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| The '''Iglesia ni Cristo''' (]: {{IPA|}}) (also known as '''INC''' or '''Iglesya ni Kristo'''; ] for '''Church of Christ''') is the orginal church founded by ]. It was re-established by ] on ] ] after the church went into apostasy in the first century . For more information about this wonderful organization please contact the minister at your nearest locale. | |||
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| The '''Iglesia ni Cristo''' (]: {{IPA|}}) (also known as '''INC''' or '''Iglesya ni Kristo'''; ] for '''Church of Christ''') is a nontrinitarian independent religious organization which originated in the ]. <ref name="Sanders">Sanders, Albert J., "An Appraisal of the Iglesia ni Cristo," in Studies in ''Philippine Church History'', ed. Anderson, Gerald H. (Cornell University Press, 1969)</ref> | |||
| The INC was incorporated in the Philippines by ] on ], ]; <ref name="Tipon"> Retrieved August 19, 2005</ref> The church professes to be the reestablishment of the original church founded by ] and does not accept the doctrine of the ], including the ] of ]. <ref name="Aromin">. Retrieved ] ].</ref> | |||
| The Iglesia ni Cristo's ] is notable for the narrow-pointed ]s of its chapel buildings. | |||
| ==Background information== | |||
| ] | |||
| The historical context of the Iglesia ni Cristo lies in a period of the early ] characterised by a variety of rural anti-] movements, often with religious undertones, in the ]. At this time, U.S. ] work was exposing ] to many alternatives to the ] installed under earlier ]. <ref name="Partridge">Partridge, Christopher (Ed.) (2004). ''Encyclopedia of new religions, new religious movements, sects and alternative spiritualities''. (Oxford: Lion Publishing, 2004) ISBN 0745950736.</ref> | |||
| After ] joined and left many religious organizations as a young adult, <ref name="GM25Y1993">'25 Years in the West, ''God's Message'' (Manila: 1993)</ref> | |||
| he proclaimed that God gave him a mission to preach the ] and to reestablish the first ] founded by ]. <ref name="Crisostomo"></ref> | |||
| The INC began with a handful of followers on ], ] - about the same time as the outbreak of the First World War - in Punta, Santa Ana, ]; with Manalo as its head minister. <ref name="Suarez"></ref> Manalo propagated his message within his local area, growing the Iglesia ni Cristo and converting members of other ]. As membership increased, he delegated others to spread the teachings of the INC and it eventually spread throughout the ] and to other countries. After Felix Manalo's death in 1963, his son ] took over duties as executive minister and ] is the deputy executive minister. | |||
| The ''Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity'' mentions that the church has sometimes been called quasi-Christian. <ref name="McManners"> p. 503, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001) ISBN 0192854399.</ref> | |||
| It has grown to over three thousand congregations in over eighty-four countries and territories throughout the ]. It has a notable presence in ] and ], which have a sizable population of ] from the ] and of ] ]. According the 2000 census of the National Statistics Office, 2.3 percent of the population in Philippines are affiliated with the Iglesia ni Cristo. Using this percentage on the projected population for 2005 of 85.3 million plus an estimated 5 million Filipinos living abroad, we can estimate their membership around 2.1 million. | |||
| ==Missionary activities== | |||
| INC members actively try to spread their beliefs, primarily by inviting people to Bible Studies and evangelical missions (known as ''Pamamahayag'' in Filipino), and by distributing religious magazines and pamphlets. | |||
| In the ], ] and ] programs are produced, and they are broadcast on 1062 ] DZEC-], the ] ] operated by Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, the broadcast division of the Iglesia ni Cristo and GEM TV, the sister station to NET 25, also owned by the INC and broadcast on cable. | |||
| In ], a ] called ''The Message'' is produced by the Iglesia ni Cristo in the ]. It is currently aired in the ] and ] and some parts of ]. The 30-minute program is hosted by different INC ministers (alternating each show) who share the main beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo with a ] ]. <ref name="VisionTV">. Retrieved ] 2005.</ref> | |||
| The official INC ] available to INC congregations worldwide is entitled ''God's Message'' or ''Pasugo''. For many years the INC published the bilingual ''Pasugo'' for the Philippines and a separate all-English ''God's Message International Edition'' for usage abroad. In January ], the administration of the INC began to publish only one magazine both in the Philippines and abroad bearing the name ''God's Message''. While predominantly English, the latest version contains a Filipino Section. The ] consists of letters to the ], ] from locales worldwide, religious ], articles relating to INC beliefs, a ] of locales outside the ] and would also feature a schedule of worship services until recently. | |||
