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In the past, the Iglesia ni Cristo would also endorse candidates in ] ]. In the past, the Iglesia ni Cristo would also endorse candidates in ] ].


==Criticism==
{{SectNPOV}}
===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 ].


Karl Keating, the founder of ], an ]s group, claims that Jose Ventilacion, an INC minister and one of their chief debaters, broke an agreement for a one-on-one debate made by the two organizations during a debate held in ] in ]. Instead of a one-on-one debate, Dr Keating claims there were three assistants at Mr Ventilacion's table and none at his. Dr Keating also claims that Andy Suarez, another INC minister who was sitting at Mr Ventilacion's table was shouting at him during the debate to which he replied: "I'm debating him. Sit down!" {{Inote|Keating|Keating}}

Catholic Answers 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.{{Inote|catholic.com|catholic.com}} However, the Iglesia ni Cristo claims through biblical prophesies, that it was elected to be "the first nation of God," as the Israelites were, and that God chose them to serve him.{{Inote|Aromin|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. They also reject the INC's doctrine that one can only be saved if one is a member of that church.{{Inote|LetUsReason|LetUsReason}}

Dr. ] has criticized the INC for allegedly misquoting his Ryrie Study Bible regarding John 1:1 in the May/June ] issue of the Pasugo. Dr. 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 (for them ) this author omitted the last phrase in the note of John 1:1." {{Inote|Elliff|Elliff}}

===Secular criticism===
Secular critics also criticize the INC for bloc-voting (see ]). Unlike other countries though, political endorsements are practiced by most religions in the Philippines<!--Source?-->.

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,{{Inote|Echeminada|Echeminada}}{{Inote|Robles|Robles}} 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. <!-- Sources for actions other than the Tipon case-->

The Insiders, an anonymous group who claim to be members of INC, are opposing the alleged changes of doctrines, which happened over the past decades. They feel the administration is not listening to the "common brethren" and would like more religious and personal freedom within the church.{{Inote|http://members.tripod.com/insiders_inc/|InsidersHome}} <!-- I think we are using the same term twice in the same sentence. "claimed" and "alleged" are basically the same meaning, and the point has already been taken in the the term "alleged changes" -->

The INC ] reflects traditional Philippine culture, which stresses family and vertical relationships. This may be perceived as ] and an unmeritocratic hierarchy to those who have different cultural assumptions.


==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 03:05, 15 November 2005

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The Iglesia ni Cristo (also known as INC or Iglesya ni Cristo; Filipino for Church of Christ) is an independent Christian church which originated in the Philippines.

File:Inc chapel lalaan cavite.jpg
Iglesia ni Cristo chapel in Lalaan, Cavite, Philippines

It was registered with the Filipino government by Felix Manalo on July 27, 1914. The Church professes to be the reestablishment of the original church founded by Jesus and does not accept the doctrine of the Trinity including the deity of Jesus.

The Iglesia ni Cristo's architecture is notable for the narrow-pointed spires of its chapel buildings.

Background information

File:FelixManalo.jpg
Felix Manalo on the cover of the Pasugo

The historical context of the Iglesia ni Cristo lies in a period of the early 20th century characterised by a variety of rural anti-colonialism movements, often with religious undertones, in the Philippines. At this time, U.S. missionary work was exposing Filipino culture to many alternatives to the Catholicism installed under earlier Spanish rule.

Felix Manalo was deeply religious as a child and joined many religious organizations as a young adult, leaving each after finding teachings which he felt contradicted those in the Bible.Template:Inote He proclaimed that God gave him a mission to preach the gospel and to reestablish the first Church founded by Jesus.Template:Inote

First INC Chapel, Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila, Philippines

The INC began with a handful of followers on July 27, 1914 in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, with Manalo as head minister.Template:InoteManalo propagated his message within his local area, growing the Iglesia ni Cristo and converting members of other religions. As Church membership increased, he delegated others to spread the teachings of the INC and it eventually spread throughout the Philippines and to other countries.

Although estimates vary, the Iglesia ni Cristo has become possibly the second-largest single Christian religion in the Philippines. The official Philippine government website lists its membership as 2.3% (similar to that of the Philippine Independent Church) of the predominantly Catholic population.

