Iglesia Ni Cristo vs Church of God In Christ Debate in Salinas

To those who love to watch religious debate especially the debate engaged by the Iglesia Ni Cristo, here's a link to the debate of the Iglesia Ni Cristo versus the Church of God in Christ. Click Here.

The debate was held in Salinas, California. I just don't know the exact date.

By the way, it was my first time to learn that there is a church outside the Philippines called, Church of God In Christ. But I guess, it is different from the church taught by Eli Soriano because this church believes in Trinity not like that of Soriano believe in the plurality of the God.

The debate was also discussed at Read Me INC blog.

Attacking Other Religions

Everytime I introduce the Iglesia Ni Cristo to my friends, they immediately told me that they don't like the Iglesia ni Cristo because it attacks other religions.

The same complaints I heard from a friend whom I brought to attend the Grand Evangelical Mission in the nearby town's plaza. He said that the Iglesia Ni Cristo did nothing but attack other religion.

Everytime, I heard this complaints to them, I always explained to them that the purpose of the church is not to attack your religion but to let you know the truth what has been taught and recorded in the Bible.

For example, when the minister of the church said that those who will not enter or join the church or the Iglesia Ni Cristo will not be saved from the wrath of God on the Judgment day. This can be considered as attack to other religion or to individual who refuse to join the Iglesia ni Cristo but if you will examine the Bible, you'll realize that this is the truth.

The only problem why the people felt the insult is because they did not open their minds for the truth. Those people who are open minded never felt insulted by the teachings inside the church. Instead, they accept the teaching and follow them because they realized that they are the teachings of God and can help them gain the salvation promised by Christ.

So, I advised you to open your minds. You can listen to the teachings of the Iglesia ni Cristo and examine them using the Bible. You can even compare its teachings to the teachings of your current church or the church you know.

Those who will be saved

Everytime someone heard the teachings of the Iglesia ni cristo that those who will be saved on Judgment Day are those who are inside the true Church... And this true Church is the Iglesia ni Cristo... they immediately conclude without examining whether it is true or not that the Iglesia ni Cristo is a cult. Because for them, salvation on the Judgment Day can obtained even if you are not inside the church. You will be saved only if you will accept Christ your personal Savior.

But is Christ a personal savior? No! If you'll read the Bible you will learn that Christ is a savior but is not a personal savior. The Bible clearly teaches that Christ is the savior of the Church. So if He is the savior of the church, it means that Christ will save his Church. And if you are inside his Church, then it is of course true that you will be saved.

The church is like the Ark of Noah. God will save the ark, and that is the reason why he told Noah to built it and go inside with it along with his family and the animals.

The same is true to the Church of Christ. Christ will save his Church. And if you will enter his church and remains there in side, then you can be sure that you will be saved too.

That's the reason why Christ told us in John 10:9 that anyone who will enter Christ will be saved.

The Name Should Be "Church of Christ"

I met yesterday a member of the Ang Dating Daan or is now called Church of God International. I haven't actually talk to him about religion. I don't know him and have no interest in talking to him.

But when he read and learned through the slogan written in my car which says, "Ako'y Iglesia Ni Cristo" (I am member of the Church of Christ), the then started to talk to me by asking, "Iglesia ni Cristo ka? (Are you member of the Iglesia ni Cristo)?

I answered him with Yes. And then he then told me that the true church built by Christ in Jerusalem is not called Church of Christ but Church of God in Christ.

I asked him why he believed that it was what the true Church is called. And he said that it was called like that because the Church built by Christ is owned by God. So, since Christ is the founder of it, so it is called Church of God in Jesus Christ.

After his brief explanation, I then asked him if he wants to hear my answer why the true Church of Christ is called "Church of Christ" or in Filipino "Iglesia ni Cristo".

He said yes so I started to talk and here's what I told him:

It is true that the owner of the Church is God. When I mention God, it is understood that I am referring to the Father because according to Christ in John 17:3,1 the Father is the only true God.

However, the Bible clearly mentioned that those things owned by God are given to Christ. In other words those things of God are of Christ too.

