Is the Iglesia ni Cristo a business? Does the church makes profit? What is the definition of business? If the INC is a business who benefits? What do we mean if a church is more likely a business than a religious organization?
ANSWER:
We may see in the internet that nonmembers say that the Iglesia ni Cristo is a business, which owned by the Manalo family and makes profit. Though it is not surprising if they spread those lies, we will examine if the INC is really a business.
What is "BUSINESS"?
"An economic system in which goods and services are exchanged for one another or money, on the basis of their perceived worth. Every business requires some form of investment and a sufficient number of customers to whom its output can be sold at profit on a consistent basis." source: dictionary.com
Is the INC a business only because it is registered as corporation sole?
No. Churches are NORMALLY registered in the government if they want to for some reasons. Click here to know more about corporation sole.
Is INC a "business" of the Manalo family?
No. Because churches are not businesses, they become more likely a business IF they sells goods and offer services with payments. Unfortunately, the INC does not sells anything and does not offer services like weddings, baptismal, worship services and so on with payment. All church services are FREE. Offerings collected in the church during worship services especially during "Thanksgiving" or "Pasalamat"are different from payment, those are wholehearted contribution of members of the church because we believe it is our obligation, that is the reason why we call it "offerings" and not "donations" where excess money from members of other churches are collected.
If someone says "how about your Pasugo magazines? You should not deny that your church sells it!" Yes. The church sells the Pasugo magazines for only P10 while its original price is estimated to be P80-100. The church does not sell it to make PROFIT because if that will be the case then its price should be like P150.
There are no other things that the church sells except for Pasugo Magazines, while all services, yes, ALL SERVICES are free, without payment and without an exchange of donations.
Does the offerings collected goes only to the Manalo family and its ministers?
No. All monies collected by the church are spent by the church administration on building houses of worship, just one of the many examples, and goes to the church's bank accounts and not to Manalo's accounts. Ministers does not have salaries but given some "tulong", they are discouraged to have businesses to avoid accusing the church by nonmembers that ministers are having luxurious life. Click here for more info where does our offerings goes.
How about institutions made by the church, are they businesses of the Manalo's?
No. Hospitals, and schools are constructed by the church because the church administration is concern about education and health services for nonmembers and members. Those are not purposed to make profit, though services have payments for its maintenance and employees' salaries.
Why is it that you don't have any vendors around your churches your not a good Business spot after all..
ReplyDeleteThe reason we never have any vendors around is because INC is not a Business,mate.
DeleteRemember Christ drove the peddlers,merchants and other business persons for they destroy His Father's temple and made it a place for debauchery.
But Catholic churches are made the same place as Christ drove out.Ironic that they claim that they have Christ's teachings though they disobeyed Christ's order not to make business in His Father's temple.
Solomon Prince,
ReplyDeleteJohn 13-16:
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast, Jesus went to Jerusalem.14 In the Temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves. He saw others sitting at tables, exchanging different kinds of money.
Jesus made a whip out of cords and forced all of them, both the sheep and cattle, to leave the Temple. He turned over the tables and scattered the money of those who were exchanging it.
Then he said to those who were selling pigeons, "Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house a place for buying and selling!"
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The church is sacred and holy so it should be taken care of properly. our chapels should not be like chapels of Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines were it became more likely a market than a church.