Dwight Longenecker: Pagans, a Pope, & the Fall of Sauron: How We Got New Year’s Day

Article Source: The Imaginative Conservative
By Dwight Longenecker
Also featured at Patheos

Some atheists, Muslims and Christian fundamentalists like to grumble and gibe that the celebration of Christmas and Easter are “pagan.” They are right and they are wrong. They are right inasmuch as the wellsprings of our Western culture are deep in the pre-Christian cultures of Europe. They are wrong because the early Christians, like the Hebrews before them, saw their religion as a contrast and a corrective to the prevailing pagan culture.

Like cultural iconoclasts shall we seek to purge all vestiges of paganism from our modern world? Must we give up our Christmas tree and cast out our Easter eggs? If so, then we must also re-name the days of the week and refuse to honor the pagan deities Tiu (Tuesday) Wotan (Wednesday) Thor (Thursday) Frige (Friday) and Saturn (Saturday) not to mention the worship of the Sun and Moon (Sunday and Monday)

Our cultural cleansing must continue, and we must demand that the names of the months of the year be purged of their demonic and absurd pagan associations! Out Janus, the two faced god of January! Begone Mars for March, the goddess Maia for May and Juno to follow. New Years’ Day! The horror! That the beginning of the year should be celebrated at the beginning of January is pagan through and through!

Imaginative conservatism is never iconoclastic. It affirms the past as the foundation for the future. Our Western culture is deeply rooted in the classic civilizations of Greece and Rome, but also in the pre Christian pagan cultures of Europe. The ancient customs have merged, developed and adapted to changing times, but they are not to be scorned simply because they are pagan or because they are from the past. A good example of how an originally pagan custom has developed into a modern celebration is New Years’ Day.

The earliest records of a New Year celebration are from Mesopotamia around 2000 BC. Then about the time of Father Abraham, the new year was heralded not in mid winter, but at the Spring equinox in mid-March. Following these already ancient customs, the first Roman calendar had ten months and also recognized March as the beginning of the year. This is why September, October, November and December have their names: from March they were the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth months.

The second king of Rome, Numa Pompilius added January and February to the calendar and in 153 BC we have the first record of January first being celebrated as New Years’ Day. The change was decreed for civil reasons (the consuls began their term at that time) but many people still recognized March as the start of the year.

Enero Uno: Kapistahan ng Kadakilaan ni Maria Ina ng Diyos

Originally Posted at Iglesia ni Cristo 2000 Blog

MARIA, INA NG DIYOS.

Isang malaking balakid para sa mga kalaban ng tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo ang isa sa mga titulo ng Inang Birheng Maria bilang INA NG DIYOS. Sa mga Protestante, hindi parepareho ang kanilang pananaw tungkol kay Maria. Ang mga Lutherans ay hindi katulad ng mga Anglicans o mga Episcopalians. Ganon din ang mga Calvinist, Presbyterian, Methodist at iba pang mga sinaunang grupo ng mga Protestante. Sila ay maituturing nating iba rin sa mga evangelicals (o mga "Born Again") at hindi rin sila sumasang-ayon sa bawat isa sa mga Baptist, at hindi rin sila katulad ng mga paniniwala ng mga Pentecostals. Sa Pilipinas, ang mga kaanib sa iglesiang tatag ni Ginoong Felix Manalo ang madalas na kumakalaban sa Iglesia Katolika sa radyo man, telebisyon o sa mga limbag na magasin at aklat. Ang Iglesia Ni Cristo®-1914 ay kabilang sa sangay ng Protestante na kung tawagin ay "Restorationists" at kabilang sila sa mga ereheng sumasalungat sa Doktrina ng Trinidad na kung tawagin ay mga Unitarians (halos silang lahat ay sumulpot sa Estados Unidos o Europa).

Ngunit ang isang bagay na sila'y nagkakaisa, ito ay ang kanilang pagtutol sa mga parangal na ibinibigay ng mga Katoliko at mga Orthodox kay Maria bilang INA NG DIYOS (THEOTOKOS). 

Bakit nga ba si Maria ay tinatawag ng 'Ina ng Diyos'? 

Ang titulong ikinabit kay Inang Birheng Maria ay hindi parangal sa kanya bilang tao kundi ito ay PAGPAPATIBAY sa katotohanang si JESUS AY DIYOS!

Ang pagtawag kay Maria bilang 'Theotokos' (God-bearer) o Ina ng Diyos ay hindi na bago sa kasaysayan ng Santa Iglesia. Ito ay matagal nang pinaniniwalaan at sinasampalatayanan ng Unang Iglesia. At upang mapanatili ang pangkalahatang paniniwalang ito, sa Konsilyo ng Efesus (431 A.D.) ginawang opisyal ang titulo ng Inang Maria bilang "Ina ng Diyos".