So, if the Church is of God, then it is also true that it is of Christ.

But why is it that the church's official name is not Church of God but Church of Christ?

(1. ) The church is called Church of Christ because the founder is Christ. I am sure, you will agree that the founder of the Church is Christ. It is recorded in the Bible when Christ said, "I will build my Church" in the book of Matthew in the Bible.

So, if the founder of the church is Christ, then it is rightful to call his church, Church of Christ. But it is not the only reason for it. Continue reading.

(2. ) The owner of the Church is Christ. If you already read what has been written in Matthew 16:18, you'll read that Christ said, "My Church". These words is referring to the church he would build.

In other words, Christ called the church he would build his Church. If he will to say this, of course he would say, My Church. His apostles on the other hand called the Church, Church of Christ.

(3. ) The head of the church is Christ and the body of Christ is the church. Now, how do you call my eyes. Isn't it right that you would rather say, "Eyes of JML" when you would refer to my eyes? The same is true to the body of Christ which is the church. Since the church is the body of Christ, then it is also right to call the church, Church of Christ.

(4. ) The church is the wife of Christ and Christ is the husband. There are many writings in the Church that describe that the church is the wife of Christ.

Haven't you notice that the wife carries the name of the husband? For example, the name of the girl when she was still single was Mary Crisostomo. But he became the wife of Mr. Jose Bolantoy. And because of this, her name became Mary Crisostomo Bolantoy.

Now, since the church is the wife of Christ, then it is of course rightful for the church to carry the name of Christ. And that is the reason why the church is called "Church of Christ".

I think these reasons are clear already. But these are not just the reason. There are other reason too, like Christ purchased the Church.

Haven't you read what has been written in Acts 20:28? The verse tells us that Christ purchased the Church with his own blood.

So, it is true that God is the owner of the church. But Christ purchased it already with his on blood. And buying a property means transferring ownership from one to another.

Since Christ purchased the church already, then the Church is already owned by Christ and he has the right over the Church.

Try the Iglesia Ni Cristo

I just wanted to invite everyone who visited this blog who are not yet member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo to try to listen the teachings of the Church.

I know that some people have told you already about the Iglesia Ni Cristo. But I am sure that what they have told you are just part of the hearsay that they also heard from those who are persecuting the Church.

If you'll read the Bible, especially in the book of First John, you'll learn that it's God's teaching to check the spirit of those who are teaching spiritual teachings whether the spirit is of God or not. But checking couldn't be done by simply listening to those people who have no authority.

For example, if you want to learn the teaching of the Catholic Church, it would be better if you listen to the teachers inside the Catholic Church. If you want to check the teachings of the Baptist Church, then attend their worship service and listen to their teaching. But if you want to examine the Iglesia ni Cristo, the best way to do it is by attending the seminar on doctrine of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

In this way, what has been planted in your head is really the teaching of the church you are examining not just the hearsay you heard from someone who are not even affiliated with the Church.

Why Churches of Christ?

I was asked by a Catholic with this question:

In the Romans 16:16 it was mentioned "churches of christ". Does it mean that there are lots of churches of christ?

Actually, what was referred to when mentioned "churches of Christ" was the members of the church. The members were called "churches of Christ" because the church of which they were members was the Church of Christ.

For example: why are we calling some Christians as Catholics? Well, it's because they are member of the Roman Catholic church.

Catholic Church because the Faith is Universal

My Catholic Friend attempted to prove that the Catholic Church is the church founded by Christ by simply telling me that Apostle Paul mentioned in the book of Romans that the Faith of Roman Christian is universal.

However, I told him that it couldn't be used as proof because of some reasons:

1. The letter of Paul to the Romans is not for all people in Rome but for the members of the Church of Christ in Rome.
2. Apostle Paul is not an Apostle of the Roman Catholic Church, but an apostle in the Church of Christ.
3. The faith mentioned by Apostle Paul is not the faith of the Roman Catholic Church but of the Church of Christ.

And we should also not forget that Christ built only his own Church or the Church of Christ. He didn't build any churches, especially the Roman Catholic Church, except his own Church.