The Protestants’ View Of The Church

The Protestants’ View Of The Church

Vincent P. Florida

I REMEMBER TALKING to a friend about a year ago who moved from Long Island to New Jersey.  During our conversation, he expressed the disappointment of his wife in leaving their church.  When I asked him what name of the Church was and why was it so special, he remarked, “It’s just one of those local Christian churches, you know, one of the non-denominational churches where Jesus is preached and where there is good Christian fellowship.  We’ll really miss it.”  What will you do now?”  I asked.  “We’ll look far a church here in Jersey that is similar to the one we left.  We started looking last Sunday.  I’m sure we’ll find one close to the neighborhood.  They’re all the same anyway,” he answered.

     “They’re all the same” is an expression often heard by many people nowadays when describing their church with respect to other Protestant churches.  This has been taught to all by the evangelists of the so-called Christian faith.  These preachers claim that God deals directly with individuals so that faith is all that is needed for salvation and not membership in any particular church.  Furthermore, they also preach that all the different church denominations united together comprise the one true church built by our Lord Jesus Christ.  According to them, these beliefs are based on the Bible, sounded out through the writings of Protestants scholars.

The Accepted Belief

     The belief that Jesus Christ established only one church is scriptural.  This is recorded in Matthew 16:18.  All Protestants accept this basic truth.  Ask any Protestant how many churches did Jesus Christ build and their reply will undoubtedly be, “Why, one of course!”  Yet, looking at the many church denominations preaching on earth, it would not take long for us to realize that their “one church” has splintered, schismed, and divided itself into unrecognizable multitude of bodies.  A typical view of how these Protestant churches are considered collectively as one church is written in the book, Great Religions of Modern Man:  Protestantism, edited by Dr. J. L. Dunstan:

     “The position is, then that we believe together that there is a Church in the churches, but that we cannot say together how and where it exists, or how and where it functions.  For some, the marks of the Church are the traditional ones of acceptance of the creeds and the episcopal order; for others, they are in the exclusively Biblical purity of doctrine; for others, in the personal faith of the Church’s membership; for others again, in complete freedom of doctrine and worship.” (1969, p. 216)

     In spite of the many divisions of the churches in Protestantism they still claim that there is a Church in the churches.  According to them they don’t know how or where it exists, yet they are certain it does.  The confusion lies in the fact that there are now many churches having different doctrines and members who are diverse in their faith.  They believe that despite these differences, collectively they are the one true Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us see if this statement holds true for each Christian church-denomination.

The True Church:  A Protestant View

     Religions of America, a book edited by Leo Rosten contains quotations from different religious leaders about their belief and practices.  In this book, some quotations from Protestant leaders show how they consider the basic doctrines they hold in their organizations and—how each denomination considers itself when faced with the doctrine about the “true church.”

     The late G. Elson Ruff, an ordained minister of the Lutheran Church since 1926, had this to say when asked, “What are the basic tenets of the Lutheran Creed?”

     “Lutherans don’t claim any doctrines different from common Christian faith described in the New Testament and first summarized in the Apostles’ Creed.”

     To the question, “Do Lutherans believe theirs is the only true religion?” his reply was—

     “Yes, but they don’t believe they are the only ones who have it.  There are true Christian’s believers in a vast majority of the churches, perhaps in all.”

     On the other hand, Robert L. Friedly, director of the Office of Communications for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was asked about the basic beliefs of their Creed.  His response was:

      “The church professes no doctrine or dogma beyond belief in Jesus Christ; all other matters are therefore open to individual interpretation even the characteristics mentioned here as being distinctively disciple.”

     James E. Craig, honorary elder for life of the Park Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in New York City answered the question, “Do the Disciples believe that theirs is the only true Religion?”

     “Certainly not, they believe theirs to be the most nearly in accord with the practices of the early Christian Churches.  They also believe that their greatest mission in life is to bring Christians of all faiths into one Church of Christ.”

     W. Norman Pittenger, an Episcopalian professor at King’s College, Cambridge University in England who also taught Christian Apologetics at General Theological Seminary in New York expounded on the basic beliefs of Episcopalians.

     “They are affirmed in the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed.  The apostle’s Creed is the ancient baptismal statement of faith.”

