COMBINED DOCTRINES?

The Bible testifies that the one sent by God speaks according to the law and to the testimony (Is. 8:20). To speak according to the law is to teach the will or doctrine of God, not one’s own will - no addition nor subtraction (Jn. 7:16-17; Dt. 12:32). A messenger of God must also possess the testimony or the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:20).

Brother Felix Y. Manalo is the last messenger because he is the fulfillment of the various prophecies recorded in the Bible (Rev. 7:2-3; Is. 46:11; Is. 41:9-10). The fact that he became a member of other religions prior to his being called by God does not in any ay prove that he was not sent by God. Before Apostle Paul was called to become Christ’s apostle, he belonged to the religious group known as the Pharisees and he had been one of the ruthless persecutors of the Church (Acts 22:1-4). Moses was raised as an Egyptian before he was called by God so that he would be prepared to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Acts 7:22) In the same way that Apostle Paul and Moses were prepared to lead and administer God’s people, Brother Felix Y. Manalo was also prepared, one way of which was through his membership in other religions where many of God’s people would come from.

Brother Felix Y. Manalo did not take the doctrines of the Church of Christ from these religions. He left such religions precisely because he found many of their doctrines different from the doctrines of the true Church of Christ as written in the Bible. For instance, all of those churches believe in the Trinity and the deity of Jesus Christ while the Church of Christ believes that the only true God is the Father (Jn. 17:1, 3; I Cor. 8:6), and Jesus Christ is not God but man in state of being (Jn. 8:40; I Tim. 2:5).

The doctrines that Brother Felix Y. Manalo taught are the words of God written in the Bible – no addition nor subtraction – which is a characteristic of the true messenger of God.

NAME GAME?

Question:

I consulted several Bible translations and versions, and I found out that in most renditions, instead of “Church of Christ,” the phrase written in Acts 20:28 which refers to the true Church is either “Church of Lord” or “Church of God.” As far as I know, only Lamsa’s translation mentions “Church of Christ.” Why do you believe that “Church of Christ” is the correct name of the Church founded by Christ?

Answer:

It must be taken into account that it is Christ who built the true Church and that He called it His Church (Mt. 16:18). To explain the relationship between Christ and His Church, Apostle teaches that the Church is Christ’s body (Col. 1:18). The correct name of the true Church built by Christ therefore is “Church of Christ,” for it is but right and just for the body to be called by the name of its head.

Regarding the phrase “church of Christ” in his translation of Acts 20:28, George M. Lamsa explains, thus:

“The eastern text reads: ‘The church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.’ …Jewish Christians could not have used the term God, because in their eyes God is spirit, and spirit has no flesh and blood. …It was Jesus of Nazareth who shed his blood on the cross for us, and not God.” (New Testament Commentary: From the Aramaic and the Ancient Eastern Customs, pp. 149-150)

Granting without conceding that only George M. Lamsa’s translation of the Bible renders the phrase in Acts 20:28 as “church of Christ,” still no rule of reasoning compels us to conclude that if one is alone in his position, then his stand would be wrong.

Besides, it is not just Lamsa’s translation which mentions Church of Christ in Acts 20:28. The English translation of the verse in Syriac manuscripts such as MS Syriac 4 (12^th century),  MS Syriac 325 (12^th century), MS Syriac 27 (16^th century), and the Novum Testamentum Syriace (17^th century) read “Church of Christ.”

Syriac is an Aramaic dialect into which most of the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament were first translated. Consulting Syriac manuscripts can help settle controversies in the Greek manuscripts. According to some Bible scholars, “No branch of the Early Church has done more for the translation of the Bible into their vernacular than the Syriac-speaking” (The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations, p. 3). It is also asserted that the Syriac manuscripts are “of great value to the Biblical exegete … in view of their origin in the second and third centuries” (The text of the New Testament: Its transmission, Corruption, and Restoration, p. 67).

