manuel L. Quezon.


Very, very old attacks to the Iglesia ni Cristo regarding block voting:

1. Block voting doctrine is just an invention of the Manalo's.
2. It is nowhere to find in the scriptures.
3. INC votes those candidates who likely to win the election based on surveys.


Result of my research:

I will answer No.1 and 2, There is no "block voting doctrine" in the INC, what the INC have is the "unity" doctrine and unity in voting is just one of the many. It has biblical support, and it was tackled here in my post.

On no.3, this is proven to be false, the church doesnt just pick "political candidates" that seen to win the election. I will show you the history of unity on voting in the Iglesia ni Cristo, but before that, I found out that the church practiced voting in unity in the first ever election happened in the Philippines!

List of Presidents	Voted by the INC or not	If not, who voted by the INC
Manuel L. Quezon	YES
Jose P. Laurel	NO	Jose Avelino
Sergio Osmena	NO	Manuel Roxas
Manuel Roxas	YES
Elpidio Quirino	NO	Jose Avelino
Ramon Magsaysay	YES
Carlos P. Garcia	YES
Diosdado Macapagal	NO	Carlos Garcia
Ferdinand E. Marcos	YES
Corazon C. Aquino	NO	Ferdinand Marcos
Fidel V. Ramos	NO	Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.
Joseph Ejercito-Estrada	YES
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	YES
Benigno C. Aquino III	YES

This is the evidence that the INC does not vote "political candidates" just because they are leading in the surveys, because if that will be the case then ALL, yes, ALL those supported by the INC have WON. Check the web, and not only on presidential elections it happened, but also on senatorial, local and etc.

It is also not true that the INC failed, as there are political candidates whom supported by the INC in past elections that lost. It is not the objective of the INC to support candidates for them TO WIN, but to perform unity in the church, that is why the INC SUCCEED whether the candidates WIN or LOSE, it doesnt matter, what matter is the unity in the brotherhood in the church.


How does the Church Administration choose candidates?

I dont know their "standards" on choosing candidates but i know one thing, the church do not choose candidates who will hurdle, persecute or do against the church. Maybe its like what they say "INC support candidates who will also support them", but in the positive way.

As a voter for example, would you vote for a candidate whose aims are different from what you like? (Example, you dont want divorce in the Philippines, would you vote for a candidate that wants to pass law for divorce?)

The Catholic Church discouraged its members last election to vote those candidates who are in favor in the RH BILL, and it is also what i am talking in our part, why would the INC support candidates who are against the church and will persecute the church???


Issues on some former presidents...

On Elpidio Quirino, some know about the issue, but in case you do not know, ill tell you. Bro. Felix Manalo did not go for Elpidio Quirino because he already gave word to Avelino and he said that it is Avelino's turn, it is in that time that Quirino supporters even offer money to Bro. Felix for him to support Quirino. INC members experienced persecution from Quirino supporters, some are beaten up and killed just because they did not vote for Quirino.

Is the reason not enough for Bro. Felix not to support Quirino?

But Bro. Felix said in a newspaper that he is not against with Quirino as an individual, he was even supported by the INC as a vice president with Manuel Roxas as president in 1946 election.


On Diosdado Macapagal, he refused the support of INC in 1965 election and then lost to Ferdinand Marcos.


On Ferdinand Marcos, the INC supported him in 1986 election on the time of People Power I. When i read about this, i also wonder like nonmembers, i asked to myself, why the INC go for Marcos instead of Cory? But when i realized some things, i came to understand.

Marcos' government was close to the INC, meaning to say, Marcos did not do anything against the INC and so on, so the INC gives back that kind of thing by means of support to Marcos. Marcos valued the INC very much, in fact, it frequently come to celebrate with the church whenever there is celebration like birthday of Bro. Erano Manalo, church's anniversary and so on, which is appreciated very much by the church. Meaning, the INC was really a friend of Marcos and Marcos was a friend of the INC, they help each other.

On the inauguration of Brgy. Maligaya bridge:

"The bridge was symbolic of President Marcos' laudable infrastructure program. It also symbolized the long-standing friendship between the president and church. 'His coming today', Bro. Erano said, 'is actually the third time.'..." "...He is therefore not new to the place, he being a friend of the church."