     Responding to the question, “Do Episcopalians believe that theirs is the only true faith?” he said,

     “No.  We hold that all who are baptized (whether by Episcopalian or other rites, provided it is with water and in the name of the Holy Trinity) are members of the Church of Christ.

     “Of the one Church, Episcopalians believe they are apart; they have never claimed they are the only part.”

     The director of Department of Public Interpretation of the American Baptist Churches, Frank A. Sharp was asked, “What is a Baptist?”

     “Baptists have never adopted one of the historic Christian Creeds—because Baptists have been dedicated to a high degree of personal independence and to the individual to interpret the New Testament for himself in matters of faith and practice.  It is difficult, therefore, to present one fix set of criteria by which to characterize a Baptist.”

     The Baptists are among those who believe in complete freedom of Christian doctrines.  This complete freedom is expressed by an individual’s faith and not in the membership to any church.  As a result, the Baptists term the Church this way:

     “Membership of the Church as an organism.  The word church literally means a called-out company, and therefore it comprises only those who are truly called out from the world by Christ unto Himself—in other words, all true believers wherever found.” [Emery H. Bancroft, Christian Theology, (Zondervan Publishing House, Co., 1976), p. 289.]

     The term “all true believers wherever found”, places the Church in a secondary position of importance.  This was reiterated by the Reverend Frank A. Sharp in the book Religions of America:

     “Baptists believe that every true believer in Christ as personal Savior is saved-without the intervention of preacher or church.”

     The Protestants say that the basis of the true Church may be is in the acceptance of these diverse approaches of creeds, traditions, personal faith of the church’s membership and complete freedom of doctrine and worship.  The comment of a Protestant theologian after viewing all these approaches concluded by the statement in the book Great Religions of Modern Man:  Protestantism is stated below:

     “It is therefore , humanly speaking, impossible to discover how out of these different approaches we may come to one common convictions as to what the Church in the churches really is, and how it should be concretely expressed in ecumenical form.” (p. 216)

The Truth:  The Biblical Point Of View

     Protestants are the first to admit that it is humanly impossible to show how so many different Christian organizations can together be the Church of Christ.  But they are the first to declare that they are all together true, and that there exists a true Church in the churches.

     If we read I Corinthians 12:25, Apostle Paul is explicit in saying:

     “That there should be no division in the body,…” (NASB)

The “Open Bible” published by Thomas Nelson equates the word “division” with the word “schism.”  The word schism, by definition, points directly to a formal division or separation in the Christian Church, a breach of unity among people of the same religious faith.

     The question of unity was a problem which arose in the first-century Church of Christ congregation in Corinth.  Paul, an Apostle of the Church, swiftly acted upon it.  His pronouncement to the Church of Christ at Corinth expressed the exact significance of unity and division.  In chapter 1 verse 10 of I Corinthians, he spelled out the meaning of “no division in the body…”

     “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (NASB)

     The conduct that must be followed is that Christians should have the same judgment or the same belief in every aspect of Christian life.  When Paul asks in I Corinthians 1:13, “…has Christ been divided?”, it means that the true Church of Christ is not divided.

     The Protestants view of unity through one Church in the churches is unscriptural and as must not be followed.  A review of some Protestant beliefs quoted from their own testimonies reveals the confusing basis of faith contradicting the words of God.  The Lutherans derived their belief in the membership of Christ’s body from the new Testament as summarized in the Apostle’s Creed. [G. Elson Ruff and Albert P. Stauderman, “What Is A Lutheran?” Religion Of America (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1975), p. 158.]  The Disciples of Christ profess no doctrinal belief beyond faith in Jesus Christ.  Aside from this doctrine, their members are free to interpret all other Biblical precepts.  The Episcopalian doctrine rests firmly on the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed. [W. Norman Pittenger, “What is an Episcopalian?”  Religion of America (New York:  Simon and Schuster, 1975) p. 158.]  The creeds in which these churches express their faith in were formulated in the fourth century.  This was long after the death of the Apostles and the writing of the last book of the Bible.  The Baptists and many other non-denominational churches hold to an individualistic approach to their beliefs.  Each denomination had different and conflicting foundations of its faith.