Aside from Syriac manuscripts, the phrase “Church of Christ” can also be found in Peshitta Aramaic Text With a Hebrew Translation which when translated into English reads:

“Watch then for yourselves and for all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has given you the responsibility to feed the church of Christ which he has acquired with his blood.” (emphasis ours)

In Dr. John Wesley Etheridge’s translation The Apostolical Acts and Epistles, from the Peschito, or Ancient Syriac, the phrase in the verse was rendered as “church of the Meshiha [for Christ].” Moreover, the Disciples New Testament translated by Victor Alexander, puts in the verse the name “church of Jesus Christ.”

We are confident that the translation and versions that have “Church of Christ” are more accurate rendition of  Acts 20:28 because the later part of the verse states, “which he purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28, American Standard Version, emphasis ours). It is clear that the one referred to here by the pronoun “he” is the one who shed His blood for the Church. Here, we can only agree to Lamsa’s explanation, for it is indeed what the Bible teaches. The pronoun “he” does not refer to our Lord God for He, being a spirit (Jn. 4:24), has no flesh and bones (Lk. 24:36-39), and thus has no blood. It is the Lord Jesus Christ blood, which washed the members of the Church for their sins (I Pt. 1:18-19; Rev. 1:5). When the text reads, “Church of Christ,” it furnishes no difficulty for reading “with his own blood.”

TO ENGAGE IN SELF-CONTRADICTION

Question:

I was born a Catholic but I’m one of those who attend Mass only when there are special occasions in the family like Christening, wedding, internment, and Christmas days. My friend who is a seminarian encourages me to be more active in our religion. In one of our friendly discussions, I asked him where in the Bible we could read many of our doctrines and practices like trinity, purgatory, rosary, keeping images and the like. He read some biblical verses which I believe are not conclusively teaching them. He nevertheless pointed out that we must not be strictly biblical, for the Bible is incomplete, especially on the written account of Christ’s life. He explained that we must believe in the Bible but we must also accept other Catholic books and tradition as bases of our faith.

What can you say about this? Is it really true that the Bible is incomplete and not sufficient as basis of faith and in leading us to attain salvation?

Answer:

It is true that the Bible’s account on Christ’s life is incomplete-the reason is explained by Apostle John:

“But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25, Revised Standard Version)

Though not all of the things Jesus did were written in the Bible, it is not right to believe that what were recorded in the Bible are not adequate in leading us to attain eternal life or salvation. Apostle John testifies, thus:

“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31, New International Version)

As basis of faith, the Bible therefore does not need to be supplemented by any other book and even by what the Catholics call tradition. The truth is, to believe in the Bible and to propose that the Bible needs to be supplemented is to engage in self-contradiction-for the Bible warns everyone not to go beyond what is already written:

“Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written’. …” (I Cor. 4:6, Ibid.)

“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add him the plagues that are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:18, New King James Version)

Hence, a true believer in the Bible knows that when compared to other books used as bases by various religions, the Bible alone teaches the way to salvation. Aside from this, he also follows the biblical teaching not to go beyond what is written in it. Anyone who claims that he believes in the authority of the Bible and purports that it must be coupled with something else as source of true faith is guilty of either inconsistency or not truly accepting the precepts of the Bible.

This is the reason why the Iglesia ni Cristo believes that the Bible should be the sole basis of man’s faith. It is the only book inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking errors, correcting faults, and giving instructions (II Tim. 3:16, Today’s English Version). Using the Bible as the only basis of faith will give us the wisdom that leads to salvation (II Tim. 3:15).

NECESSITY TO BE SAVED

“Saved already or yet to be saved?”

       The Lord adds those who will be saved in reference to Acts 2:47, New King James Version which says: “Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved”.

      The Lord adds (to the Church of Christ) those who will be saved, while St. Luke says, “… the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved”.

      In effect, the Lord adds to the Church those who are not yet saved while St. Luke said that the Lord added to the Church daily those who were saved already.