It has become the fastest growing religion in the Philippines, and has grown to over 3,000 congregations in over 84 countries and territories throughout the world. It has a notable presence in Hawaii and California, which have a sizable population of immigrants from the Philippines and of Filipino descent. Although the church does not disclose the exact number of members, the Catholic Answers apostolate estimates its worldwide membership as ranging from 3 to 10 million.

General beliefs and practices

The Iglesia ni Cristo adheres to the following 25 primary doctrines.

  • There is only one God, the Father in Heaven who is immortal, eternal and invisible.
  • Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is a man and not God, and was sent by God to be the only mediator between men and God.
  • The Bible is the sole basis for spiritual guidance.
  • One needs to be commissioned by God in order to preach the Gospel.
  • Felix Manalo is the fulfillment of several Biblical prophecies both from the Old and New Testaments, and was sent to reestablish the original Church founded by Jesus, which had fallen into apostasy after the death of the apostles. (Thus INC members view as factually untrue the frequent description of Felix Manalo as the "founder" of INC).
  • Baptism (see below) must be performed at an age where one can understand the Gospel.
  • Membership in the Iglesia ni Cristo is essential for man's salvation.
  • Salvation cannot be obtained by faith alone. Faith should go together with good works.
  • The Catholic Church turned away from the teachings of God by worshipping idols and graven images, by celebrating pagan holidays and by teaching that Jesus is God.
  • Before joining the INC one should lead a new life. No alcohol, gambling, lewd dancing or sexual immoralities (considered by the INC to be fornication and adultery) are allowed.
  • Members should not be surprised to be persecuted—as were the early Christians.
  • One should value one's membership inside the INC above all but God.
  • There should always be unity and brotherhood inside the church. Issues between fellow members should be resolved first inside the church administration.

Members are required to take an oath to faithfully obey the teachings of the Church.

Worship services

The Iglesia ni Cristo holds two worship services weekly, on Sunday and on Thursday. Some locales, especially those with no resident minister, hold the Sunday service on Saturday and Thursday services on Tuesday or Wednesday — days on which some of the more populous congregations hold additional worship services. Attendees are asked to maintain proper attire as a mark of respect and to arrive early to allow time for personal prayers and meditation while seated.

Attendance is registered by a nametag board located at the entrance. Men and women are seated separately, men on the left of the aisle and women on the right. At the start of the service the doors of the chapel are closed to ensure that the solemnity of the occasion is not disturbed.

The worship service is started with the singing of hymns led by the church choir. After singing, the opening prayer will be conducted, usually by the Head Deacon. Once the prayer is concluded, the lesson proceeds in which the minister will ask rhetorical questions discussed with passages from the bible. The sermons, lasting approximately 30-45 minutes, are mainly centered around the church's doctrines, the INC itself, and duties inside the church.

After the lesson, offerings are collected, followed with a prayer for the offerings. The worship service is concluded with the singing of the doxology, the benediction and the recessional hymn. The worshippers are led out in an orderly fashion, the same way that they were led in.

Missionary activities

Members of the Iglesia ni Cristo are encouraged to invite guests, and all locales hold Bible Studies weekly, where guests are invited to hear the doctrines of the INC, compare them to their current religious beliefs as well as ask questions related to the church or its beliefs.

Periodically, each district holds a Grand Evangelical Mission, or GEM for short, which is much like a Bible Study, but on a larger scale, with members from an entire district (usually a county-wide or region-wide area) encouraged to bring guests, and a minister speaks about the doctrines of the INC. There is usually a socializing afterwards, for guests to become familiar with the church and meet other guests and members.

In the Philippines, radio and television programs are produced, and they are broadcast on 1062 kHz DZEC-AM radio and the NET-25 television station both owned by the INC's Eagle Broadcasting Corporation. Programs are broadcast weekdays, 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight Philippine local time.

In North America, a television program called "The Message" is produced by the Iglesia ni Cristo in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is currently aired in the United States and Canada and some parts of Europe. The 30-minute programme is hosted by different INC ministers alternating every show, who share the main beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo with a television audience. Template:Inote

There is also a magazine available to INC congregations worldwide entitled God's Message (formerly known as Pasugo). Printed in both Tagalog and English editions, with some issues being partly in both languages, the magazine consists of letters to the editor, news from locales worldwide, religious poetry, articles relating to INC beliefs, a directory of locales outside the Philippines and would also feature a schedule of worship services until recently. Pamphlets are also printed for members to give to prospective guests, usually featuring information on a core INC doctrine.