     Look at the confusion of these churches which are all claiming to be collectively the Church of Christ.  Paul states in I Corinthians 14:33:

“For God is not a God of confusion…” (NASB)

The Protestant’s doctrinal stand that the one true Church is composed of churches varying in precepts and individualistic freedom is unscriptural.

     As pronounced by Paul, the true Church of Christ has only one faith, one belief and is one body which is the Church (Eph. 4:6; Col. 1:18).

     The scriptural doctrine upheld by the first Christians and the Apostles is that there are no divisions in the body.  This exposes the truth that God is not with the Protestants.  Further investigation into the doctrines of the so-called Protestant Christian Churches would reveal more disunity, more conflicts, more divisions, and confusions.

Where Do Protestants Stand Now?

     If God is not with these people claiming to have one church in the churches, Christ is also not with them.  They now find themselves outside the Church of Christ.  Hence, being outside the true Church puts them in a situation similar to that of the Gentiles before entering the Church, as recorded in Ephesians 2:12:

     “Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (NASB)

God does not consider these people as His children.  The Apostle John says in I John 5:19—

     “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (NASB)

Those outside the Church of Christ are apart from God and lie under the power of the evil one.

What Should Be Done For Salvation

     The teaching of God through the Apostle Paul to these ill-fated people is quite clear, as recorded in Ephesians 5:11,

     “Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead (let your lives be so in contrast as to expose and reprove and convict them.” (Amplified Bible)

     So if you are like my friend seeking for a church to worship God and has faith in the Savior our Lord Jesus Christ, don’t fall into the trap of Satan believing that all churches comprise the one true Church.  Beware of these so-called preachers shouting unity yet are divided.  This simply exposes their deeds of darkness which we must not take part in.  Instead seek for the one true Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo in Pilipino) and you will be sure of your union with our Lord Jesus Christ and obtain salvation.*****

Pasugo God’s Message, May-June 1983, pages 22-24.

[Study Iglesia Ni Cristo]

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Bible Study Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question you have in mind. 
_________________________________________________________________________

After Death, What?

After Death, What?

By  Feljun B. Fuentes

UNLIKE other beings God created which simply abandon their dead wherever they die, human mourn and observe complex funeral practices and rituals.  Men do not just bury their dead but bury them in a ritualistic manner.  Archaeologists and anthropologists can readily attest to this fact, for the remains of the early human beings—a major concern of these scientists—affirm the early existence of ritualistic burial practices.  These are, in some places, continually practiced up to the present.

     Though humans never neglect their dead but make sure that they are buried honorably, their rituals vary from culture to culture.  Or, more exactly, beliefs behind such practices differ among religions.

November Festival

     Roman Catholics throughout the world observe a festival for the dead or for the souls of the dead.  This feast is called All Souls’ Day.  Before the month of November comes Catholics prepare for this occasion.  The following is a clear description of the Catholic festival of All Souls:

     “All Souls’ Day,  in the Roman Catholic Church, a day for commemoration of all the faithful departed, those baptized Christians who are believed to be in purgatory because they have died with the guilt of lesser sins on their souls, celebrated on November 2, or November 3 if November 2 is Sunday ….” [The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Micropaedia, 15^th ed., s. v. “All Souls’ Day.”]

     Officially, All Souls’ Day is observed in the Roman Catholic Church on November 2 or November 3.  The significance of this occasion lies in the fact that it is for commemoration of all the souls of the departed which, they believe are in purgatory.  (The teaching on purgatory shall be touched later.)

     In most parts of the Philippines, or possibly in other countries, too, All Souls’ Day is observed by the Roman Catholics on November 1 instead of November 2 although, officially, November 1 is All Saints’ Day.  These  must not be taken as one and the same festival.  At any rate, whatever this feast is called, or whenever it is observed, is not so important.  What is important here is the ritual practice of the Catholics with regards the dead.

     A brief historical account on the beginnings of All Souls’ Day is found in the Encyclopaedia Britannica; thus:

     “From antiquity certain days were devoted to intercession for particular groups of the dead.  The institution of a day for a general intercession on November 2 is due to Odilo, abbot of Cluny (died 1048).  The date, which became practically universal before the end of the 13^th century was chosen to follow All Saints’ Day.  Having celebrated the feast of all the members of the church who are believed to be in heaven, the church on earth turns, on the nest day, to commemorate those souls believed to be suffering in purgatory.” [Ibid.]