     It is not that the grammatical construction of the phrase “were being saved” is past progressive tense, passive voice? It is not that Acts 2:47 can be illustrated thus: At Day 1, AM 50 were saved, PM 60 were saved; Day 2, AM 40 were saved, PM 50 were saved, and so on. Those who were being saved were the ones who were added to the Church by the Lord, NOT THOSE WHO ARE NOT SAVED (those hope to be saved).

      About the necessity of the Church of Christ with regard to salvation as well as the biblical verses attesting to this fact:

1.      You will notice that it was not only Acts 2:47, New King James Version, where the process of attaining salvation is stated but also Eph. 5:23, Today’s English Version, John 10:9, Revised English Bible, and Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation. Let us quote the verses in its entirety:

‘Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.’ (Acts 2:47, NKJV)

‘For a husband has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body.’ (Eph. 5:23, TEV)

For this reason, the Savior Himself commands all of those longing for salvation to enter the fold.

‘I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe.’ (John 10:9, REB)

This fold or flock is none other than the Church of Christ (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation). Would the Lord God add to the Church of Christ those who will be saved and would Christ command people to enter in it if the Church were not important and necessary?”

Hence, to say that “The Church of Christ is where the Lord adds those who will be saved” is not a matter of personal opinion but an established biblical truth.

Bear in mind that to attain salvation has to undergo a process set by the Savior Himself (Mark 16:15-16). That is why Luke stated “the Lord added to the Church daily those who WERE BEING SAVED” (past progressive or continuous action), and not those who “WERE SAVED ALREADY” (simple past or action already completed). Those who “were being saved” were “added to the Church” because Church membership (in the true Church of Christ) is an essential part of the process of attaining salvation.

2.      We used the word “will be saved” because these are the very words of the Savior Himself explicitly recorded in John 10:9, NKJV and is rendered “will be safe” in REB. Consequently, the phrase “those who were being saved” in Acts 2:47 in the NKJV is also rendered “such as should be saved” (Douay-Rheims, King James Version) and “those that were to be saved” (Darby). Hence, the teaching that “The Church of Christ is where the Lord adds those who will be saved” is in harmony with the teaching of Christ and His apostles.

3.      When Luke testified in Acts 2:47, NKJV that “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved,” he was witnessing to the fact that it is in the Church (not outside of it) where “those who were being saved” are placed. This is primarily because outside of the true church, there is God’s judgment or condemnation (I Cor. 5:12-13, New International Version). You are correct in saying that sinners need salvation.  But again, remember that attaining salvation is a “process.” In order for sinners to attain salvation, they must undergo the process of attaining salvation set forth by Christ Himself. That is why during the time of the apostles, those who were being saved (should be saved, were to be saved) where those who listened to the preaching of the gospel, believed and were baptized (Acts 2). They were added to the church by baptism for according to Apostle Paul, “we were all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13, NKJV) or Church (Col. 1:18). Moreover, the Savior Himself stated that “He who believes and is baptized will be saved,” that is, from condemnation of Judgment Day (Mark 16:15-16, NKJV), emphasis ours. It is true that “Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (I Tim 1:15) as you stated. However, let us not discount the important fact that Christ built or established a Church and it is the Church, His body, that Christ will save (Eph. 5:23, TEV). Thus, in order for sinners to avail themselves of the salvation offered by the Savior, they have to be part of the body or Church of Christ-an essential components in the process of attaining salvation.

4.      Does this necessarily mean they are not yet saved after they had been added to the Church by means of baptism? Apostle Paul state, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins”, (NKJV, emphasis ours).

“Delivered” was rendered “saved” in the New International Reader’s Version. Hence, those who were conveyed or transferred into the Kingdom of the Son where redemption is found (i.e. the Church of Christ, Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation) are already “saved” and they are already have the hope of salvation on the day of judgment.

