"The Christianity of history is not Protestantism. If ever there were a safe truth it is this, and Protestantism has ever felt it so; to be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant." (-John Henry Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine).

"Where the bishop is, there let the people gather; just as where ever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church". -St. Ignatius of Antioch (ca 110 AD)a martyr later thrown to the lions, wrote to a church in Asia Minor. Antioch was also where the term "Christian" was first used.

“But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

"This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic." -CCC 811

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Iglesia ni Cristo's (INC) Lies to Proselytize

Read, understand, digest, use common sense and pray...

The heat goes on at this forum entitled: INC (Iglesia ni Cristo, which Christ built?. I guess it was their blatant lies against the Catholic Church that made that forum attractive to neo-apologetics (not professionals like me)and to defend the Church's teachings against these lies spread by the members of Felix Manalo's cult.


THEIR NAME

Members of the cult prided themselves about the Biblical basis of their name which was supposed taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Roman's 16:16 (take note it's Paul's letter to Christians in ancient Christian Rome!) which says "Magbatian kayo ng banal na halik. Lahat ng mga iglesia ni Cristo binabati kayo." (Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.)

If you're just listening while the verse is read, you will not recognize the lie. You hear only "iglesia ni Cristo" as it's read without realizing the rule of grammar in St. Paul's letter. Look at the difference below:

iglesia ni Cristo (notice the small letter "i"? That's what's written in the Bible.)

Iglesia ni Cristo (their registered name at the Securities and Exchange Commission. They changed a common noun to a proper noun!) They lied indeed!

In grammar, common noun is "a noun, such as book or dog, that can be preceded by the definite article and that represents one or all of the members of a class."

The Bible is never exempted from the rules of grammar. Therefore, what's biblical is that the word "iglesia" is a common noun and it's not the official name given to Christ's established Church in Jerusalem (See Four Marks of the Church). Nor he told his disciples to name it as such.

Though it may sound funny but let's consider a dialogue below:
Teacher: What's the name of your mother?
Student: The name of my mother is Mother?
Can you see now the error in the answer?)

That's onother lie (among the many lies) Manalo's cult is trying to use to proselytize nominal Catholics.

Another claim is Acts 20:28 which says, "Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood."

Notice the "church of God" in the last sentence. This verse is taken from The New American Bible version. The same would appear in all other existing translations and versions except the Lamsa Translations being used by their ministers to emphasize their lies. They changed it to "Church of Christ" which seems to be a proper noun to me. (I'm sorry but Lamsa translation is not available in bookstores but only to their ministers and their members as well.)

That's another dishonesty on their part!





IT'S A CORPORATION SOLE

According to wikipedia.com, the [I]glesia ni Cristo is "an independent, non-trinitarian Christian church that originated in the Philippines. The INC was incorporated in the Philippines by Felix Y. Manalo on July 27, 1914; The church professes to be the reestablishment of the original church founded by Jesus and teaches that the original church was apostatized. It does not teach the doctrine of the Trinity, as well as the Divinity of Jesus." (Read here for more!).

According to the self-proclaimed "angel from the East" Felix Ysagun Manalo he was destined to be the last sugo (messenger) and established (again) the church Christ's founded because it totally apostatized. They also recognize the authenticity of the Catholic Church as the true Church Christ founded in Jerusalem but because it apostatized, Manalo's has the responsibility to restore it.

Is their claim true?

No!

The Catholic Church never apostatized. In fact it's still alive and vibrant in the world. To prove it, wikipedia traces the present Catholic Church to the original and ancient Church founded by Christ in Jerusalem. (See Timeline of Christianity).

St. Thomas the Apostle (or better known as the "Doubting Thomas") died in died c. AD 53, Madras, India and until now his remains is preserved and the Catholic faith in that Hindu dominated population country is very much alive. The Catholic Church NEVER apostatized!

If there's no such thing as "total apostasy" in the Catholic Church then Manalo's cult have lied again to its members. In fact, none of their ministers can point out in history when that "apostasy" happened.

