Iglesia ni Cristo
The Iglesia ni Cristo (IPA: [iːˈglɛ.ʃɑː niː ˈkriːstəʊ]; Filipino for Church of Christ), or INC, is a church which was made in the Philippines by Felix Manalo in 1914.[1] The INC says it was made by Jesus Christ. The church does not believe in the religious teachings of the Trinity, including the teaching that Jesus is God.[2]
Felix Manalo joined many religious organizations as a young adult. He said that God gave him a mission to teach the gospel and to bring back the first church made by Jesus.[3] The INC began with a handful of followers on July 27, 1914 in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, with Manalo as highest minister. It has now spread to many different countries.[4]
Beliefs and teachings [change]
Some of the teachings INC believes in are:[2]
- God is the one who made the Heavens and the Earth, and he is the only god.
- There is no Holy Trinity; God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not one.
- Jesus is the Son of God.
- The Holy Spirit is the power given to Jesus to teach and for us to help us with our problems.
- Manalo was God's last messenger.
- God chose INC members to serve him.
- INC is the same church as the Christian church in the first century.
- INC is God's true church, and the only way to be saved.
- INC believes in baptism by water.
- Members must follow the Administration and the Administration must follow the words of Christ.
- Members should live a life of good.
- Members must not eat food made with blood or marry a non-member.
- It is everyone's job to worship God by going to worship services two times a week.
- Members should treat each other like brother and sister.
- The church should act as one; this includes voting.
- The dead will come back to life and either be blessed or punished.
- Jesus will come again very soon because the signs that He is coming back (such as war, famine and earthquake) have happened.
- A holy city is being made by Jesus for INC members to live when he comes back.
References [change]
- ↑ Sanders, Albert J., "An Appraisal of the Iglesia ni Cristo," in Studies in Philippine Church History, ed. Anderson, Gerald H. (Cornell University Press, 1969)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Introducing the Iglesia ni Cristo Booklet, 1989, pp.1-16
- ↑ Crisostomo, Isabelo T. 'Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo', Pasugo (May-June 1986)
- ↑ Suarez, E. T. 'Iglesia ni Cristo turns 91 today' Manila Bulletin (July 27, 2005)
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