5.      There is nothing wrong with using the terms “are already saved” because they have been saved from the power of darkness and they were transferred into the kingdom of the Son or the Church of Christ-the place where redemption and salvation can be found (as explained above). Those who are in the Christ of Christ are the beneficiaries of God’s promised salvation and as Apostle Paul stated, they are no longer under condemnation:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1, NKJV)

Thus, we say that those who were added to the Church “are already saved.”

On the other hand, those who were added to the Church “will be saved” because the salvation from eternal damnation or from the lake of fire promised by God will be rewarded on the day of judgment. What the members of the Church of Christ have now is the hope of receiving God’s promised salvation, which will be given on the day of the Lord return. Remember that members of the Christ’s Church are still sojourning in this world and are awaiting the great day of salvation. Salvation is a privilege, though not an irrevocable one. This can be gleaned from the words recorded in Hebrews 2:3:

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” (Ibid.)

There is always the danged or losing this privilege. In order to maintain the condition of being “saved”, one must fulfill and complete the requirements set forth by God. One of those requirements set forth by God. One of those requirements was stated by Christ to His disciples who definitely had already believed in Him. He said, “…he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13, Ibid., emphasis ours). It is also for this reason Apostle Paul instructed the early Christians to “work out” their “own salvation” (Phil. 2:12, Ibid.)

6.      Concerning the purpose of Church membership, in John 10:9, Christ explicitly states, “If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.” Entering by Jesus is by means of coming into the fold or flock, that is the Church of Christ (John10:9, REB; Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation). Since the Church of Christ was purchased or redeemed by Christ with His precious blood, it is in the Church where man can truly serve the living God and proclaim His praises (Heb. 9:14, NKJV; I Pet. 2:9-10, Ibid.) which will redound to his salvation. On the contrary, to refuse to join the Church of Christ is to refuse such wonderful privileges, for that is the same as refusing to do the things that Christ says (Luke 6:46). Such people will only be disappointed when the appointed time comes, for regardless of their efforts to call upon the name of Jesus and to serve Him, Christ would only say to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly-disregarding my commands” (Matt. 7:21-23, Amplified Bible). Is this not tragic especially for those who claim to have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior but would not follow His commandment to come into the flock or Church of Christ?

      Concerning Christ being the husband and the Church’s being His wife, it should be noted that such analogy used by the Apostle Paul serves only to illustrate the kind of relationship and unity that Christ and His Church share (Eph. 5:32, Ibid.)-that they are inseparable in God’s sight. In another analogy, the same apostle did liken the Church to pure and faultless to her one husband who is Christ (II Cor. 11:2, Revised Standard Version).

LYING TO HOLY SPIRIT = LYING TO GOD?

     I heard my [Protestant] pastor say that the biblical narration recorded in Chapter 5 of the Books of Acts affirms, among others, the deity of the Holy Spirit. I verified it with my own Bible and I found this:

      “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit …? … You have not lied to men but to God’.”

            What can you say about this?

Answer:

     These verses you quoted (Acts 5:3-4, New King James Version) undeniably point out that to lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God. But does this mean that the Holy spirit is God? No, it does not. For it did, then it would contradict the essential truth about God. As Apostle Paul clearly stated, “there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came” (I Cor. 8:6, New International Version). The Almighty Father Himself said, “I alone am God and that there is no one else like me” (Isa. 46:9, Today’s English Version).

      Why, is it, then, that if one lies to the Holy Spirit, he also lies to God? To answer this, let us quote the following statements of Christ concerning the Holy Spirit:

    “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26, NKJV, emphasis ours)

    “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” (John 15:26, Ibid. emphasis ours)

    “Most assuredly, I say to you he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me” (John 13:20, Ibid. emphasis ours)

     The Lord Jesus Christ taught that “the Helper” or the Holy Spirit is sent both by the Father and the Son. Furthermore, Christ declared that anyone who receives whomever He sent equally receives the one who sent  Him-the Father who is the only true God (John 17:1,3). Hence, whatever a person does to the one sent by Christ and by the Father, he likewise does it to God Himself. And since the Holy Spirit is sent by Christ and the Father, lying to the Holy Spirit necessarily means lying to God Himself. It is not surprising therefore, that when Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, the Bible teaches that he, in effect, lied to God.