| The INC does outreach work for the poor. It has built housing developments such as "Tagumpay Village" and provides free medical and dental services through its "Lingap Sa Mamamayan" project. It also conducts community service acts such as street cleaning, blood drives and tree-planting activities. <ref name="Keith"> - Retrieved October 23, 2005</ref> | |||
| ==Membership== | |||
| Membership in the INC is conferred through ]. People who wish to be baptized in the INC must first submit to a formal process taking at least six months. Once someone officially registers with INC, the person is given the status of indoctrinee (or Bible Student, as they are called within the Iglesia ni Cristo), and taught the twenty-six lessons concerning fundamental ]s of the INC. In the ], there are an additional three lessons taught for a total of twenty-eight, which mainly contain information about the Church and its beginnings in the Philippines. These lessons are contained in the doctrine manual written by ] entitled '']''. This book is only given to ministers, evangelical workers, and ministerial students of the INC. Each lesson is usually thirty minutes to one hour in length. | |||
| After hearing all of the lessons, the indoctrinees enter their probationary period during which they are required to attend fifteen once a week ''group prayer meetings'' wherein they are taught to pray and guided in their adjustment to the INC lifestyle. | |||
| When the sixth month comes, indoctrinees who have been active in attending the twice a week worship services and whose lifestyles are in accordance with INC doctrines are screened before being baptized. During the screening they are asked questions about the doctrines taught to them. Those who pass the screening are scheduled to be baptized. | |||
| Since understanding is necessary before being baptized in the INC, the minimum age for baptism is set at around eleven and at least the 6th grade.Newborn children of members are instead "offered" during the worship service. The child offering in the INC is done through a prayer led by an ordained minister of the INC. <ref name="FBINC-baptism">Manalo, Eraño G., 'Baptism', ''Fundamental Beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)'', Leksyon #22 (In Filipino, the corresponding lesson is lesson #19, 'Ang Bautismo' (Manila: Iglesia ni Cristo, 1989)</ref> | |||
| Members who are not living in accordance with the doctrines taught in the INC are admonished. Those who continue in violation of INC doctrines after being admonished are expelled from the INC. Certain violations, such as eating blood, marrying non-INC members, and not uniting in voting for political candidates selected by the INC administration, results in mandatory expulsion after the first proven offense. <ref name="DLTYMS">‘Ang Pinakamabigat Na Parusa Na Maaaring Igawad Sa Isang Iglesia Ni Cristo’, Leksyon #10, Doktrina 3b (Doctrinal lessons for third year ministerial students), 1998 Iglesia ni Cristo</ref> | |||
| ==Central office== | |||
| ], ]]] | |||
| ], ]]] | |||
| The INC's center of operations is the Iglesia ni Cristo Central Office; a large, secured complex located on ], New Era, ], ]. An editorial in the ], ] issue of '']'' described the complex as including: the six-story Central Office Building; the 7,000-seat ]; the ], a multi-purpose hall; the 30,000 seating-capacity Central Pavilion; the College of Evangelical Ministry; the New Era General Hospital; and the ]. There is also a residence for the family of Executive Minister, ] on the premises as well as one for the family of ], the Deputy Executive Minister. | |||
| ==Politics== | |||
| Ever since former ] ] created a lasting friendship after asking ] for advice, the INC has been known for its strong ] ]. It was well-known for its support of President ] until his ousting during the ] of ]. | |||
| <div id="Bloc_voting">INC members are noted for their ] in ]<ref name="Pasugo1986">. Retrieved ] ]</ref> <ref name="LoCPACS"> ''A representative of the INC Administration states that this site contains gross inaccuracies.''</ref>, a practice also shared by other Philippine religions <ref name="Tubeza">. Retrieved ], ]</ref>, although INC has the biggest conversion turn-out, 68-84% of their members voting for candidates endorsed by its leadership, according to comprehensive surveys conducted by ]. <ref name="ABSCBN-SWS">. Retrieved ], ].</ref> This is in part due to their doctrine on unity, which puts the penalty of expulsion on anyone found to sway from the doctrine. Some Philippine media credit the INC bloc vote for the presidential ] victory of ] in ] <ref name="Mangahas">Mangahas, Malou; "", ''Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism'', ], ]</ref>, and the re-election of ] in ] <ref name="INQ050604"></ref>. This has given INC strong political influence on elected officials. Newspaper reports say that the Philippine Congress decision to uphold the decision on September 2005 to reject the Arroyo impeachment complaint was swayed by largely by INC influence. Erano Manalo was said to have personally called each and every lawmaker.<ref name="Cabacungan"></ref> | |||