"Kung ang sinuman ay hindi magpapahayag na ang Diyos ay tunay na Emmanuel (nagkatawang-tao), at sa saligang ito ang banal na birhen ay ang" Theotokos "(sapagkat ayon sa laman ipinanganak niya ang Salita ng Diyos, naging laman sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang pagsilang) siya nawa ay itiwalag." (If anyone does not confess that God is truly Emmanuel, and that on this account the holy virgin is the "Theotokos" (for according to the flesh she gave birth to the word of God become flesh by birth) let him be anathema. -The Council of Ephesus, 431 AD)

Bakit hindi na lamang tawaging 'Ina ni Cristo'?

Tanggapin man natin o hindi, hindi lahat ng mga taong nagsasabing sila'y mga 'Kristiano' ay naniniwalang si Cristo ay Diyos. Isa na rito ang mga kaanib ng INC™-1914. Para sa kanila, si Cristo ay TAO LAMANG.

“TAO rin ang kalagayan ng ating Panginoon Jesucristo sa Kanyang muling pagparito sa araw ng paghuhukom. Hindi nagbabago ang Kanyang kalagayan. Hindi Siya naging Diyos kailanman! TAO ng ipinanganak, TAO ng lumaki na at nangangaral, TAO ng mabuhay na mag-uli, TAO nang umakyant sa langit, TAO nang nasa langit na nakaupo sa kanan ng Diyos, at TAO rin Siya na muling paririto.” -PASUGO, Enero, 1964, p. 13 (Sinulat ni Emiliano Agustin)

Sa kanilang opisyal na limbag na magasing Pasugo na ating sinipi sa itaas, ang Iglesia Ni Cristo®-1914 ay pinagdidiinan ang pagka-TAO ni Jesus at TINATAKWIL ang Kanyang orihinal na kalikasan bilang Diyos.

Taliwas sa mga bagong sulpot na relihiyon sa Pilipinas, ang orihinal na Iglesia, si Cristo na ITINATAG NI mismo ni CRISTO ay naniniwalang HINDI LAMANG TAO ang Panginoong Jesus kundi SIYA AY DIYOS at NAPARITO ayon sa LAMAN (naging TAO). Kaya't sa maikling salita, si Cristo ay TOTOONG DIYOS at TOTOONG TAO at sa kabuuan ng kanyang 'essence at being' SI CRISTO AY IISA, hindi siya kalahating Diyos at kalahating Tao. O hindi siya dalawa (Jesus na Diyos at Jesus na Tao) kundi IISA ANG PANGINOONG HESUCRISTO. Si CRISTO ay DIYOS bago isilang; DIYOS pa rin hanggang ipinanganak ayon sa laman (sa pamamagitan ni Maria) at naging TAO (Juan 1:1-4, 14) at Diyos pa rin hanggang sa kanyang pagbabalik (paghuhukom)!

Iyan ang PINAGDIDIINAN sa SULAT sa mga HEBREO (13:8)  na ang Panginoong Jesucristo ay MANANATILING SIYA KAHAPON, NGAYON AT MAGPAKAILAN MAN.

Kaya't kung si CRISTO ay DIYOS noon, siya ay mananatiling DIYOS ngayon, at DIYOS pa rin MAGKAILANMAN hanggang sa Kanyang paghuhukom.

Malinaw itong sinampalatayanan ni Apostol San Pablo sa kanyang sulat sa mga taga-Filipos:

"Taglayin  ninyo ang mga damdamin na tinaglay din ni Cristo Jesus, na bagaman NASA KANYA ANG KALIKASAN NG DIYOS ay hindi niya inangkin ang matulad sa Diyos; sa halip ay pinawi ang sarili, kinuha ang kalikasan ng alipin at TUMULAD SA MGA TAO." (Ang Banal na Biblia)

Para kay Apostol San Pablo, si Cristo ay taglay ang KALIKASAN NG DIYOS ngunit sa Kanyang kababaang-loob ay KINUHA ang KALAGAYAN BILANG TAO, naging animo'y alipin, masunurin hanggang kamataya ~ oo, kamatayan sa Krus.

Kaya't sa mga KATOTOHANANG ating binanggit, ang IPINANGANAK ng Inang Birhen ay DIYOS NA TOTOO. Samakatuwid, si MARIA AY INA NG DIYOS! (CCC 963)

BABALA NG BIBLIA AT NG SANTA IGLESIA

Ang babala ay mula kay Apostol San Juan (1 Juan 1:2-3), ang sinumang HINDI TANGGAP si CRISTO (Diyos) na NAPARITO SA LAMAN siya ay ANTI-CRISTO!