     Long time ago, no fixed date was assigned for interceding or praying for the departed ones.  Only during the time of a certain Odilo was it set on November 2.  But the date became universal not later than the thirteenth century.  One can easily imagine how fluid or flexible the days were the intercession of the living. (Intercession is needed because of the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on purgatory.)

     Old people may, from past experiences, share the ways they observed and practiced rituals during the occasion.  In the Philippines, for instance, it is hitherto observable that many go to the camposanto (cemetery) during the undas (All Soul’s Day) and clean the tombs of their loved ones by whitewashing them and weeding them of grass which had grown after the previous year’s observance.  They even light candles and put them up either on top or beside the tombs.  Tombs are also decorated with artificial flowers and wreaths.  It is likewise customary among Filipinos to cook and eat guinatan (porridge) which could well be taken as the counterpart of All Soul’s cakes in other countries (like Belgium).   Devout Catholics and even some non-Catholics do these.  The Catholic Church tolerates such activities, although some of these practices are unofficial, and recognizes them as part of folk Catholicism.

     Though people who practice such activities and rituals may maintain that they are serious about this matter, and they enjoy observing such feasts, it is evident that All Soul’s Day observance really consumes much of their time, effort, and even large sum of money.  These, they believe, nevertheless help the dead or the souls in purgatory.

Prayers For The Dead

     What is this so-called purgatory where some souls are alleged to have been stationed?  A Catholic book entitled Catholicism relates the following:

     “Purgatory is a place or state in which are detained the souls of those who die in grace, in friendship with God, but with the blemish of venial sin or with temporal debt for sin unpaid.  Here the soul is purged, cleansed, readied for eternal union with God in Heaven…” [George Brantl, ed., Catholicism. New York:  Washington Square Press, Inc., 1962, p. 252.]

     The Roman Catholic Church believes that there is a place of eternal torment for the wicked or those who died with the burden of mortal sins (those which are unpardonable) and a place of everlasting rest for the righteous.  Aside from these two destinations, they also believe that there is another state or place where the souls of those who died with venial sins (those which are pardonable) shall be purged or cleansed before they enter heaven.  According to them, the soul of one who dies in the state of grace but with venial sins immediately goes to purgatory.

     It is also commonly held that the souls in purgatory can do nothing for themselves:

     “The poor souls in purgatory cannot do anything for themselves to shorten their sufferings.  But Christ, their Redeemer, is always speaking to the Father for them, Mary and the other saints are also praying through Christ and with Christ.”  [A Catholic Catechism (Bandra, Bombay-50:  Society of St. Paul, n. d.), 337.]

     Christ is said to be praying to the Father together with Mary and other saints.  But despite the great number of intercessors (for there are thousands of known Roman Catholic “saints”), the Catholic Church teaches that the living should also do something for those who are in purgatory.  In a textbook for Catholic school entitled My Catholic Faith, this is stated on p. 258:

     “We should be generous in helping the poor souls in purgatory, who long for God.  The best thing we can do for them is to have Masses offered for them.  The Church puts no limit to the time during which we may pray or offer Masses for the suffering souls in purgatory.  If we cannot have a Mass said, we should at least hear Masses for our dead departed.  If God so willed, a single Mass could release all the souls in purgatory.  We should offer Masses especially on All Soul’s Day and on the anniversary of the death of our relatives and friends.” [Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., Bishop of Krishnagar, My Catholic Faith (Manila:  The Catholic Faith Society, 1941), p. 258.]

     It is expected of Catholics to be generous, i.e., through offering Masses for the dead, or, as an alternative, by hearing Masses offered for the departed.  The suitable time for  the offering of Masses or for saying prayers for the dead are, according to Bishop Morrow, on All Souls’ Day and on the anniversary of the death of one’s relatives or friends.  Take note that no limit is set for such prayers or Masses.  (How, according to Catholic doctrine, does this help the poor souls who are in purgatory?)

