"Iglesia Ni Cristo members are prohibited from reading the Bible?"
False allegation:
Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) detractors, in an attempt to dissuade others or defame the church, tell others that INC members are prohibited from reading the Bible. They point out that INC members go to church without a Bible and compare INC members to other religious organizations whose members generally carry a Bible to church. Are the Iglesia Ni Cristo members really prohibited from reading the Bible? Is this allegation true?
The Actual Truth:
Iglesia Ni Cristo members are not prohibited from reading the Bible in any way. There is no such prohibition coming from the Church Administration.
Indeed, Iglesia Ni Cristo members generally do not carry or bring the Bible to Church simply because they won’t have time to use it. During the course of the lesson, the Minister will be citing numerous verses from the Bible as he answers every question in the lesson using the verses of the Bible. Iglesia Ni Cristo ministers have a different approach to preaching compared to other religious preachers in general. He does not personally interpret the verse nor tell a story around it; thus, it is common for a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo to write the verses while he listens to the lesson so he can review and study them at home using his own Bible. The following is a testimony of a typical Iglesia Ni Cristo convert:
“In 1982, I became a Catholic, but this did not fill the void like I hoped it would. Although I studied hard and even became a lay minister, I still had many questions that were unanswered. Each time I asked, I was told that I must have faith and just believe that it was that way.
While I was stationed at Fort Ricardson, Alaska in 1988, a member of the Church of Christ named Sister Ludy invited me to a Bible study. I accepted because there is nothing to lose by going. The minister who preached was Brother Mariano Nucup. “I listened and I started to see things significantly different. I felt very moved by the way each question was answered through the Bible, the answer as supported by the Bible. I was not asked to just accept what was said. I was encouraged to ask questions. I was told to feel free to bring up anything that I had doubts about. This was something that was so new to me—to be allowed to ask anything that I was unsure of.
The teaching that had the biggest impact on me was on the true nature of our Lord Jesus, being a man, and on the falsity of the Trinity doctrine. I asked questions and I listened to the answers. I was getting answers that I had never gotten before. The more I listened, the more I saw that the Church of Christ was telling me the truth that I never heard before. I found out that this is the true Church. As I questioned the doctrines of the Church, Brother Mar showed me through the Bible that all that the Church did was in accordance with God’s law. I found out that indeed that the Church did not do anything that was against the will of God. The Church is here to show everyone the way to attain salvation and to have peace with with our Lord Jesus Christ and His Father. It was then that I realized that this was the Church that I had been looking for.” (Kipp Keller, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A.) CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
Every Iglesia Ni Cristo member is encouraged to read and study the Bible. From the very first time they come to a Bible study in the Church, they are free to take notes of the questions and answers read from the Bible verses. They are encouraged to ask any biblical question they have in mind. They are not prohibited from bringing a Bible if they want to. There are no restrictions prohibiting them from doing so.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo minister or church worker spends a great percentage of his time in Bible studies. He makes sure that the Bible students understand the lessons, even to the extent of repeating the lessons to individual students if necessary. He may even set a one-on-one Bible study on a case-to-case basis. A Bible student must listen to all 28 lessons, and he/she is expected to truly understand it, after which a final screening will be made to ascertain if He/she really understood all the lessons. . . To those who truly understood the lessons, God’s words or message becomes clear and meaningful to them. Thus, they are moved to repentance and acquire a strong faith in the Lord God Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ; eventually or in due course, they become a member of the true Church of Christ — the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
What sets apart the Iglesia Ni Cristo from the other professing Christian religions of today is the clarity of her doctrines. All her teachings are clearly supported by the verses of the Holy Bible. In a sermon or Bible study, a question would be posed, and the answer would be read from the verses of the Holy Bible. No personal interpretation is made as it always follows the Apostle’s way of teaching the truth. In I Corinthian 2:13, Apostle Paul cites this unique characteristic of a Holy Spirit-inspired Preacher—like the apostles—with a unique method of teaching.
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” (New English Bible)
Thus, spiritual truths written in the Bible are always expressed or explained by spiritual words written in the Bible. No personal interpretation. No speculation. And going beyond what is written in the Bible is strictly prohibited.
Thus, spiritual truths written in the Bible are always expressed or explained by spiritual words written in the Bible. No personal interpretation. No speculation. And going beyond what is written in the Bible is strictly prohibited.
The following are excerpts from testimonies from those who listened to the Iglesia Ni Cristo preaching or Bible study:
“The minister then preached. I noticed that he never spoke his own words, only the words from the Bible, no personal interpretations. I was intrigued and all the more glued to the lessons. I never learned as much in my life of attending other churches than what I learned right there. I yearned for more.” (Arthur W. Jones II, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.) CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
“When he finished preaching, I jumped at the first chance to inquire. But Brother Suarez not only answered all of my questions satisfactorily but he also answered every one of them directly from the Bible. This was something that I had not seen in any of the other churches I had been to. Brother Suarez had full command of the Scriptures and he was right in front of me reading the answers to my questions directly from the Bible.” (Dale Michael Schrader, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
“While I was attending worship services, I had so many questions in my mind. I was amazed of how the ministers preached. I noticed that they did not produce their own Bible They used various Bible translations. All the questions I asked were finally answered. I’d been with different religions, but I said to myself that this one was so different and the teachings. were so clear, direct from the Bible. I thought it was kind of strange since the minister just gave me the answer with- out telling me a story or interpreting from his own.” (Louis John Vecchitto, Locale of Norwich, Connecticut, U.S.A.) CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
All Iglesia Ni Cristo members are fully aware that the Bible is the sole basis of his/her faith, thus it is common for members to personally own more than one Bible. In fact, many Iglesia Ni Cristo members collect different versions of the Bible.
Invitation to everyone
We therefore invite everyone to continue to study and/or examine the doctrines, beliefs, and teachings of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
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)