Batid ni Apostol San Juan ang PAGDATING na mga EREHE at mga HUWAD NA MANGANGARAL mula noong IKA-16 SIGLO sa Europa hanggang dumating ito sa Pilipinas noong 1900's at umusbong ng husto noong 1914.

"Sapagkat nagkalat sa daigdig ang maraming mandaraya na ayaw kumilala na si Jesucristo ay nagkatawang-tao; ganyan nga ang mandaraya at ang anti-Cristo. Mag-ingat sana kayo..." (2 Juan 1:7-8a Ang Mabuting Balita)

Ang di-pagtanggap kay Maria bilang INA NG DIYOS ay katulad ng hindi rin pagtanggap kay JESUCRISTO bilang DIYOS na NAGKATAWANG-TAO.

"If anyone does not confess that God is truly Emmanuel, and that on this account the holy virgin is the "Theotokos" (for according to the flesh she gave birth to the word of God become flesh by birth) let him be anathema". -The Council of Ephesus, 431 AD

At sa mga katulad nila, ibilang sila bilang mga kampon ng kasamaan, mga bulaan, mandaraya, manlilinlang ~ mga ANTI-CRISTO!

The Daily Guardian: Why INC members don’t celebrate Christmas

Originally posted at Iglesia ni Cristo 2000 blog.

By: Ma. Beatriz Monteverde
The Daily Guardian

(The author is a Grade 12 student-intern of the Iloilo National High School)

IT is irony, some may say, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), a church that preaches to be of Christ does not celebrate His birthday every December 25. After all, the birth of Christ the Savior was a day which brought great joy to all people.

The INC is often accused of refusing to remember and glorify Christ, but its members do remember Christ, glorify God, and wish peace- but in accordance with the biblical mandate.

Thus, it is known to everyone that Christmas is considered as special holiday for Roman Catholics, but for the INC members, it is just another normal day.

[Christmas is NOT about the "DATE" (December 25), but rather it IS the CELEBRATION of HIS BIRTH, nothing more, nothing less.  Thus Christians (of all denomination) and non-Christians UNDERSTOOD it very well that CHRISTMAS is not about the "date" (December 25) but it's about the birth of the SON OF GOD MADE FLESH.  This is why most Islamic jurisprudence DO NOT directly celebrate Christmas as it "goes against the tenets" of their belief ~ that GOD BECAME MAN. 

In the following summary of a YouTube video it says, "It’s no coincidence that this holiday period happens around Christmas, as traditionally it was a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus."

No sane person would think that Christmas is a celebration OF the date (December 25) but rather it is a "coincidence" that the Church of Christ marked HIS BIRTHDAY on December 25. If we celebrate LIFE by celebrating our birthday, what's stopping Christians to celebrate the BIRTH OF THE SON OF GOD MADE FLESH (John 1:1-4,14; Phil. 2:2-11)]

According to an article published at God’s Message, the official magazine of INC, there is nothing wrong with birthday celebrations, but INC stands firm that there is no biblical verse that says Christ demands for His birthday to be celebrated.

The apostles also made no mention of Christmas celebration but taught how Christ wanted to be remembered.

[True to His Word, God did not command us everything. His commandment is simple: LOVE. It's all about love. If celebrating one's birthday is all about love, then there is nothing wrong with that.  Birthday celebration no matter how simple or extravagant it may be celebrated always boils down to one thing: OUR LOVE OF LIFE. God has given us LIFE and out of this we are able to LOVE because we live.  Do you think, God in his immense wisdom would enumerate to us every detail of what should we do? If God would have done that then even we combine all national libraries in the world, the Bible couldn't fit.

Our God is NOT DUMB as these false preachers of Manalo's Church would imply. Logic would lead us to the TRUTH. How could the evangelists record the EXACT DATE of Christ's birth when HIS BIRTH precedes the GREGORIAN CALENDAR which was only introduced by POPE GREGORY XIII in October 4, 1582. This 2019, the Gregorian Calendar is just 436 years old while His birth has been remembered for more than 2,000 years. Take note, the Gregorian Calendar is the "most widely used civil calendar in the world" according to Wikipedia and it is so convenient for the INC™ to use it as their tool in measuring date including their birthdays and even their founding anniversary.

Let me throw the same question back to these false preachers: If it was not in the Bible, and the Apostles DID NOT teach Christians to remember Christ's birth then (a) Why are they celebrating Felix Manalo's birthday every May 10th of each year, Eraño Manalo every January 2 each year and Eduardo V. Manalo every October 31 every year? (b) Why are they celebrating every July 27th of their founding anniversary if God or the holy apostles DID NOT command them to celebrate?