| Others, however, argue that the INC vote is only significant in close-run elections, noting that INC-supported candidates, ] Sergio Osmeña Jr. lost in ] to Marcos and businessman ] lost to ] in ]. <ref name="Danao">Danao, Efren L.; Cruz, Maricel V., 'INC vote may be overrated factor' ''The Manila Times'' (Manila: May 04, 2004)</ref></div> | |||
| Macapagal-Arroyo's father, ], due to his religious and political views, refused INC's preferred support during his runs for ] in ], and re-election for ] in ] – in which he incidentally lost to ].<ref name="Macapagal"></ref> | |||
| ==Criticism== | |||
| ===From religious groups=== | |||
| The Iglesia ni Cristo has come under criticism from other ]s mainly due to disagreements over their doctrines and beliefs regarding the interpretation of the ]. | |||
| Dr. ], the founder of ], an ]s group, claims that Dr. Jose Ventilacion, an INC minister and one of their chief debaters, broke an agreement in 1990 for a one-on-one debate made by the two organizations in ]. Instead of a one-on-one debate, Keating claims there were three assistants at Ventilacion's table and none at his. <ref name="Keating"> - Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
| ] has also rejected the INC's doctrines of ] within the ] and does not consider the verses used to support the doctrine of the Iglesia ni Cristo being prophesied nor the apostacy of the ] are used in the right context. It contends that other verses are difficult to reconcile with the views of the Iglesia ni Cristo.<ref name="catholic.com">. Retrieved ] ].</ref> However, the Iglesia ni Cristo claims through biblical prophesies, that it was elected to be "the nation of God," as the Israelites were, and that God chose them to serve him.<ref name="Aromin" /> | |||
| Let Us Reason ministries criticised the INC for holding the belief that it has the sole authority from God to interpret and preach the Bible, while other religions do not.<ref name="LetUsReason1">. Retrieved ], ].</ref> They also reject the INC's doctrine that one can only be saved if they are a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo.<ref name="LetUsReason2">. Retrieved ], ].</ref> | |||
| Dr. ] has criticized the INC for allegedly misquoting his Ryrie Study Bible regarding John 1:1 in the May/June ] issue of the ''Pasugo''. Ryrie has been quoted as saying, in a letter to Robert Elliff, the author of the book, ''Iglesia Ni Cristo: The Only True Church?'' "Anyone can look in my Study Bible and see how conveniently this author omitted the last phrase in the note of John 1:1." <ref name="Elliff"> - Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
| ===Secular criticism=== | |||
| The main accusation of restraint of ] arises from the church's seeking of ] on ]'s forthcoming critical book, ''The Power and the Glory: The Cult of Manalo'') for alleged gross inaccuracies,<ref name="Echeminada"></ref><ref name="Robles">. Retrieved ] ].</ref> which the Iglesia ni Cristo claims is "gross blasphemy" against them and Felix Manalo. Reacting to these claims, the INC has taken legal action against those who they claim to have published libelous material. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
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| ==References== | |||
| <div class="references-small"><references/></div> | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| The Iglesia ni Cristo does not currently have an official public website. Instead of posting INC-related material online, members are encouraged to refer anyone with questions about the Iglesia ni Cristo to a minister or other church officer. The e-mail address for INC's ''God's Message'' magazine is . | |||
| ===Pro=== | |||
| * Site by INC member: INC profile, basic teachings, history etc. | |||
| * Selection of scanned articles, editorials, news, etc (English and Tagalog) | |||
| * Poetry and reprints of God's Message articles | |||
| * Unofficial site for articles defending the INC | |||
| * Unofficial website of articles published by the Iglesia Ni Cristo | |||
| ===Con=== | |||
| * - Evangelical critique of INC based on Pasugo texts | |||
| * - Articles about INC and their beliefs | |||
| * - article by Anne C. Harper. Her description:''"The purpose of this paper is to explore the INC's view of Evangelicals and to consider whether <nowiki> need to reassess </nowiki> apologetic and evangelistic approach to this group".'' (] reader required, ) | |||
| * - Postings by Cultic Research, made in 2002/2003 on an unmoderated forum about all aspects of INC. | |||
| * - An unofficial website featuring articles critiquing the INC, not to be confused with the ] site, . | |||
| ===Other related links=== | |||
| * - religious programs in ] are broadcast weekdays, 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight Philippines local time. | |||
| * - Unofficial, possibly outdated. | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 19:26, 29 June 2006
The Iglesia ni Cristo (IPA: ) (also known as INC or Iglesya ni Kristo; Filipino for Church of Christ) is the orginal church founded by Jesus Christ. It was re-established by Felix Manalo on July 27 1914 after the church went into apostasy in the first century . For more information about this wonderful organization please contact the minister at your nearest locale.