     Prayers which are said and Masses which are offered for the dead are the only prescribed for the souls to escape from purgatory.  When will they allegedly escape?

     “When they are sufficiently purified for the vision of God they are admitted to heaven.  And no one knows when this occurs, unless God gives a special revelation, a favor we have no right to ask.”  [Rev. Dr. Leslie Rumble, M.S.C. Radio Replies, 3 vols., ed. Rev. Charles Mortimer Carty and Rev. Dr. Leslie Rumble, M.S.C. (St. Paul 1, Minn. U.S.A.:  Radio Replies Press Society, 1938, 1:202.]

     Catholics believe that, unless purified, the souls in purgatory shall not be able to see God or be in everlasting union with Him.  But no one, they admit, can be able to know when this will be.  So, it is fair to say that those who are at present offering Masses and saying prayers for their dead do not know whether the souls of their relatives and friends had already escaped from purgatory or not.  Nor do they know where these souls are at present.  It would therefore, be possible for an individual to be praying for someone no longer in purgatory.

     “991. Then you might praying for a soul not in purgatory at all!

     That is quite possible.  Granted… that we do not know for certain whether our dear ones are emancipated from their purifications or not, we continue praying for them.  We give them, rather ourselves, the benefit of any doubt.  We argue that our prayers may possibly benefit them, not that they may possibly be wasted.  And we would certainly risk saying too many for them rather than allow them to run the risk of being deprived of help.” [Ibid.]

     It is, therefore, safe to assume that many Catholics are not certain whether they are praying for someone or for no one.  One might be offering Masses or saying prayers for years or even for decades without being certain where his dead is.  It is also possible that he practices all these activities and rituals (out of belief) when no souls are in purgatory at all. 

    The root of all these activities and practices is the Catholic teaching on the existence of purgatory.  This must not be taken for granted since this belief entails the practice of such activities.

     The word purgatory was derived from the word purgation:

     “The word purgatory is derived from purgation, which means purification as well as penance.  It is consequently a state which purifies and cleanses the soul as with fire.” [Dr. N.G.M. Van Doornik, Rev. S. Jelsma, and Rev. A Van De Lisdonk, A Handbook of the Catholic Faith, ed. Rev. John Greenwood (Garden City, New York:  Doubleday & Co., 19560, p. 460.]

    This idea of purgatory was not found in early Christianity.  Nowhere in the Scriptures can we find a single teaching on purgatory.  The idea just found its way in the Church decades after the death of the Apostles, and was introduced only in the third and fourth centuries.

     “THE IDEA OF PURGATORY finds its roots in Buddhism and other ancient religious systems, long before the existence of the Roman Catholic Church.  Evidences of its introduction into Christian thought are found in some of the writings of the early church fathers, as far back as the third and fourth centuries of the Christians era, but it had no officially recognized place until the time of Gregory I.  He added the concept of purifying fires to the already current belief that there was a place somewhere between Heaven and Hell,…  These purifying fires would gradually consume all defilement, until the soul was fit to see God.” [F.C.H. Dreyer and E. Weller, Roman Catholicism in the Light of Scripture (Chicago:  The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1960), p. 107.]

     Indeed, it was at the time of Pope Gregory I (590-604) that the idea of purgatory was officially recognized.  It is believed to have come from Buddhist influences although the Buddhists have a different concept of purification.  The truth is that the origins of purgatory is up to now hidden in obscurity.

An Entirely Different Institution

     It is a historical fact that the Church of Christ in the first century was apostatized and became the Roman Catholic Church.  The original Church of Christ was strikingly different from that which came to be known as the Roman Catholic Church:

     “At first the history of the Catholic Church is identical with the history of Christian truth.  But unhappily there came a time when streams of poison began to flow from the once pure fountain.” [The World’s Great Events, 10 vols. (New York:  P.F. Collier & Son Corporation, 1948, 2:163-164.]

     The Church of Christ, once the pure fountain, gradually evolved to become the Roman Catholic Church.