I am sure, their answer would be the same as OUR ANSWER. Birthday celebrations are all celebrated out of LOVE which is the very heart of the Gospel.]

Jesus Christ commanded to remember Him in his death, not on His birthday, it stated.

[If this would be our very basis on how to know which among the many churches claiming to be Christ's "true" Church including the Iglesia Ni Cristo®  (INC™) they would fall short.  In their own liturgy, INC™ celebrates Christ's death (Santa Cena) ONLY ONCE A YEAR which coincidentally celebrated on December 25 (see Rappler).  Their December 25 too was not even in the Bible.  Was December 25 randomly chosen as their "Santa Cena (Huling Hapunan)" celebration or sinasamantala lamang nila ang malaki at kilalang okasyon sapagkat ito ay araw na may pagdiriwang na ang sankakristianuhan? Who would buy their shallow reasoning while Catholics and non-Catholics (including non-Christians) are celebrating CHRISTMAS as Christ's birthday, they'd celebrate Christ's death instead!

True to Christ's commandment the CATHOLIC CHURCH faithfully remembers His Passion and Death EVERYDAY in EVERY PARISH around the world "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes" (I Corinthians 11:26). And the TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST ~ which is the CATHOLIC CHURCH (according to history and the Pasugo 1966, p. 6; July-August 1988 p. 6, March-April 1992, p. 22) will CELEBRATE HIS DEATH as He commanded UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN.]

Moreover, the article said that “there is no reliable historical that exists pinpointing the exact date or month of Christ’s birthday.”

[That was because there was no calendar yet when He was born but that does not stop us from appointing a fitting date to celebrate THE OCCASION OF HIS BIRTH.]

It claimed that the focus of Christmas had shifted from Christ to Sta. Claus and from “so-called spirituality to materialism.”

[The Iglesia Ni Cristo® shouldn't fault the Catholic Church if some people are replacing Christ's birth celebration to Santa Claus or it turned to be focused more on materialism.  The truth remains that CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT THE BIRTH OF THE SON OF GOD MADE FLESH, not Santa Claus or the snow or Reindeers or Yuletide.]

December 25 isn’t specified as the exact birth of Christ but is originally called ‘Birthday of the Sun’ and the great pagan religous celebration of the Mithras cult celebrated all through the Roman Empire, an article published at Iglesia Ni Cristo blogspot said.

[The Iglesia Ni Cristo® hates the Catholic Church and they accuse her as a PAGAN CHURCH. There is nothing good in the Catholic Church as the Iglesia Ni Cristo® looks at it in any angle even they benefited a lot from the Catholic Church. Evidently, they attack the Catholic Church in radio, TV or in print. Wala nang bago sa kanila. Instead we pray for our persecutors and bless those who hate the TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST which is the Catholic Church.]

Members of the INC continue to abide with the teachings of the Holy Bible.

[Every member of the INC™-1914 should know that WITHOUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH there is no Bible. And they should always remember that THE CHURCH CAME FIRST BEFORE THE LIST OF THE BOOKS IN OUR PRESENT BIBLE WAS FINALLY FORMULATED IN 382 A.D.]

Eureka Rodriguez, 13, stands firm with her faith.

“Sa age ko, makita ko ang iban nga sadya sa Christmas Party nila. Pero sa bata pa nga edad, natudluan na kami sang insakto nga duktrina. Wala man ko mahisa kay may paagi man kami magpasalamat kag mag-glorify through Year End Thanksgiving namon. Amo na ang ginaka-excitedan namon kung December,” she said.

Felix Manalo: Founder of the Iglesia Ni Cristo® says The Manila Times

"Manalo is the eldest son of the late INC executive minister Eraño Manalo. His grandfather, Felix Manalo, founded the influential religious group in 1914."  -Manila Times December 18, 2018

Korap nga Ba ang Iglesia Katolika?

Christmas Urbi et Orbi Blessings from Vatican City

SOLEMN MASS AT THE VATICAN FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST THE SON OF GOD MADE FLESH

Merry Christmas Everyone! God Bless!

Ang Pasko Natin…

Tula ni Kapatid na EMILIANO I. AGUSTIN

Pasugo Dec. 1956, p 10

Sumilang si Hesus sa abang sabsaban

Tinubos tayo sa dilim ng buhay…

Tayo’y nagkasala at mga naligaw

Nawalan ng Diyos at kapayapaan…!

Si Hesus ang ating Maligayang Pasko

Ang Kapayapaang dapat na matamo…

Liwanag ng buhay sa patay na mundo

Biyaya ng Diyos sa handog na Cristo…!

