THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO (CHURCH OF CHRIST OF FYM) IN A NUTSHELL, PART 9

This is a continuation of the series.

Q: What is the Iglesia ni Cristo's mini worship service?
A: The Iglesia ni Cristo's leader, Erano G. Manalo, has come up with batteries of additional worship services that are not discernible by Iglesia members. These additional worship services are called mini worship services. These mini worship services have only two parts--- prayers and Manalo teaching. They are currently being done in the nightly devotional prayers and in the weekly family prayer gatherings.

These mini worship services do not have offerings for now, but due to the Iglesia ni Cristo's Law of Increasing Responsibilities, it is expected that EGM will religiously obey the law. That is, offerings will soon be collected in the very near future. These mini worship services are already becoming forced worship services due to the monitoring of the attendances in such gatherings.

The mini worship service scheme was put to a test first in the family prayer gatherings. Upon being successful, they are now being implemented in the devotional prayers such as the two weeks devotional prayers that had passed in the July 27th anniversary thanksgiving worship. Why do you think there were no regular worship service thanksgiving lessons given for the anniversary? It is because the verses were already spewed out during the two weeks nightly devotional prayers, where before praying, the minister reads the verses to scare the hell out of every member attending the devotional prayers so that they will give more money gifts for the coming anniversary worship of Felix Y. Manalo.

Q: What is Gospel of Manalo Doctrine Lesson No. 9 and what are its fallacies?
A: The following is an excerpt of Gospel of Manalo Doctrine Lesson #9"
"LESSON NO. 9 - One Organized Church
Theme: The true believers in Christ are in one organized Church, the true Church of Christ.
Summary: Those who do not give value to the Church have two ways of denying the necessity of the Church of Christ. One way is by stating bluntly that the Church is not necessary for salvation. They say that it is enough to accept Christ as one's personal Savior. They say that those who stress the need for the Church consider the church as another Savior.
Another way is by saying that the Church consists of all the people who believe in Christ whatever church they belong to. Consequently, they say it is futile to try to find out which organization is the true Church of Christ, since all these churches are of Christ." (Fundamental Beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), Erano G. Manalo, 1989, p.36)

The fallacies of this Gospel of Manalo Doctrine #9:

Firstly, the theme of the doctrine is outright lie. The Church of Christ established by Felix Y. Manalo is a church planted by the devil because it was established only in 1914 AD. The true church established by Christ was in 1 AD. According to 1 Tim. 4:1, only in latter times will some depart from the true faith. Which is latter time? 1 AD or 1914 AD? Absolutely, 1914 AD is a latter time. Manalo will have to produce a document that he had established his Iglesia ni Cristo cult sometime in BC so that he can beat the latter time mark of a devil's church.

Secondly, Manalo's Church of Christ cannot even be found in the Holy Scriptures. Despite Manalo's rummaging all available versions and translations of the Bible looking for a verse he can use for his Church of Christ cult, he is still short because what he had found is a clear miss---church of Christ, which is, not a name of any particular church. And the Lamsa Translation is not even accurate because Acts 20:28 should be "church of God" not "church of Christ" (Acts 20:28 NKJV).

Manalo has always resorted to violence on the Scriptures to remedy the situation. He does this by using his tools of deceptions, which are-- pairs of scissors, pastes, and stocks of capital letter C's. He always cuts the small letter "c" from the written word "church" and replaces it with capital "C" from his pockets, and boom, there is "Church of Christ" name deception.

Another evidence that Manalo had established a devil's church:

Manalo teaches we should give value to the "Church" (inferring the Church of Christ). What does this mean? It means Manalo has created an idol, an image, a god that must be given value, must be worshiped, and served, in defiance to the true God who should be the one to be valued, worshiped, and served.

The other lies of Manalo in this doctrine

1) The body of Christ is the Church of Christ? Let's read Manalo's Scripture basis:

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful." (Col. 3:15 RSV)
"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Col.1:18 NKJV)

Why do you think Manalo uses two Bible versions for the same Colossian book? He has to pervert the Scriptures, that is why. Let's read the NKJV of Col.3:15:

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Col.3:15 NKJV)

The difference between RSV and NKJV of Col. 3:15 is that the NKJV is not easy to pervert because the NKJV has the word "also" and the body is not separate (described as "in one body") whereby the RSV describes the body as if separate ("called in the one body").

Where the heck did Manalo find in the two verses of Colossians (3:15 & 1:18) the name Church of Christ? What we can find is only the word "church" in Col.1:18. Uh oh, Manalo has still his tools in his pockets! He has changed the word "church" into "Church of Christ". And he has added some supplies, too. In addition to his pastes and scissors, now he has supplies of the letters, o-f-h-r-i-s & t's. That's why Manalo's pockets are bulging and pregnant. He was able to pass the metal detectors. Fortunately, Manalo is stopped by the truth detector of God.

Which is really the body of Jesus Christ? Let us go now to the truth:

"Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually." (1 Cor. 12:27 NKJV)

The body of Christ as taught by Apostle Paul are the members! Never is it the Church of Christ of Felix Manalo. Felix Y. Manalo is a pathological liar!

2) The one new man is the Church of Christ? Let's read the Scripture basis of Manalo:

"having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace." (Eph. 2:15 NKJV)

Where is the Church of Christ name that Manalo says is in the verse? The verse says, "create in Himself". Who do you think is the Himself? Is it Church of Christ or is it Jesus Christ? Off hand, we know readily that Himself is not the Church of Christ of FYM. The pronoun Himself is not a neuter nor a female gender. Himself is a male gender and because it is capitalized it refers to Jesus Christ Himself!