Marcos said: "As long as I am the head of the state, I will see to it that the friendship between the government and the Iglesia ni Cristo be preserved within the confines of the Constitution and the laws."

Pasugo Issue August 1978

But even though Marcos and the church are friends it doesnt mean there is no separation of state and church, in fact, it also been tackled in the speech of Bro. Erano Manalo in the inauguration of the Maligaya bridge in 1978. It is also should be noted that even the two had friendship, it doesnt mean that the INC will always support Marcos in good or bad things he is doing. That is why in 1975, the INC members already made protest against Martial Law even before People Power I came:

"Feb. 14, 1975: Protest march of 50,000 Iglesia ni Cristo brethren against martial law human rights abuses." source: Pasugo issue September 2009

But when People Power I came, it will be a betrayal if the INC will go for Cory and will support People Power I. As what stated in the speech of Marcos, in the same event, in the inauguration of Maligaya Bridge:

"President Marcos, in his speech, also said that although the church and state are separate, they should not fight one another even if their policies are different. He said, however, that in the Philippines, some members of a religious sect are advocating the overthrow of the government. He further stressed that if these people represent the true religion, they should not advocate bloody revolution in order to seize power." Editorial, Pasugo Issue August 1978

I dont think the INC should have been to People Power I in 1986, because it had already made a protest in 1975, 10 years after the revolution happened.


On Gloria Arroyo, she was supported by the INC when she ran for senator, vice president, president and now as congresswoman. (source: mb.com) But that doesnt mean that INC will support Arroyo in everything, because the INC is not bias. That's why on the known Edsa III:

"The rebellion aimed to remove Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from the presidency and to reinstate Estrada." source: wikipedia

INC members participated (not commanded by the church, but given permission for those who wanted to participate), because what they have done in Edsa II was forced Estrada to leave the presidency without the law process which is unconstitutional, that is why the Edsa II was condemned worldwide and not the Edsa III.

In 2004 elections, it is true that the INC wanted to support Fernando Poe Jr. and Panfilo Lacson as president and vice president but its too late for them to be united, Gloria Arroyo then asked support from the INC, the INC has no choice but to give the support to Arroyo.

Paul, Barnabas and Christ: mistaken as Gods

Most Christians claim that the miracles of Christ is a great evidence to prove that he is God. They say that because of the miracles, the power which is in Christ make him God.

Is this kind of thinking TRUE?


On Paul and Barnabas

"In Lystra there was a man who had something wrong with his feet. He had been born crippled and had never walked. He was sitting and listening to Paul speak. Paul looked straight at him and saw that the man believed God could heal him. So Paul shouted, “Stand up on your feet!” The man jumped up and began walking around.
When the people saw what Paul did, they shouted in their own Lycaonian language. They said, “The gods have come down to us in the form of humans!” The people began to call Barnabas “Zeus,” and they called Paul “Hermes,” because he was the main speaker. The temple of Zeus was near the city. The priest of this temple brought some bulls and flowers to the city gates. The priest and the people wanted to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.
But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, understood what the people were doing, they tore their own clothes. Then they ran in among the people and shouted to them: “Men, why are you doing this? We are not gods. We are human just like you. We came to tell you the Good News. We are telling you to turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the true living God, the one who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them.
“In the past God let all the nations do what they wanted. But God was always there doing the good things that prove he is real. He gives you rain from heaven and good harvests at the right times. He gives you plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
Even after saying all this, Paul and Barnabas still could hardly stop the people from offering sacrifices to them.
Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the people to turn against Paul. So they threw stones at him and dragged him out of the town. They thought they had killed him. But when the followers of Jesus gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he and Barnabas left and went to the city of Derbe." Acts 14:8-20

On our Lord Jesus Christ

Catholics and Protestants believe that Christ is God because of the miracles he performed. On a website, it is said that those miracles TESTIFY or PROVE that he is God:

IV. Jesus' Miracles Testify that He is God

Matt. 1:23; Mark 1:27,35 - Jesus was conceived in the virginal womb of the Blessed Mother.
Matt. 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; John 1:32 - God's Spirit descends upon Jesus and the Father declares Jesus to be His Son.
Matt. 4:23-24; 9:35;15:30; Mark 1:34; 3:10; 6:5; Luke 4:40; 7:10; 13:13; 14:4; John 4:52 - Jesus miraculously cures illness and disease.
Matt. 7:35 - Jesus cures a deaf person with a speech impediment.
Matt. 8:3; Mark 1:41; Luke 5:13; 17:14 - Jesus cures leprosy.
Matt. 9:21-22; Mark 5:27-34; Luke 8:44 - the hem of Jesus' cloak cures the woman with the hemorrhage. See also Matt. 14:36.
Matt. 8:13; 9:7; Mark 2:9; Luke 5:25 - Jesus cures those who are paralyzed.
Matt. 8:15; Mark 1:31; Luke 4:39 - Jesus cures Peter's mother-in-law's fever.
Matt. 8:26; Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24 - Jesus calms the storm. Even the wind and sea obey Him.
Matt. 8:32; 9:33; 12:22; 15:28; 17:18; Mark 1:26,34; 3:11; 5:13; 7:30; 9:26; Luke 4:35,41; 8:33; 9:42; 11:14 - Jesus has power over demons.
Matt. 9:4; 12:25; Luke 6:8; 11:17 - Jesus knows people's thoughts.
Matt. 9:25; Mark 5:24; John 11:44 - Jesus raises people from the dead.
Matt. 9:30; 12:22; 20:34; 21:14; Mark 8:25; 10:52; Luke 7:21; 18:42; John 9:11 - Jesus cures the blind.
Matt. 12:13; Mark 3:5; Luke 6:10 - Jesus cures the man with the withered hand.
Matt. 14:19-20; 5:36-37; Mark 6:41-42; 8:7-8; Luke 9:16-17; John 6:11 - Jesus multiplies the loaves and fish and feeds the crowd of thousands.
Matt. 14:26; Mark 6:48; John 6:19 - Jesus walks on water.
Matt. 15:21; 16:21; 17:9,22; 20:18-19; 26:2; Mark 10:33-34; Luke 9:44; 17:25; 18:32-34 - Jesus predicts His passion.
Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:29 - Jesus is transfigured in glory.
Matt. 17:27 - Jesus miraculously has a shekel appear in the mouth of a fish.
Matt. 21:2-3; Mark 11:2; Luke 19:30 - Jesus predicts that a colt would be available for Him.
Matt. 21:19; Mark 11:14,20 - Jesus curses the fig tree and it withers.
Matt. 24:34; Mark 13:2; Luke 21:32 - Jesus predicts the fall of Jerusalem which occurred in 70 A.D.
Matt. 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-20; Luke 22:21; John 13:21,26 - Jesus predicts Judas' betrayal.
Matt. 26:26-28; Mk. 14:22,24; Luke 22;19-20; 1 Cor. 11:24-25 - Jesus changes bread and wine into His body and blood.
Matt. 26:34; Mark 14:30; Luke 22:34; John 13:38 - Jesus predicts Peter's denial.
Matt. 27:51-54; Mark 15:38-39 - supernatural events occur at Jesus' death.
Matt. 28:9; Mark 16:9,12,14; Luke 7:14-15; 8:54-55; 24:5,31,36; John 20:14,19,26; 21:1-14 - Jesus rises from the dead.
Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10 - Jesus predicts that a man carrying a jug of water will show them the furnished room for the Passover.
Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51 - Jesus ascends into heaven.
Luke 2:13-14 - the angels praise Jesus' birth.
Luke 5:7; John 21:6 - Jesus directs the miraculous catch of fish.
Luke 24:31 - Jesus has the ability to vanish out of sight.
John 2:9 - Jesus changes water into wine.
John 13:36; 21:18 - Jesus predicts Peter's death. Peter was martyred in Rome around 67 A.D.
John 20:19,26 - Jesus has the ability to appear even when the doors are locked.

source: scripturecatholic.com

______________________________

A CASE OF MISINTERPRETATION

The thinking of people who believed that Paul and Barnabas are same with on how people think about Christ, they believe them as GODS.


Paul and Barnabas are incarnated

"When the people saw what Paul did, they shouted in their own Lycaonian language. They said, “The gods have come down to us in the form of humans!” Acts 14:11

Jesus incarnated

Christ is God believers say that Jesus is incarnated, a god that come down from heaven, conceived by the virgin Mary, and lived as Human. They say that Jesus is true God and true Man.