Tanggapin ni Cristo ng buong pag-ibig

Tanging Aginaldo ng Diyos sa Langit…

Sa salang marumi’y mabisang panlinis

At magiging dapat sa dugong natigis…!

Sumunod kay Hesus ang mga naligaw

Maamong pasakop sa Kanyang paanan…

Tumatawag Siya’t lagging naghihintay

May laang PATAWAD sa magbagumbuhay…

Iwan na ang sama at magbalikloob

At buong pagsuyong lumapit kay Hesus…

Kung hindi sa Kanya na Dakilang Handog

Walang kaligtasan sa Hatol ng Diyos… !

Oh ! ang PASKO natin, puno ng pagsuyo

Ang Dakilang Cristong sa sala’y umako…

Sa Paskong marilag tanggapin sa puso

Ang Kapayapaang mahigit sa ginto… !

Ang Kapayapaan o tunay na Pasko

Tatanggapin nating Iglesia Ni Cristo…

Iglesya;y Katawan at Siya ang Ulo

Sa sumpa ng utos tinubos na tayo…!

Maghari sa puso ang KAPAYAPAAN

At sa MANUNUBOS huwag hihiwalay…

Sa Kanyang Iglesya’y manatiling saklaw

May buhay at langit pagdating ng Araw…!

The Feast of Mary's Immaculate Conception Explained!

On December 8, 1854 Pope Pius IX defined the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception as dogma that Mary of Nazareth was conceived without original sin. By this dogma, the Catholic Church confesses: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” (CCC #491-492, 508)

A brief overview of the history and significance of the feast of the Immaculate Conception which is celebrated during Advent on Dec. 8th throughout the whole Church. The video is not-for-profit, and is intended for religious teaching, scholarship, and research purposes only (Fair Use Doctrine: Title 17, para. 107).

Addendum: "Theotokos" literally means God bearer.

INC Exposed by CBS News (Canada) ~ How The Fifth Estate dealt with intimidation | The Investigators with Diana Swain

"INC run by one family..." -CBS News

Iglesia Ni Cristo® ~ "My Church" ayon kay G. Felix Manalo

Originally posted at Iglesia ni Cristo 33AD blog

Madalas na ipinagmamalaki ng mga kaanib ng samahan ni Felix Manalo sa larangan ng palitan ng kuru-kuro sa social media, maging sa kanilang mga programa sa telebisyon o radiyo, maging sa kanilang limbag na Pasugo, na ang "Iglesia Ni Cristo®" o INC™ raw ay hango sa pag-aangkin mismo ni Cristo sa Mateo 16:18 ng "AKING" iglesia o "MY" church. Kaya't nararapat lamang daw itong tawaging "Iglesia Ni Cristo®" tulad ng paliwanag ng isang INC™ sa ibaba:

JESUS CHRIST said so (Mt. 16:18)

"And so I say to you, you are Peter [not Felix Manalo], and upon this rock  I [not Felix Manalo] will build my [not Manalo] church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it."[Christ's original Church will not be re-established!!! Hell shall NOT prevail! It's CHRIST'S CHURCH!]

Wala tayong dapat na pagtatalo-talo rito sapagkat sa kasaysayan ng ating kaligtasan, may IISANG IGLESIANG kilala sa buong mundo bilang TATAG ni Cristo.

Ang pagpapakilala ni Cristo ng "AKING IGLESIA" sa Mateo 16:18 ay hindi po nangangailangan ng PAGPAPAREHISTRO sa anumang gobyerno noon o hanggang sa kasalukuyan sapagkat WALANG IBANG IGLESIANG KILALA na itinatag si CRISTO kundi ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA  (Gk: καθολική Εκκλησία) noon hanggang ngayon.

Ayon sa Wikipedia, ang Iglesia Katolika ay ang PINAKAMATANDA sa kasaysayan...

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with approximately 1.3 billion baptised Catholics worldwide as of 2016. As the world's "oldest continuously functioning international institution", it has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilisation. The church is headed by the Bishop of Rome, known as the Pope. Its central administration, the Holy See, is in the Vatican City, an enclave within Rome, Italy.

Ayon naman sa BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA, ang Iglesia Katolika raw ay katumbas ng pagkakakilala sa buong ka-Kristianuhan sa buong kasaysayan nito:

At one level, of course, the interpretation of Roman Catholicism is closely related to the interpretation of Christianity as such. By its own reading of history, Roman Catholicism originated with the very beginnings of Christianity.

