Iglesia ni Cristo

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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 | change source]

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 of God 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 just as he did the early church and Israel in the past.
  • 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 dipping the whole body under 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 World War 1 and World War 2, and widespread news of poverty, famine, earthquake and other disasters) have happened.
  • A holy city is being made by Jesus for INC members and all other chosen people in the past to live in when he comes back.

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ 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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Introducing the Iglesia ni Cristo Booklet, 1989, pp.1-16
  3. ↑ Crisostomo, Isabelo T. 'Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo', Pasugo (May-June 1986)
  4. ↑ Suarez, E. T. 'Iglesia ni Cristo turns 91 today' Manila Bulletin (July 27, 2005)
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