Paul and Barnabas: we are human just like you!

“Men, why are you doing this? We are not gods. We are human just like you..." Acts 14:15

Jesus: I am a man!

"I am a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that." John 8:40

Apostle Paul: Jesus is a human, i am telling the truth, i am not lying!

"There is one God and one mediator so that human beings can reach God. That way is through Christ Jesus, who is himself human. He gave himself as a payment to free all people. He is proof that came at the right time. That is why I was chosen to tell the Good News and to be an apostle. (I am telling the truth; I am not lying.) I was chosen to teach those who are not Jews to believe and to know the truth." I tim. 2:5-7



Paul and Barnabas: turn to the true living God!

"...We are not gods. We are human just like you. We came to tell you the Good News. We are telling you to turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the true living God, the one who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them." Acts 14:15

Jesus: Father is the only true God!

"And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent." John 17:3

Apostle Paul: FOR US, there is only one God, the Father!

"yet there is for us only one God, the Father, who is the Creator of all things and for whom we live; and there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and through whom we live." I Cor. 8:6-7



People cant stop offering sacrifices to the mistaken gods, Paul and Barnabas

"Even after saying all this, Paul and Barnabas still could hardly stop the people from offering sacrifices to them." Acts 14:18

People cant stop offering sacrifices to the mistaken God, Jesus Christ

Christ is God believers can stop believing Jesus as the TRUE GOD, they cant stop offering sacrifices and honoring him as the TRUE GOD.

_____________________________

But the question is, where does the POWER to perform miracles came?

On Apostle Paul

"God used Paul to do some very special miracles. Some people took handkerchiefs and clothes that Paul had used and put them on the sick. When they did this, the sick were healed and evil spirits left them." Acts 19: 11-12


On Jesus

"People of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly showed this to you by the miracles, wonders, and signs he did through Jesus. You all know this, because it happened right here among you. Acts 2:22

The only one source of the miracles is none other than the ONLY TRUE GOD, THE FATHER. Saying Jesus Christ is God only because of the miracles he performed is believing that Apostle Peter, Apostle Paul, Elijah and/or those who have performed miracles written in the bible are also Gods. Paul and Barnabas, in their story were already mistaken as Gods by some people, how about you? Are you one of those people who mistaken Christ as God???


Belief of Jesus is God--> the formulation of the doctrine started in the 4th century and took 100+ years upon completion on its definition! Meaning, it was not what the apostles taught, the doctrine itself is nowhere in the bible...

"But I am afraid that your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ. This could happen just as Eve was tricked by that snake with his clever lies. You seem to be quite patient with anyone who comes to you and tells you about a Jesus that is different from the Jesus we told you about. You seem very willing to accept a spirit or a message that is different from the Spirit and message that you received from us." II Cor. 11:3-4

For those jealous nonmembers

Nonmembers who create attacks and invent stories about the church is seen to be JEALOUS. If you will observe them, you will not seen their work as "work for enlightenment" but simply jealousy. It is so easy to determine if one really wanted to "show the truth" or they are obviously "showing envy".

If a nonmember or former INC member attacks the church telling all negative things and showing hatred and bitterness, that is what we call--> JEALOUSY.

But, if he/she states mostly negative things(with some positive things in the church), calm when explaining and no bitterness or hatred seen in his/her statements then he/she is really sincere with her/his intentions about his/her new belief.

Those nonmembers cant help their self but to be jealous to the achievements of the Iglesia ni Cristo, you can see that for example, when an event or thing happen in the INC like 97th anniversary of the church or about the building of Philippine Arena, they will make posts or comments in the web about it and say negative things. If they are not really JEALOUS why did they do that? While we, members of the Iglesia ni Cristo dont do such things for example, there is a feast or special days in the Catholic Church we dont make posts or comments saying negative things about it, what we react is about the doctrines and not the event itself(except those event where people died or injured).


The bible says:

"Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer." Prov. 14:30 Easy to read version

Its true, its an unhealthy practice because it will result on doing evil things like the story of Cain and Abel, Cain killed his brother because of JEALOUSY. The story of Joseph (who interpret dreams), who was sold by his brothers to merchants as a slave because of JEALOUSY.

By the way, what is being jealous?

jeal·ous

adjective

1.feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages (often followed by of ): He was jealous of his rich brother.