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. Template:Inote

Baptism

The Iglesia ni Cristo teaches that baptism should be practiced by immersion, at an age of understanding and conforming to the teachings of the Bible. It is done from the age of twelve and is deemed essential for the attainment of eternal salvation. It is performed by a church officer after the convert recites an oath with one raising their right hand.

Once baptized, one is considered inside the body of Christ and can fully partake in the Holy Supper ceremony. All new members, even the minors, are expected to follow the instructions from the church and are assigned a deacon or deaconess who become their overseers.

Before one can be baptized one must first attend the 27 Bible lessons about the doctrines of the church. These lessons are based on a book written by Felix Y. Manalo called Fundamental Beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo, later revised by his son Eraño in 1989. The bible student receives a card on which the minister signs and dates the lessons followed. These bible lessons, formerly called doctrine lessons, are given before or after the worship service, sometimes also in the house of a member. A personal schedule can be arranged by asking the minister. At the end of the lessons, one is given a quiz which determines whether their knowledge of doctrine is sufficient to partake in baptism or not.

Furthermore, one must consistently attend the two weekly worship services, and committee prayer meetings for a period of six months before one can be baptized. Attendance slips are issued by a secretary for this purpose. One must also fill in additional documents and provide a portrait photograph.

Central office

File:Central temple.JPG
Iglesia ni Cristo Central Temple in New Era, Quezon City, Philippines

The INC's center of operations is the Iglesia ni Cristo Central Office, a large, secured complex located on Commonwealth Avenue, New Era, Quezon City, Philippines. An editorial in the July 25, 2004 issue of Philippine Panorama Magazine described the complex as including: the six-story Central Office Building; the 7,000-seat Central Temple, a Tabernacle, a multi-purpose convention hall; the 30,000 seating-capacity Central Pavilion; the College of Evangelical Ministry; the New Era General Hospital; and the New Era University. There is also a residence for the Executive Minister's family on the premises as well as one for the family of the Deputy Executive Minister.

Organizations

There are four organizations in the Church, with each member belonging to one:

  • Children's Worship Service or CWS, designed to help children understand INC teachings and prepare them for baptism.
  • Binhi, meaning "seed" for baptized members up to the age of seventeen.
  • KADIWA (Kabataang May Diwang Wagas), meaning "youth with pure intent" for unmarried members 18 and over.
  • Buklod, meaning "united in marriage" for all married members.

Each organization's goal is to increase fellowship and unity between members of the same age group. On average, each group has one meeting per month wherein messages from the administration are read, and activities such as sports, missionary activities and community programs are sponsored by each group in keeping with the same goal.

In each organization, there is usually an appointed president, vice president, and four committee chairpersons in charge of different activities, such as Missionary Works and Sports, Culture, and Arts, as well as a secretary.

The Binhi and KADIWA groups are designed to create activities for young members in accordance with church doctrine, and also support activities designed to assist in and encourage education. KADIWA meetings also encourage socializing between unmarried male and female brethren so that single INC members do not marry or have intimate relations outside of the church.

Buklod meetings usually feature discussion topics regarding family relations, and occasional job fairs, where members who own or work for a business can share job openings with other members.

Structure of the Iglesia ni Cristo

Template:INChierarchyAll officers in the Iglesia ni Cristo make up its administration, referred to inside the INC as the "Church Administration." It is led by Erano G. Manalo, who serves as the Chief Executive Minister, and Eduardo V. Manalo, the Deputy Executive Minister. The INC believes that the election of their leaders is guided by the Holy Spirit, and it also believes that its administration has been given the exclusive mandate to carry out God's plans during these times.

On a more local level, a District Minister oversees a set of local congregations called locales within a particular geographic area. A Locale Minister oversees an individual locale, and conducts worship services and bible studies. Deacons and Deaconesses, maintain order during services and collect offerings. A Head Deacon is second to the Locale Minister. The head deacon's job is to supervise other Deacons, and in case the minister is unable to perform his duties, the Head Deacon will oversee the locale. Some Deacons serve as Overseers, and watch over a group of members living in a certain area, or neighborhood. An Overseer conducts a Committee Prayer meeting for their area once a week, where news about the locale, and messages from the administration are relayed. In rural areas and countries where there is not a locale in the vicinity, services take place at Committee Prayer meetings at the residence of, or venue near an Overseer who lives in the area.