Common sense would dictate that as a Corporation registered and is protected by the laws of the Philippines (an not the Holy Spirit), all its properties should be owned by the Manalos-- from Felix Manalo as the founder to the next heir, EraƱo G. Manalo as Executive Minister and his son Eduardo V. Manalo as its Deputy Executive Minister. In other words, the management of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Proper Noun as it's registered name) will always and will be only Manalos and their heirs. They would never allow other members to take their corporation away from them. Christ has nothing to do with their corporation sole.

Since they do not have their official website for fear of ridiculing them: visit these sites for further reading and be enlightened:

1. Fundamental Beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo
2. List of Cults
3. Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa Iglesia ni Cristo
4. Examin Iglesia ni Cristo
5. Iglesia ni Cristo: from Catholic Answers.
6. Let's Reason
7. Iglesia ni Cristo in a Nutshell Exposed
8. INC Disproved

Here are some sites their ministers approved:

1. TruthFinder's INC Page
2. Unique Bible Study
3. Schedule of Worship

All I ask for those who wanted to leave this cult, pray and ask the Lord to guide you to the right path... back to his true fold, the Catholic Church.



WARNING ABOUT THE COMING OF THE FALSE PROPHET

All throughout their programs on TV, radio or in their official magazine PASUGO, the Iglesia ni Cristo keep on repeating their false teachings that the original Church of Christ has apostatized and that Felix Manalo has come to restore it. He's not alone in this claim, Joseph Smith has claimed to be the prophet to restore Christ's Church.

Nowhere in the Bible we can read that the Church which Christ founded will be quenched by any power of darkness (Matthew 16:18): "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. " He never told his disciples that he would send angels and prophets to restore his Church. Simply those claims aren't true and its all lies. On the contrary, Jesus warned the Apostles of false prophets to come like wolves snatching the sheeps when he leaves. Take for examples these Biblical warnings:

(a). Hebrews 1:1: "In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe.. (Jesus is the zeal of the prophets!)
(b).
Matthew 24:4-5: "Jesus said to them in reply, "See that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many."
(c).
II Corinthians 11:13-14: "For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who masquerade as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light."
(d).
Galatians 1:8: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed!"
(e).
II Peter 2:1: "There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves."


FINALLY, ALL ABOUT THEIR LOGO
From: pinoyexchange.com forum


On this image below, you’ll see a craftily “hidden” pattern of a “pentagram” on the compass and square. Observe really closely.

On this image below, you’ll see the scale, interlaced compass and square, and the craftily “hidden” pentagram. Now, this is a third coincidence already between the stark similarities between INC and Freemasonry. What do you call a 3rd coincidence? Is there such a thing in this world? Deliberate, copied, or just coincidence? Or, perhaps, they are the same institution!

Now, we see here on the image below a torch on top of the compass. Combining the craftily hidden pentagram here with the torch we have this, observe closely and take note:

We see here on the image below, a torch on top of the pentagram, with the torch in “drawing form”. Observe and take note.



I will leave you the right thinking and judgment. May God bless you for searching the truth.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Remember When They Attacked!

September 11, 2001-- The world was shocked by the news that the Twin Tower World Trade Center Buildings in the USA were attacked by the terrorists. Two jet planes crashed into the two buildings in a matter of hours and they crumbled down together with all those innocent victims inside it. (Watch YouTube video here).

It was a scene supposedly seen only on movies but it was real at this time. The terrorists made it real for anyone to see. The world has seen how brutal and barbaric these terrorists are, respecting no religion, no political systems, making the civilized world lame and helpless.

I was seated with my eyes glued on the screen. I couldn't believe a sane person could do such things. Even pagan or those who doesn't believe in the existence of a higher being won't do that. They still do respect human lives as something so important as they give importance to their own existence. Here's a group of terrorists, the Al Qaeda founded by Osama bin Laden, who wanted to impose strict Islamic Laws (Sharia) to all Muslims and to convert the World into a Islamic state particularly the United States of America and other western countries whose morality doesn't reflect any of its roots as believers in One God and thus religiously intolerant of other belief systems. Their extrememist views were considered by the Western civilized world as a direct opposite to any democratic societies.

Heavy setback fell to innocent Muslims living in predominantly Christian countries. Even the United States which respects every human being regardless of its religious affiliations have experienced among their neighborhood atrocities against radical Christians. It was the day when the world changed.

