"Baseless claim?"
Letter to the Editor:
GOD’S MESSAGE, January- March 1995, p. 2-3
IN N YOUR TEACHINGS, you propagate that you are the selected people in these last days. You proclaim that the Iglesia Ni Cristo is the only true Church and those who are not members will not have eternal life. However, the Bible clearly states that salvation is for all men who believe in both God and Christ (see the following verses: Romans 3:21- 31,10:9- 13; John 3:15-21, 12:46-50; II Thessalonians 1:10).
Another question I have concerns the way you pray: Why don’t you pray exactly as is written in Matthew 6:9- 13? Instead of kneeling during the worship service, you pray standing up as if you were like the hypocrites described in Matthew 6:1-8. The same chapter of Matthew also tells us not to perform religious duties in public. By using the radio and television, you are already violating this biblical precept. You also forbid your members to eat blood. Yet, Mark 7:15-23 states that there is nothing that goes into a person from the outside which can make him ritually unclean. Also, Jesus declared that all foods are fit to be eaten. Why do you continue to forbid your members to eat blood despite Christ’s pronouncement? And why do you allow blood transfusions?
Felipe Gatus
Manila, Philippines
Editor’s Reply:
There are many churches today that uphold doctrines which contradict the doctrines of the Bible. Hence, it is necessary to seek for the true Church of Christ where one can be a true Christian. That Church possesses the qualities and teaches the same teachings as those taught by the Church described in the Bible. What are these qualities possessed by the true Church? Apostle Paul taught that the true Church has one body, one Spirit, has one lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (cf. Eph. 4:4 NIV). Only one Church today possesses such qualities, and that Church is the Iglesia Ni Cristo. We invite you — and anyone for that matter — to join our Bible study on the Church’s fundamental doctrines in order to find out about this truth.
We incessantly proclaim that the Iglesia Ni Cristo is the only true Church because Christ died only for the true Church and will save only the true Church (cf. Eph. 5:25, 23 NIV). In this manner, we are sharing salvation with those who are still in false religions. We hope to convince them to leave such religions and join the true one. Salvation indeed is for all men but such men must first be in the Church that Christ will save.
Matthew 6:9 does not say that we should repeat the same prayer as written in verses 9-13. That prayer serves only as a guide or reference in formulating our own prayers. We should bear in mind that when we pray, we are communicating with God. We have our own needs. They differ from person to person. They also differ in various occasions. We cannot fully express another person’s needs. That individual should not copy someone else’s prayer word for word. Our prayers should come from our own hearts and thoughts.
There are several main ideas that should be remembered from the prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. We should remember to address our Father in heaven, thank Him, ask for forgiveness, ask for the things we need as dictated by the occasion, and lastly, ask everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is forbidden in Matthew 6:1- 8 is prayer with the intention to be seen and be praised by the people. Such a prayer is an exhibition of hypocrisy. But public prayer as part of worship and adoration of God as in the case of King Jehoshaphat (cf. II Chron. 20:1-13) or to praise God in the assembly of saints (cf. Ps. 89:7) is not forbidden.
Our use of the radio and television in spreading the gospel is not in violation of any biblical precept. The apostles preached the gospel in public and could not use mass media then simply because there was none. But they made use of whatever facilities were then available to reach as many people as possible, such as the synagogues, the open air, and other public places (cf. Acts 2:14, 5, 21, 9:20).
Mark 7:15-23 does not say you may eat anything, including inedible things, simply because it does not in any way make you unclean. There are things a person may not eat by nature or by command. By nature, one cannot eat books, for instance. By command, one may not eat blood for God did not give blood to be man’s food (cf. Gen. 9:14). The prohibition against the eating of blood is still in force in the Christian era (cf. Acts 15:20). The use of blood for medical purposes is not a prohibition of the Bible.
Note: Some words and phrases are in bold & italics for emphasis.
Reach Out
If you wish to acquire a deeper understanding of our Church Doctrines and have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be delighted to direct you to one of our local resident ministers in your vicinity. Kindly include any queries you may have so that we may forward your inquiry in advance. Thank you.
Please note, we only read and respond to messages that do not contain hate speech or insults...
“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”
(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)