2.feeling resentment because of another's success, advantage, etc. (often followed by of ): He was jealous of his brother's wealth.

3.characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears or envious resentment: a jealous rage; jealous intrigues.

4.inclined to or troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims: a jealous husband.

5.solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something: The American people are jealous of their freedom.

source: dictionary.reference.com

Jealousy is UNCHRISTIAN

"If you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, you have no reason to boast. Your boasting is a lie that hides the truth. That kind of “wisdom” does not come from God. That “wisdom” comes from the world. It is not spiritual. It is from the devil. Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil." James 3:14-16

If you have observed my posts, i sometimes mention about the "forces of evil" or "instrument of the devil" whom i refer to those people who do evil things in the internet about the INC. See, i am right! That kind of "wisdom" is called by the bible as "FROM THE DEVIL" and so not "SPIRITUAL". That's why i am warning everybody, dont believe immediately what you read in the internet, and dont believe those people whose works are "FROM THE DEVIL---bible".

Other biblical passages about jealousy:

"Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21
"For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?" 1 Corinthians 3:3
"Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy." Romans 13:13

Denying of being JEALOUS

Nonmembers say, "why will we be jealous to the INC?" they are in-denial, their words are contrary to their action. If they are not jealous why do they mind the INC? Why they keep on attacking the church, inventing stories and creating lies with hatred? Why they keep on saying the INC and its members are of the devil where in fact there is no INC teaching that says "do evil things to others and to nonmembers" and never did the members do evil things because they are INC members.

If youre really not jealous to us, lets read what the bible says:

"If you love others, you will never do them wrong; to love, then, is to obey the whole Law." Romans 13:10

"Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth." I Cor. 13:4-6

If it is true that they are really sincere about convincing us that they are in truth and we are in the dark, if they truly love us for us to be "enlightened" then they should NOT BE HAPPY WITH EVIL, but be happy with the truth, they should not DO wrong if they want us to believe them.


Should we INC members be jealous to nonmembers?

The bible says:

"Don't be worried on account of the wicked; don't be jealous of those who do wrong. They will soon disappear like grass that dries up; they will die like plants that wither." Psalm 37:1-2

We should not be JEALOUS to those people who do wrong, let them do what their conscience and hearts dictates and let us do what we think good.



So, to all jealous nonmembers (especially ADD members) you should not let yourselves be an instrument of the devil, as your works are "From the devil" as what the bible says. Dont create baseless attacks and create stories especially lies, it would not make your church the TRUE CHURCH for that.

To those JEALOUS Catholic defenders, priests and apologists, if you will continue what you are doing, then you are against on what was written on your own Catholic Encyclopedia:

"Jealousy is here taken to be synonymous with envy. It is defined to be a sorrow which one entertains at another's well-being because of a view that one's own excellence is in consequence lessened. Its distinctive malice comes from the opposition it implies to the supreme virtue of charity. The law of love constrains us to rejoice rather than to be distressed at the good fortune of our neighbour. Besides, such an attitude is a direct contradiction of the spirit of solidarity which ought to characterize the human race and, especially, the members of the Christian community.

The envious man tortures himself without cause, morbidly holding as he does, the success of another to constitute an evil for himself. The sin, in so far as it defies the great precept of charity, is in general grievous, although on account of the trifling matter involved, as well as because of the lack of deliberation, it is often reputed to be venial. Jealousy is most evil when one repines at another's spiritual good. It is then said to be a sin against the Holy Ghost. It is likewise called a capital sin because of the other vices it begets.

Among its progeny St. Thomas (II-II:36) enumerates hatred, detraction, rejoicing over the misfortunes of one's fellow, and whispering. Regret at another's success is not always jealousy. The motive has to be scrutinized. If, for instance, I feel sorrow at the news of another's promotion or rise to wealth, either because I know that he does not deserve his accession of good fortune, or because I have founded reason to fear he will use it to injure me or others, my attitude, provided that there is no excess in my sentiment, is entirely rational.

Then, too, it may happen that I do not, properly speaking, begrudge my neighbour his happier condition, but simply am grieved that I have not imitated him. Thus if the subject-matter be praiseworthy, I shall be not jealous but rather laudably emulous."

source: newadvent.org