Paano tayo nakakasigurado na ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA nga ay siya pa ring TUNAY NA IGLESIANG tatag ni Cristo at magpahanggang ngayon sa kasalukuyan ay HINDI ito NATALIKOD tulad ng BINTANG ng mga Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints) at ng mga kaanib sa Iglesia Ni Cristo® - 1914?

Sa pamamagitan ng mga turo nitong HINDI nagbabago sa libong taon na itinuro ng mga Apostol sa pangunguna ni Apostol SAN PEDRO na siyang UNANG PAPA ng Iglesia. Sa nakaraang mahigit-kumulang na 2,018 taon ng Kristianismo, si PAPA FRANCISCO ay ang ika-266 Papa ng Iglesia Katolika ~ ang tunay na Iglesiang tatag ni Cristo!

Source: Britannica Encyclopedia

"MY CHURCH": ANG PAG-AANGKIN NI FELIX MANALO SA IGLESIA NI CRISTO®

Wala na tayong pagtatalo-talo pa sapagkat ayon sa PAMANTAYAN ng mga kaanib sa INC™ na kapag SINABI ni Cristo na "AKING IGLESIA" o "MY CHURCH" para mapatunayang may Iglesia si Cristo mula pa noong una (at hindi ito matatalikod kailanman ayon sa Kanyang ipinangako "hindi mananaig ang impierno (Mt. 16:17)" ito rin ang gagamitin nating PAMANTAYAN sa Iglesia Ni Cristo®-1914.

Sa lathala ng The Free Press noong  Pebrero 1950, INANGKIN ni G. Felix Manalo ang INC™ o IGLESIA NI CRISTO® bilang "MY CHURCH" o "AKING IGLESIA". 

Samakatuwid, ang Iglesia Ni Cristo® ayon sa REHISTRO nito ay nilagdaan ni G. Felix Manalo bilang TAGAPAGTATAG gamit ang pangalang "Cristo" ngunit sa katunayan ay IGLESIA NI MANALO.

FELIX MANALO said:

Add caption

"Why, who is Quirino? He is a man just the same as I am. I am not afraid of him. Show fear to no man--that is the best way to defend your rights. Member of MY CHURCH were beaten up..." [Confirmation came right from the mouse of the horse! It's MANALO's CHURCH!]

PASUGO November 1940, p. 23:

“There is only one who could build a Church worthy for God.  Who is He-- Only Jesus Christ.  No man-- whether wise or fool, whether small or great-- has the right to build a Church." [FYM is a man, fool, made himself great has no right!]

PASUGO August-September 1964, p. 5, "Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa INK-1914"

“When was the INK recorded or registered in the Philippines?  It was in July 27, 1914.  Truly the registration says Brother F. Manalo founded the INK."

PASUGO May 1968, p. 7:

“The true Church of Christ is only one.  This is the Church that Christ built.  If there are established (founded) churches today that claim to be the Church of Christ too, these are not real but fakes only." 

READ MORE: MY CHURCH

Sa pamamagitan ng kanilang lathala ay lalong lumilinaw na ang Iglesia Ni Cristo®-1914 ay HINDI  kay Cristo kundi sa mga MANALO lamang. Ito ay HINDI NAGMULA sa Diyos kundi nagmula sa mga Protestante! Hindi sila tunay na Kristiano kundi mga kulto! Hindi maka-Diyos kundi makasanlibutan!

Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, ang mga mamamahayag ay NAGPAPAKILALA pa rin sa INC™ bilang TATAG ni G. FELIX MANALO at hindi si Cristo! Sapagkat ito ay isang KATOTOHANANG hindi mapapalitan ninuman sa mga pahina ng kasaysayan ng tao!

GISING! Habang may panahon pa kayong magtika at bumalik sa tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo. Ito ang panawagan natin sa mga nasa ka-Diliman pa hanggang ngayon na lumapit na sa kaliwanagan ng tunay na Iglesia. 

Sa pahanon ng Adbiento (Advent), ihanda natin ang ating mga sarili sa pagdiriwang ng Kanyang kapanganakan upang sa Kanyang kaluwalhatian ay tayo'y dalisay na makikibahagi rito.

MALIGAYANG PAGDIRIWANG NG UNANG LINGGO NG ADBIENTO!

Shalom TV (Promotional Video)

INC church members accused of kidnapping, murder in Philippines - The Fifth Estate

Then an unidentified assailants murdered Fr. Richmond Nilo for being critical of INC®?

104 Taon ng Pagkakatatag: Sila raw ang tunay?

Originally posted at Iglesia ni Cristo 33AD blog

Tuwang-tuwa at galak na galak ang mga kaanib ng samahang tatag ni Ginoong Felix Manalo ~ang Iglesia Ni Cristo® ~  sa tuwing sumasapit ang ika-27 ng Hulyo. Ito ay sapagkat ipinagdiriwang nila ang taon ng kanilang anibersaryo ng PAGKAKATATAG.