     The Roman Catholic Church has changed from its original stature, that is, the Church of Christ, through the changing of the pristine teachings of Christ and His Apostles:

     “It is necessary that we should recall the reader’s attention to the profound differences between the fully developed Christianity of Nicaea and the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth….  What is clearly apparent is that the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth is a prophetic teaching of the new type that began with the Hebrew prophets.  It was not priestly, it had no consecrated temple, and no altar.  It had no rites and ceremonies.  Its sacrifice was “a broken and a contrite heart.” … [H. G. Wells, The Outline of History (Garden City, N. Y.:  Garden City Publishing Company, Inc., 1931, p. 552.]

     The Roman Catholic Church is indeed a product of an evolutionary process. So the Church, through the centuries after the Apostles, became an entirely different institution.  It developed for itself elaborate ceremonies, rituals, and practices which are foreign to the concept of pure Christianity during the time of Christ.  The teaching on purgatory is a glaring example of changes which altered the Holy Church:

     “This is not to say that the Christian Doctrine has always been controlled by Christian cultic and devotional practice.  There have indeed been periods in the wake of the fancies of the devout.  The medieval doctrine of Purgatory was partly built up by this process….” [R.P.C. Hanson, gen. ed., The Pelican Guide to Modern Theology by William Nicholls; vol. 2:  Historical Theology by Jean Danielo, A. H. Couratin, and John Kent, Ph. D.; vol. 3:  Biblical Criticism by Robert Davidson and A.R.C. Leany; 3 vols. (Middlesex, England:  Penguin Books Ltd., 1969), 2:17-18.]

     This official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on purgatory is indeed a part of the Church’s apostasy and was defined in three councils of the Catholic Church, namely, The Council of Lyons (1274), the Council of Florence (1438-45), and the Council of Trent (1545-63).  Notice that is was only at the end of the thirteenth century that this doctrine or teaching was clarified.  There was no such teaching from Christ nor from the Apostles.

All In Harmony

     The belief in purgatory is not held by the people of God.  For Christian-professing organizations to be of God, their teaching must be identical with those handed down through the prophets and messengers of God.  These teachings are found in the Holy Scriptures.

     The belief of David, then king of Israel, is contrary to the belief of many supposed-to-be Christians.  David believed that the dead are in the grave.  This he said in Psalms 88:5:

     “Forsaken among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom thou dost remember no more, And they are cut off from Thy hand.” [NASB]

     The dead who were buried are naturally in their graves.  Meaning, their bodies are there in their tombs.  Whether they died with mortal sins or with venial sins, as the Catholics call them, they are still in their graves.  There is no such thing as purgatory for David.

     Even Solomon who succeeded David as king of Israel handed down the same belief.  He also disagreed with the possibility of extending any help to the dead through saying prayers or offering masses for them.  What did he say?  In Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, Solomon stated:

     “For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten.  Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.” [Ibid.]

     Only the living know that they shall die, but the dead do not know that they have died.  Everything for the dead is lost.  Most important, the dead “no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.”  Whatever the living might do for the dead are all in vain.

     Isaiah, the Prophet, asserted that the dead can never pray to God anymore.  This is stated in Isaiah 38:18-19; thus:

     “For Sheol cannot thank Thee, Death cannot praise Thee; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Thy faithfulness.  It is the living who give thanks to Thee, as I do today; A father tells to his sons about Thy faithfulness.” [Ibid.]

     But shall the dead remain in the grave forever?  They will not, for this is stated in the Book of Job:

     “But  man dies, and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?... so man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake, or be roused out of his sleep.” [Job 14;10, 12, RSV]

     The dead shall rise from their graves.  This shall be on the time when the heavens are no more, that is, on the Day of Judgment (II Pt. 37, 10).

     Jesus Christ Himself did preach the same.  In John 5:28-29, Christ said:

     “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.” [Ibid.]

     The dead in the tombs shall hear the voice of Christ and rise.  Those who have done good shall inherit God’s promise and those who did evil shall suffer God’s damnation.  Definitely there is no middle state.  No purgatory.  Such is the teaching of Christ.

     When shall the dead in the grave hear the voice of Christ, and rise?  When shall they be judged?  Christ Himself teaches us in Matthew 25:31-33; thus:

     “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.” [Ibid.]