Seven years later, many of our modern laws concerning flights, passengers in the air, in the seas and in land had to pass strict implementation of safety rules due to the continuing threat of terrorism. In banking systems, no one can open an account without showing ample credentials and other identification cards that says all of your identity. Literally, terrorism changed the way we live with our neighbors. Everyone becomes a suspect and we treat anyone as enemy or stranger. We stopped trusting people.

In the US alone, Robert Spencer spearheaded a website particularly watching closely world events and violence done in the name of Jihad movements done by some radical Muslims particularly in Islamic countries or where Muslims are residing. (Read Jihad Watch) The power of media is now the battle ground, even terrorists use the internet to spread their violent teachings. Some use videos to counter-act the terrorists just like the video entitled "Islam: What the West Needs to Know" and the controversial Fitna Movie strongly opposed by Muslims and some non-Muslims who sympathized with their cause. This movie was boycotted in some democratic countries accusing its producers to be "anti-semitic in nature and fosters hatred against the Muslims. I didn't see the movie, maybe because it was banned in the Philippines for being too discriminatory.

The setback was very strong to minority Muslim communities in some countries (not much in the Philippines). Thanks to democracy, they were protected according to the existing constitution laws. According to democratic societies, no one should be discriminated because of his/her religious beliefs as long as it doesn't contradict any of its promulgated laws.

I don't want another hate campaign to be sown among believers particularly among Jews, Christians and Muslims. I am appealing to those who believe in ONE GOD to respect the name of God, whether his name is Yahweh, Jesus or Allah. And to those victims of 9/11 tragedy and those victims of terrorism in the world, let's unite our prayers that there would be world peace for our children to enjoy.

God bless America and the Americans on its 7th Anniversary of 9/11 and those other nationals who died during the attack. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen! Shalom, Salam, Pacem!

---------------------------------
Picture Credit: wikipedia.org

Remembering 9/11

September 11, 2001-- The world was shocked by the news that the Twin Tower World Trade Center Buildings in the USA were attacked by the terrorists. Two jet planes crashed into the two buildings in a matter of hours and they crumbled down together with all those innocent victims inside it. (Watch YouTube video here).

It was a scene supposedly seen only on movies but it was real at this time. The terrorists made it real for anyone to see. The world has seen how brutal and barbaric these terrorists are, respecting no religion, no political systems, making the civilized world lame and helpless.

I was seated with my eyes glued on the screen. I couldn't believe a sane person could do such things. Even pagan or those who doesn't believe in the existence of a higher being won't do that. They still do respect human lives as something so important as they give importance to their own existence. Here's a group of terrorists, the Al Qaeda founded by Osama bin Laden, who wanted to impose strict Islamic Laws (Sharia) to all Muslims and to convert the World into a Islamic state particularly the United States of America and other western countries whose morality doesn't reflect any of its roots as believers in One God and thus religiously intolerant of other belief systems. Their extrememist views were considered by the Western civilized world as a direct opposite to any democratic societies.

Heavy setback fell to innocent Muslims living in predominantly Christian countries. Even the United States which respects every human being regardless of its religious affiliations have experienced among their neighborhood atrocities against radical Christians. It was the day when the world changed.

Seven years later, many of our modern laws concerning flights, passengers in the air, in the seas and in land had to pass strict implementation of safety rules due to the continuing threat of terrorism. In banking systems, no one can open an account without showing ample credentials and other identification cards that says all of your identity. Literally, terrorism changed the way we live with our neighbors. Everyone becomes a suspect and we treat anyone as enemy or stranger. We stopped trusting people.

In the US alone, Robert Spencer spearheaded a website particularly watching closely world events and violence done in the name of Jihad movements done by some radical Muslims particularly in Islamic countries or where Muslims are residing. (Read Jihad Watch) The power of media is now the battle ground, even terrorists use the internet to spread their violent teachings. Some use videos to counter-act the terrorists just like the video entitled "Islam: What the West Needs to Know" and the controversial Fitna Movie strongly opposed by Muslims and some non-Muslims who sympathized with their cause. This movie was boycotted in some democratic countries accusing its producers to be "anti-semitic in nature and fosters hatred against the Muslims. I didn't see the movie, maybe because it was banned in the Philippines for being too discriminatory.