Inside of the Children's Worship Service, usually held in another part of the chapel or another building on the chapel compound during the adult worship service, there is a CWS Teacher, who is in charge of leading the congregation in responding to and understanding the lesson, Deacons, who collect offerings and assist the young members in keeping conduct during the Worship Service. The officers in the CWS are usually members in the Kadiwa and Binhi organizations.

There are also finance officers involved in counting offerings from the locale and recording the amounts, as well as secretariats in charge of recording attendance.

Politics

Ever since former Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon created a lasting friendship after asking Felix Manalo for advice, the INC has been known for its strong political influence. It was well-known for its support of President Ferdinand E. Marcos until his ousting during the EDSA Revolution of 1986.

INC members are noted for their bloc voting in Philippine electionsTemplate:Inote Template:Inote, a practice also shared by other Philippine religions , although INC has the biggest conversion turn-out, 68-84% of their members voting for candidates endorsed by its leadership, according to some comprehensive surveys. 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 campaign victory of Joseph Estrada in 1998 , and the re-election of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004 . This has given INC strong political influence on elected officials. Newspaper reports say that the Philipine 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.


Others, however, argue that the INC vote is only significant in close-run elections, noting that the INC supported candidates, Senator Sergio Osmeña Jr. lost in 1969 to Marcos and businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. lost to Fidel Ramos in 1992.

Macapagal-Arroyo's father, Diosdado Macapagal, due to his religious and political views, refused INC's preferred support during his runs for Vice President in 1957, and re-election for President in 1965 – in which he incidentally lost to Marcos.

In the past, the Iglesia ni Cristo would also endorse candidates in United States elections.

Criticism

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From religious groups

The Iglesia ni Cristo has come under criticism from other religions mainly due to disagreements over their doctrines and beliefs regarding the interpretation of the Bible.

Karl Keating, the founder of Catholic Answers, an apologetics group, claims that Jose Ventilacion, an INC minister and one of their chief debaters, broke an agreement for a one-on-one debate made by the two organizations during a debate held in 1990 in National City, California. Instead of a one-on-one debate, Dr Keating claims there were three assistants at Mr Ventilacion's table and none at his. Dr Keating also claims that Andy Suarez, another INC minister who was sitting at Mr Ventilacion's table was shouting at him during the debate to which he replied: "I'm debating him. Sit down!" Template:Inote

Catholic Answers has also rejected the INC's doctrines of apostasy within the Catholic Church and does not consider the verses used to support the doctrine of the Iglesia ni Cristo being prophesied nor the apostacy of the Catholic Church are used in the right context. It contends that other verses are difficult to reconcile with the views of the Iglesia ni Cristo.Template:Inote However, the Iglesia ni Cristo claims through biblical prophesies, that it was elected to be "the first nation of God," as the Israelites were, and that God chose them to serve him.Template:Inote

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. They also reject the INC's doctrine that one can only be saved if one is a member of that church.Template:Inote

Dr. Charles Caldwell Ryrie has criticized the INC for allegedly misquoting his Ryrie Study Bible regarding John 1:1 in the May/June 1984 issue of the Pasugo. Dr. 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 (for them ) this author omitted the last phrase in the note of John 1:1." Template:Inote

Secular criticism

Secular critics also criticize the INC for bloc-voting (see above). Unlike other countries though, political endorsements are practiced by most religions in the Philippines.

The main accusation of restraint of press freedom arises from the church's seeking of prior restraint on Ross Tipon's forthcoming critical book, The Power and the Glory: The Cult of Manalo) for alleged gross inaccuracies,Template:InoteTemplate:Inote 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.

The Insiders, an anonymous group who claim to be members of INC, are opposing the alleged changes of doctrines, which happened over the past decades. They feel the administration is not listening to the "common brethren" and would like more religious and personal freedom within the church.Template:Inote

The INC hierarchy reflects traditional Philippine culture, which stresses family and vertical relationships. This may be perceived as nepotism and an unmeritocratic hierarchy to those who have different cultural assumptions.

See also

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 pasugo@inc.org.ph.

None of these links are officially affiliated with or endorsed by the Iglesia ni Cristo. Most information and opinion about INC on the Internet is hostile due to controversy over practices and doctrines.

Pro

Con

Other related links

References

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