Ayon sa kanilang REHISTRO ang kanilang relihiyon ay itinatag ni G. Felix Manalo noon lamang ika-27 ng Hulyo 1914. Kaya't sa taon ng mga Katoliko na 2018, sila ay isandaan at apat (104) taon pa lamang ng pag-iral.

Sabihin man nila ng paulit-ulit na ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA ay peke, hindi tunay at tatag ng mga pagano, hindi pa rin ito papasa sa simpleng pagsusuri sa kasaysayan sapagkat sila na rin mismo ang umaamin na sila'y KAILAN lamang ITINATAG. Sapagkat ang Iglesia Katolika ay 2,018 taon na samantalang sila ay 104 pa lamang.

At sa Europa, sila ay 50 AÑOS pa lamang samantalang ang Iglesia Katolika ay halos 1,951 taon nang umiiral doon. Kung pagbabatayan natin ang bilang ng taon upang angkinin ang mga katagang "God's promises fulfulled" eh, malamang hindi sila ang tinutukoy kundi ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA na sa "pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo." (Pasugo Abril 1966, 9. 46).

Maging ang kanilang PAG-AANGKIN na ang "tunay" raw na Iglesia ay "NAKABALIK NA" sa kanyang "ORIHINAL" na tahanan, malaking katanungan pa rin sa atin kung BAKIT HANGGANG NGAYON AY NASA PILIPINAS PA RIN ANG KANILANG CENTRAL?

Kung ika'y isang kaanib sa INC™-1914 at ipinangaral sa iyo na ang "tunay" raw na Iglesia ay "nakabalik" na nga naman sa kanyang "original home" ayon sa itiniwalag na si Isais Samson Jr, hindi ba't kagalak-galak na balita ito?  

At dahil alam mo bilang isang INARALAN ng mga ministro ng INC™-1914 na ang ITINATAG ni G. Felix Manalo sa Pilipinas ay isang LOKAL lamang na kailangang IBALIK sa Jerusalem, hindi ba't NAKAKAPAGTATAKA nga naman na ang CENTRAL na PAMAMAHALA nito ay HINDI NALIPAT sa "original home" nito sa Jerusalem?

Lumalabas na ang INC™-1914 na tatag ni G. Manalo sa Pilipinas ay HINDI TOTOONG LOKAL lamang kundi ito ay isang IGLESIANG pagmamay-ari niya. Kaya't ang SENTRONG PAMAMAHALA nito ay HINDING-HINDI maililipat ito sa ibang bansa kundi sa PILIPINAS lamang. Sa Pilipinas itinatag at sa Pilipinas rin ito magwawakas! Ang pagkakaroon ng Central Offices ng  Iglesia Ni Cristo® sa Pilipinas ay hudyat na walang kinalaman si Cristo sa samahang 'yan at lalong wala silang koneksyon sa original na iglesia sa Jerusalem man o sa Roma.

IGLESIA SA ROMA, BINABATI BA NG LAHAT NG IGLESIA NI CRISTO®?

At bilang pang-wakas, ang kanilang paboritong talata sa Biblia, ang ROMA 16:16, wala po itong kinalaman sa kanila. Ang pinatutungkulan nito ay ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA na NASA ROMA. 

Bakit kaniyo?

Sapagkat ayon sa talata, "binabati KAYO (Iglesia sa Roma) ng lahat ng mga iglesia ni Cristo".

Bakit? May pagbati ba ang lahat ng "Iglesia Ni Cristo®" sa kanilang lokal sa Roma?

Wala pa akong natatandaan na ang lahat ng kanilang mga lokal sa buong mundo ay nagpapabati sa kanilang lokal sa Roma!

Saang parte ba ng mundo sila nagpapabati?

Sa kanilang CENTRAL sa Pinas.

Kailan?

Sa tuwing sumasapit ang ika-27 ng buwan ng Hulyo, araw ng kanilang pagkakatatag sa Pilipinas!

Kaya't kung kayo ay kaanib sa IGLESIA KATOLIKA, magalak at magpuri kayo sa Panginoong Diyos sapagkat ITO ay ang IGLESIANG INIIBIG ng Diyos, TINAWAG sa kabanalan, biyaya at kapayapaan at ang PANANAMPALATAYANG KATOLISISMO ay BANTOG sa BUONG MUNDO (Universal o καθ' ὅλης Kata Holos (Catholic)!