   The problem with believing that the Holy Spirit is God is just because lying to the Holy Spirit is tantamount to lying to God the Father is that this would have several erroneous ramifications. For example, the apostles would then be Gods also because when Christ was commissioning the apostles, to them He proclaimed:

   “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” (Luke 10:16, NKJV)

     Here, Christ Himself says quite clearly that rejecting the apostles is the same as rejecting Him and God. If we were to follow the line of thinking of those who argue that the Holy Spirit is God, then we would be forced to accept that the apostles and all other messengers are God as well!

  Historically, the erroneous belief that the Holy Spirit is God became an article of faith of the Catholic Church through the Council of Constantinople only in 381 A.D., more than three centuries after the Bible had been written (Discourses on the Apostles’ Creed, p. 206).

“FEED MY LAMBS”

Question:

My neighbors are Church of Christ members. Every Sunday, I observe that their little children are dressed in formal attire and attend to what they call Pagsamba ng Kabataan (Children Worship Service-CWS). Unlike the children in my religion, this children attend such Sunday activity such Sunday activity regularly and on time prescribed by your Church. Is this Pagsamba ng Kabataan really necessary? I’ve heard from a friend who is also a member of your church that all your doctrines are anchored and based on the Bible. What is your biblical basis for having this worship service for children?

Answer:

Concerning little children, the Bible commands us to train them in the right way:

“Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. (Prov. 22:6, New Revised Standard Version)

“O Lord, you alone are my hope; I’ve trusted you from childhood.” (Ps. 71:5, Living Bible)

“Remember now thy Creator in days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” (Eccl. 12:1, King James Version)

As part of their training or upbringing, the primary values we need to teach and instill in the children in the Church are recognizing and valuing their primary obligation to worship God, as part of His nation (Ps. 95:6-7); recognizing and trusting the Lord as their only hope (Ps. 71:5); and remembering God in the days of their youth (Eccl. 12:1).

Bear in mind that Christ has commandment to feed His lambs or young sheep:

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these’? He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You’. He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs’.

“He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these’? He said to Him, ‘Tend My sheep’.” (Jn. 21:15-16, New King James Version)

By the term “sheep”, the Lord means those in the flock:

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (Jn. 10:16, New International Version)

Apostle Paul expounds that the flock is the Church of Christ which was purchased by Christ through His blood.

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Act 20:28, Lamsa Translation).

The “sheep” mentioned by Christ therefore refers to the members of the Church of Christ, and by the terms “lambs”, the Lord thus refers to the young or little members of the Church.

To feed the “lambs” is to teach them the word of God, for God’s words are the foods of our soul (Ps. 107:9; Jer. 15:16; Mt. 4:4). In the Pagsamba ng Kabataan (Children’s Worship Service), the children in the Church are taught of the words of God, for part of his holy occasion is studying God’s will (I Cor. 14:26, 15). They are dressed in formal attire because the occasion is holy as the Bible teaches:

“Thy decrees are very sure; holiness befits thy house, O Lord, for evermore.” (Ps. 93:5, Revised Standard Version)

“Worship the Lord in holy array; tremble before him, all the earth!” (Is. 96:9, Ibid.)

Children in the Church are trained and guided to attend the worship service regularly for the apostles admonish the true worshippers not to neglect such gathering (He. 10:25).

One of the characteristics of the true congregational worship is its orderliness (I Cor. 14:26, 40). To observe orderliness, there is a scheduled time when the worshippers must convene themselves to praise the Lord. The setting of the schedule of this kind of worship is done by the Church administration, for they are given the authority to decide on matters concerning service to God (Mt. 18:19). This is why parents or guardians in the Church are rearing their children not only to value their attendance in worship service, but also to observe punctuality in performing such duty.