The setback was very strong to minority Muslim communities in some countries (not much in the Philippines). Thanks to democracy, they were protected according to the existing constitution laws. According to democratic societies, no one should be discriminated because of his/her religious beliefs as long as it doesn't contradict any of its promulgated laws.

I don't want another hate campaign to be sown among believers particularly among Jews, Christians and Muslims. I am appealing to those who believe in ONE GOD to respect the name of God, whether his name is Yahweh, Jesus or Allah. And to those victims of 9/11 tragedy and those victims of terrorism in the world, let's unite our prayers that there would be world peace for our children to enjoy.

God bless America and the Americans on its 7th Anniversary of 9/11 and those other nationals who died during the attack. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen! Shalom, Salam, Pacem!

---------------------------------
Picture Credit: wikipedia.org

Remembering 9/11

September 11, 2001-- The world was shocked by the news that the Twin Tower World Trade Center Buildings in the USA were attacked by the terrorists. Two jet planes crashed into the two buildings in a matter of hours and they crumbled down together with all those innocent victims inside it. (Watch YouTube video here).

It was a scene supposedly seen only on movies but it was real at this time. The terrorists made it real for anyone to see. The world has seen how brutal and barbaric these terrorists are, respecting no religion, no political systems, making the civilized world lame and helpless.

I was seated with my eyes glued on the screen. I couldn't believe a sane person could do such things. Even pagan or those who doesn't believe in the existence of a higher being won't do that. They still do respect human lives as something so important as they give importance to their own existence. Here's a group of terrorists, the Al Qaeda founded by Osama bin Laden, who wanted to impose strict Islamic Laws (Sharia) to all Muslims and to convert the World into a Islamic state particularly the United States of America and other western countries whose morality doesn't reflect any of its roots as believers in One God and thus religiously intolerant of other belief systems. Their extrememist views were considered by the Western civilized world as a direct opposite to any democratic societies.

Heavy setback fell to innocent Muslims living in predominantly Christian countries. Even the United States which respects every human being regardless of its religious affiliations have experienced among their neighborhood atrocities against radical Christians. It was the day when the world changed.

Seven years later, many of our modern laws concerning flights, passengers in the air, in the seas and in land had to pass strict implementation of safety rules due to the continuing threat of terrorism. In banking systems, no one can open an account without showing ample credentials and other identification cards that says all of your identity. Literally, terrorism changed the way we live with our neighbors. Everyone becomes a suspect and we treat anyone as enemy or stranger. We stopped trusting people.

In the US alone, Robert Spencer spearheaded a website particularly watching closely world events and violence done in the name of Jihad movements done by some radical Muslims particularly in Islamic countries or where Muslims are residing. (Read Jihad Watch) The power of media is now the battle ground, even terrorists use the internet to spread their violent teachings. Some use videos to counter-act the terrorists just like the video entitled "Islam: What the West Needs to Know" and the controversial Fitna Movie strongly opposed by Muslims and some non-Muslims who sympathized with their cause. This movie was boycotted in some democratic countries accusing its producers to be "anti-semitic in nature and fosters hatred against the Muslims. I didn't see the movie, maybe because it was banned in the Philippines for being too discriminatory.

The setback was very strong to minority Muslim communities in some countries (not much in the Philippines). Thanks to democracy, they were protected according to the existing constitution laws. According to democratic societies, no one should be discriminated because of his/her religious beliefs as long as it doesn't contradict any of its promulgated laws.

I don't want another hate campaign to be sown among believers particularly among Jews, Christians and Muslims. I am appealing to those who believe in ONE GOD to respect the name of God, whether his name is Yahweh, Jesus or Allah. And to those victims of 9/11 tragedy and those victims of terrorism in the world, let's unite our prayers that there would be world peace for our children to enjoy.

God bless America and the Americans on its 7th Anniversary of 9/11 and those other nationals who died during the attack. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen! Shalom, Salam, Pacem!

---------------------------------
Picture Credit: wikipedia.org

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