Ἡ μὲν οὖν ἐκκλησία καθ' ὅλης τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Γαλιλαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας εἶχεν εἰρήνην, οἰκοδομουμένη καὶ πορευομένη τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐπληθύνετο. [Acts 9:31]

Tunay na Iglesia Pinag-alab ng Banal na Espiritu Hanggang sa Pagbabalik ni Cristo

The Catholic Thing: Thinking the Unthinkable

People, priests, and bishops need not shrink from the obligation to defend the Faith. We should consider it a privilege: “Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, ‘I believed, and so I spoke,’ we too believe, and so we speak.” (2 Cor. 4:13)

Rev. Jerry J. Pokorsky

Father Jerry J. Pokorsky is a priest of the Diocese of Arlington. He is pastor of St. Catherine of Siena parish in Great Falls, Virginia.

Source: The Catholic Thing

Saturday, September 29, 2018

The word “unthinkable” is an amusing expression, an oxymoron wrapped in a single word. Nevertheless, it points us towards some very unpleasant things we are forced to think about, such as nuclear war or a Church in crisis.

Until very recently, the prospect of a pope promulgating significant doctrinal error was unthinkable. But many of us are now fretting about ambiguous papal pronouncements said to be “authentic magisterium” that directly oppose Scripture and Tradition.

It is always helpful to remember that a pope does not create doctrines; he elucidates doctrines to conserve the Faith he has received. The Fathers of the First Vatican Council defined the teaching authority of the pope. But they link his authority to Scripture and Tradition, the Church’s entire doctrinal history:

The Roman pontiffs . . . sometimes by summoning ecumenical councils or consulting the opinion of the Churches scattered throughout the world, sometimes by special synods, sometimes by taking advantage of other useful means afforded by divine providence, defined as doctrines to be held those things which, by God’s help, they knew to be in keeping with Sacred Scripture and the apostolic traditions. (Vatican I, Chapter 4, emphasis added.)

The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council Fathers likewise link the authentic magisterium to Tradition and Scripture:

But when either the Roman Pontiff or the Body of Bishops together with him defines a judgment, they pronounce it in accordance with Revelation itself, which all are obliged to abide by and be in conformity with, that is, the Revelation which as written or orally handed down is transmitted in its entirety through the legitimate succession of bishops and especially in care of the Roman Pontiff himself, and which under the guiding light of the Spirit of truth is religiously preserved and faithfully expounded in the Church. (Vatican II, LG 25, emphasis added.)

For example, the infallible teachings about Mary’s Immaculate Conception and Assumption emerged from unsettled Catholic theology. But the deeper understanding could be explained in light of Tradition and in relationship with the rest of Catholic doctrines and dogmas.

On sexual matters, the Church’s constant teachings in her ordinary magisterium on the nature and goods of marriage – and intrinsic sexual disorders such as contraceptive acts and homosexual behavior – are well-defined infallible teachings of the Church rooted in Scripture and Tradition. These clear doctrines not only provide precise moral guidance but opportunities for fruitful theological reflection bringing even greater clarity.

The Council Fathers carefully defined the authority of bishops – and assumed their fidelity and goodwill in conserving and faithfully teaching Catholic truth. But the Fathers surely knew the many ways that unfaithful bishops betray their office, usually by neglect but sometimes by flawed teachings.

*

The Fathers apparently did not see the need to state the obvious: doctrinal violations of Church teaching by bishops cannot bind the faithful in conscience. It is at least conceivable that a pope might also reject and abuse the graces of his office in a similar way. Such errors may muddy the waters of the ordinary magisterium, but obviously cannot bind in conscience.

Pope Francis in Dublin, Ireland

Remembering St. Pope John Paul II

The Feast of Assumption

The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (often shortened to the Assumption) is, according to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, as well as parts of Anglicanism, the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.

The Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Virgin Mary "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory". This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII on 1 November 1950, in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus by exercising papal infallibility. While the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church believe in the Dormition of the Theotokos (“the Falling Asleep of the Mother of God”),  whether Mary had a physical death has not been dogmatically defined. In Munificentissimus Deus (item 39) Pope Pius XII pointed to the Book of Genesis (3:15) as scriptural support for the dogma in terms of Mary's victory over sin and death through her intimate association with “the new Adam” (Christ) as also reflected in 1 Corinthians 15:54: "then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory".

The New Testament contains no explicit narrative about the death or Dormition, nor of the Assumption of Mary, but several scriptural passages have been theologically interpreted to describe the ultimate fate in this and the afterworld of the Mother of Jesus (see below).

In the churches that observe it, the Assumption is a major feast day, commonly celebrated on 15 August. In many countries, the feast is also marked as a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church. [Wikipedia]

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