MORE ON HOLY ROSARY

A reaction to “More on Rosary”

Reaction:

I, too, grew up in a closely-knit, Catholic indoctrinated environment following what my brother-in-law (who used to be a deacon but did not take his priesthood vows) says that we should adhere to the Catholic dogma. I grew up in an environment of daily rosaries every month of October, novenas at St. Anthony de Padua and Quiapo Churches, doing the stations of the cross by going to various churches we can go to every Holy Week which would turn out to be a family excursion in the end, and so many practices we Catholics devote ourselves to wherever and whenever there is a holy occasion. My mother led us into these practices and, frankly, I enjoyed them! But my father was not that devoted.

Dwelling on the issue of praying the rosary, I could recite it in basically four languages, as my mother, mother-in-law, and other members of m family do, including Latin. Allow me to cite my personal experience and give my personal comments.

Personally, I never learned to appreciate the rosary, along with the other devotions we Catholics do, in order to seek forgiveness from the Lord and atonement for our sins or even simply to seek peace within ourselves. I always wondered in amazement how my mother, along with the other members of my family, could repetitiously utter such words. We never prayed in detail for whatever problems we might be having at that particular time and place. Hence, wherever we go, we say the same prayer with all devotion but in the end, it becomes embarrassingly, unavoidably boring.

In the beginning, I thought that I might be committing blasphemy, since I’m a Catholic and so are my forefathers. It makes you wonder, “Is there life beyond these things!” Whenever I’m not with my relatives, I would pray to /god in my own way.

 When I went to college, being less scared, I decided that I would simply go to church every Sunday without any devotion to other Catholic practices. Of course my mother didn’t approve of this at first, but what could she do? I was using my scholarship as a reason. It went on like this until this day. Now, with both my parents dead, I’m glad that no one bugs me to join same activities that I’ve been doing in my childhood.

As I progressed in life after graduation, some passages in the Bible have somehow given me the light on the questions that have been in my mind since I was a little boy.

In 1999, I met this Italian priest, Fr. Marco Brioschi, PIME. He has become both very good friend and confidant, although we started out as the worst of enemies-what a strange way to have a friend. He showed me “the real essence of being a good Christian” without going through all the traditional Catholic activities. He made me feel relieved that I really don’t have to feel guilty for not practicing the same as what my forefathers did, as those practices are not only obsolete but, from his very own words, are not the true teachings of the Church and are not embedded in the very teachings of Christ.

As I take it, man by nature is lazy. It maybe possible that these practices, which are equally visible in other religions, were made so that they wouldn’t have to invent so many words during prayer. I’ve seen rosary-like beads in Saudi Arabia, China and Taiwan wrapped around the neck or waist of monks, and in many other places I’ve been to. Then again, freedom, God’s greatest gift to man, as my dear old friend Fr. Marco would say, is what Jesus is basically trying to tell each and everyone of us. That is why again, personally, such practices (i.e. praying the rosary, novenas, etc.) are forms of enslaving ourselves into something we do not really need in our lives in the first place.

I wouldn’t go so much into being a well-rounded religious man or academician quoting passages from the Bible or any other textbooks. I am simply a layman who wants to live a simple life having the religious freedom to communicate with my God in my own way. I cannot say that I am ignorant or knowledgeable of my own religion. I am simply sharing my thoughts as a born Catholic, views that I gathered from a priest, and what I really want to with the rest of my life. I do not write this to say that I despise the Catholic religious practices, nor concur what other Christian denominations says against them. I simply want to express my thoughts as they are-practice my religion with freedom and not being enslaved with traditional practices such as what the editor mentions, “is not even mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.”

Answer:

Thank you for sharing with us your thoughts about Catholic practices, particularly the rosary and the novenas, which once became part of your life being a born Catholic.

It is remarkable that even a Catholic priest who is your friend admits that Catholic practices neither are the true teachings of the Church nor are they embedded in the very teachings of Christ, hence are not needed in order to be a good Christian. We can not blame you for further concluding that “such practices (i.e. the praying of the rosary, novenas, etc.) are forms of enslaving ourselves into something we do not really need in our lives in the first place.”