To be sure that this one new man is Jesus Christ, let's go to the further explanations of Apostle Paul:

"But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth as in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph. 4:20-24 NKJV)

The one new man is Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Christ whom we must put on (Rom.13:14 NKJV). What about the Iglesia ni Cristo or Church of Christ man? What man is this? This man is the idol created by Felix Manalo! And what about the old man? Well, the old man is the former conduct that is corrupt.

Let's now have a short quiz of the different men we have studied, so far:

Identify the following men with those mentioned in a through e:

1) Old man _______
2) Scissorman_____
3) New man _______
4) Church of Christ man _____

a) Jesus Christ
b) Former conduct
c) Idol or image created for worship
d) Felix Y. Manalo

After completing your answers, check your answers with the following official answers: 1) b 2) d 3) a 4) c.

3) The will of the Father is to become Church of Christ members? What are the Scripture basis of Manalo for this perversion? Let's read:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Mt.7:21 NKJV)

"having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fulness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him." ((Eph.1:9-10 NKJV)

Manalo's perversion is making the will of God in Mt. 7:21 to refer to the mystery will spoken in the Ephesian verse to mean the gathering of all people to become Iglesia ni Cristo members. He says it is the will of God that all people must become Iglesia ni Cristo or Church of Christ members.

Why is it a perversion? Firstly, the will in Mt.7;21 is absolutely different from the mystery will provided in Eph.1:9-10. Secondly, the will in the Matthew verse pertains to present time while the will in the Ephesian verse pertains to future time when God will establish his eternal kingdom. Thirdly, it would be a folly to apply the will in the Matthew verse to the mystery will in the Ephesian verse making all Iglesia ni Cristo members because the Ephesian verse is a gathering of all things on earth and in heaven! You can not do that. Can you make all things on earth become Iglesia members?

Imagine? Making the dogs, cats, fish, birds, trees, grass, mountains, become Iglesia ni Cristo members? My goodness, how will Manalo preach his gopspel to these creatures? Another problem is how in the world can these creatures attend the Iglesia's forced worships? The fishes alone are problems. Deacons and deaconesses will catch them, put them in acquariums, and bring them to the Iglesia worship service. What if, there are mischievous and hungry deacons who would want the fishes for supper? The fishes won't reach the chapels but will end up in their stomachs. What about baptizing the bamboo trees and mango trees converts? Manalo will have to construct a deep and huge baptismal pools because the Iglesia's baptism is by immersion. How about witnessing the Iglesia's worship service where crocodiles, gorillas, apple trees, worms, birds, sit side by side with people? It will be chaos! A two hour worship service would bring the all creature parishioners eating each other. What about money offerings by non humans? Since Manalo will not accept in kind offerings, the dogs and cats and trees will have to sell themselves to have monies. And if they sell themselves, they would not be able to attend the worship services. If all creatures on earth are problems becoming Iglesia members, how much more would it be if creatures in heaven will be forced to become Iglesia members? Probably the angels of heaven will rip apart Manalo.

Fortunately, the above scenarios are not going to happen because all things in heaven and on earth are not to be brought to the Iglesia ni Cristo cult, but, will be brought to Christ. That event will be in the future described to be "in the dispensation of the fulness of the times." When is that? In the end when Christ comes to establish His millenial kingdom (1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 20:4,6), which is a prelude to the eternal kingdom (Rev.21:10-27;22:1-5).

The true will of God on entering heaven -

Now, let us go to the true will of God in order to enter the kingdom of heaven specified in Matthew 7:21"

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Mt.7:21 NKJV)

Which is the will of the Father?

"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (Jn.6:40 NKJV)

The will of the Father is to see the Son and to believe in Him. You can not see or recognize the Son unless grace of mercy by Christ's Father is awarded to you, which will allow you to be able to believe Jesus Christ. Upon believing Jesus Christ, that is the time when you are able to enter the kingdom of heaven. Entering heaven is easy because it is God who does the work of saving people (Jn. 6:29 NKJV). No one can do any kind of work to go to heaven because men are dead (as a corpse) because of his trespasses and sins (Eph.2:1 NKJV). Can the corpse be able to do anything to save himself? Nothing. It takes the mercy of God to give him life (Rom.9:15 nKJV).

The Ephesian mystery will is really the will prayer taught by Christ (Mt.6:10) concerning the kingdom that will come when the will of God will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is the scenario when all things on earth and all things in heaven will be brought to Christ. After all things are brought to Christ, Christ will in turn report to His Father so that God will be all in all. (1 Cor.15:27-28). That even will happen only when Satan (manalo's father) will be imprisoned for good so that he can no longer get converts. When will Satan or the Devil be imprisoned? During the millennial rule of Jesus Christ (Rev.20:1-4).

Another proofs that believing Jesus Christ is enough to have eternal life:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. (Jn.6:47 NKJV)

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (Jn.3:18 NKJV)

Based on the above, not believing Jesus Christ is equivalent to condemnation already.

What about believing Felix Y. Manalo and accepting the Church of Christ as our personal Savior? This is a defiance to Christ because Christ is the Messenger of God, not Manalo (Jn.17:3). Attaining eternal life according to Jn. 17:3 involves two things: 1) Knowing the true God, and 2) knowing Jesus Christ is one that God sent (messenger of God). Iglesia members are excluded from entering heaven because they do not know Christ as the messenger of God and don't even know the true God. What they know is their fake messenger, Felix Y. Manalo.

Who should we receive then as our Personal Savior?

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." (Jn. 1:12 NKJV)

Believers of Christ are the true children of God. What about the believers of Felix Manalo and acceptors of the Church of Christ as their personal savior? What do you think? Remember the Church of Christ man? He is the idol who can not save. If an idol false god that has eyes but could not see and has ears but could not hear, nor feet that could not walk, how can it save others? It could not even save itself!

TO BE CONTINUED