However, though we agree with you that freedom is one of the God’s great gifts to man, the Bible nevertheless teaches that one is free to serve Him in any manner he chooses, if he wants his service to be worthy and acceptable before Him. In fact, God Himself declares that there are forms of service or worship rendered to Him that are in vain:

“But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.” (Matt. 15:9, American Standard Version)

“(Referring to things which all perish as they are used), according to human precepts and doctrines? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigor of devotion and self-abasement and severity to the body, but they are no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.” (Col. 2:22-23, Revised Standard Version)

What must guide one’s freedom is serving God is no other than His commandments or statutes (Deut. 30:15-16).  After all, what really makes us truly free is the truth or the words of God written in the Holy Scriptures (Joh 8:32; 17:17; IITim. 3:15-17).

GOD KNOWS OUR INTENTIONS

You say that God won’t accept the worship services of other religions. Doesn’t God know all things, even our intentions? Isn’t He patient, understanding, and loving Father who accepts anyone who humbles himself and approaches Him with sincerity?

You are right that God is a loving Father because He wants everyone to be saved and to know the truth (I Tim. 2:3-4). He is patient and doesn’t want anyone to perish, but wants all to turn away from their sins (II Pt. 3:9). He is under-standing, which is why He inspired His words to be written in the Holy Scriptures that all people shall know the proper way of worshipping Him (II Tim. 3:15-17).

Although humility and sincerity are necessary elements in serving God, they are not sufficient. One should serve the Lord faithfully with all his heart, a service that is based on the truth (I Sam. 12:24). Apostle Paul testified that even if people are deeply devoted to God, they should not set up their own way of serving and worshipping Him, but they must submit to God’s way of putting people right (Rom. 10:2-3). The Lord Jesus Christ teaches that not all worship is worthy before God. Worship becomes useless when it is based on man-made rules and opinions (Mt. 15:9).

True worship is done in accordance with the truth (Jn. 17:17). Therefore, true worship is based on the commandments of God. If your intentions are sincere and you truly desire to serve God, then you must prove it through obedience to His commandments.

PURGATORYO, AYON KAY DR. JOSE P. RIZAL

IN CHRIST, NO CONDEMNATION

    Just because salvation is God's gift does not mean that man needs to do nothing but to accept it. In the same way, Christ pronouncement that "whoever believes in Him ... [will] have everlasting life" should not be taken to mean that membership in His true Church is no longer necessary for man's salvation.

     It is true that there are works by which man is not saved. Among these is what Apostle Paul describes as the "works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves" (Titus 3: 5,3, American Standard Version), for God did not purpose that man be saved on the merits of his own works, "that no flesh may boast in His presence" (I Cor. 1:29). This does not mean, however, than man does not need to do anything anymore. Verse 10 of Ephesians chapter 2 (proceeding from verse 8 and 9) elucidates that when God created man, He intended him not only to be "in Christ Jesus" but also "for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them" (New King James Version).

    Indeed, those who are "in Christ Jesus" are no longer condemned or will "not perish but have everlasting life." But in order to be among those who truly are in Christ Jesus, it is not enough for one to merely profess belief or faith in Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ says to those who say they believe in Him, "Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord, but not do what I command?" (Luke 6:46, New American Bible). Apostle James likewise taught:

     "What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ..You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." (James 2:14, 24, New International Version).

    Clearly, believing or having faith in Christ entails much more than just merely declaring that one accepts Christ as his personal Savior. To become a true believer of Christ, one must be among His sheep: "But you do not believe, because you are not My sheep ..." (John 10:26, New King James Version). Thus, Christ calls everyone who wants to be saved to enter the fold or flock, which is the Church of Christ-which He redeemed or purchased with His blood (John 10:9, Revised English Bible; Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation). These are the ones referred to as people "who are in Christ."