     The Day of Judgment will be on the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not immediately after one’s death.  Did the Apostle Paul teach the same?  Yes.  This is written in I Thessalonians 4:16, 17:

     “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with God.” [NASB]

     Those who shall be judged shall rise when Christ descends from heaven.  Those who shall be saved shall rise first.  But those who shall not be saved shall rise after one thousand years:

     “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed….” [Rev. 20:5, Ibid.]

     This is also the teaching embraced by the Church of Christ, Iglesia ni Cristo, which emerged in the Philippines in 1914.  The harmony of its teachings with those of the people of God from the earliest times is apparent.

     To summarize, there is no purgatory or a middle state between Heaven and Hell; the dead shall rise only on Judgment Day, and the dead are up to this day—and until the second coming of Christ—in their respective tombs or graves.

     What should the Roman Catholic teaching on purgatory signify, but a mere human invention handed down to man at his own expense?  Instead of contemplating, therefore to pray for your dead loved ones on November 1 or November 2, how about assigning a time for a second thought?*****

Pasugo God’s Message, September-October 1980, pages 17-21.

[Study IGLESIA NI CRISTO]

_____________________________________________________
Bible Study Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question you have in mind. 

_________________________________________________________________________

Dapat Siyasatin Ng Tao Ang Kaniyang Relihiyon

Dapat Siyasatin Ng Tao Ang Kaniyang Relihiyon

Ni Teofilo A. Ramos Jr.

HANGGANG NGAYON ay maraming naniniwala na ang lahat ng relihiyon ay pawang sa Diyos.  Dahil dito, naging karaniwang ugali na ng mga tao ang hindi pagsusuri o pagsisiyasat sa relihiyong kanilang kinaaaniban.  Naniniwala sila na tama at totoo ang alinmang relihiyong kanilang kinabibilangan.

     Mayroon namang mga tumututol kapag itinuturo ng Iglesia ni Cristo na dapat siyasatin ng tao ang relihiyong kaniyang kinaaaniban.  Ayon sa kanila, pare-pareho lamang daw ang mga relihiyon—sapat na diumano ang sila’y kumilala sa Diyos.  Tama ba ang isipang ito?  Ganito ang nilalaman ng isang bahagi ng sulat ni Apostol Pablo:

     “Alam ninyo ang buhay ko noong nasa relihiyon pa ako ng mga Judio—kung paanong labis kong pinag-usig ang mga Cristiano.  Sinikap kong lipulin silang lahat.

     “Sa mga kasinggulang ko ay wala nang mas deboto pa sa akin sa aming relihiyon.  Sinikap kong sundin nang ganap ang  lahat ng matatandang kaugalian at alituntunin ng aking relihiyon.” (Gal. 1:13-14, Salita ng Buhay)

     Si Apostol Pablo ay dating masugid na mang-uusig sa mga Cristiano.  Siya ay tinatawag noon sa pangalang Saulo at kaanib sa relihiyong Judaismo.

     Hindi karaniwang kaanib sa Judaismo si Pablo; siya ay isang deboto at nagsikap na sunding ganap ang lahat ng matatandang kaugalian at alituntunin ng kaniyang relihiyon.  Ngunit iniwan niya ang Judaismo nang siya ay tawagin ng Panginoong Jesucristo sa tunay na paglilingkod:

     “ Nagpapasalamat ako sa kaniya na nagpapalakas sa akin, kay Cristo Jesus na Panginoon natin, sapagka't ako'y inari niyang tapat, na ako'y inilagay sa paglilingkod sa kaniya” (I Tim. 1:12)

     Ayon mismo kay Apostol Pablo ay inilagay siya sa paglilingkod.  Bakit kailangan pa siyang ilagay sa paglilingkod kung ginagawa naman niya ito sa relihiyong Judaismo na kaniyang kinaaaniban?  Saan siya inilagay ng Diyos kasama ng iba pa upang maisagawa ang tunay na paglilingkod?  Ganito ang itinuro niya:

     “At ang Dios ay naglagay ng ilan sa iglesia, una-una'y mga apostol, ikalawa'y mga propeta, ikatlo'y mga guro, saka mga himala, saka mga kaloob na pagpapagaling, mga pagtulong, mga pamamahala, at iba't ibang mga wika.” (I Cor. 12:28)

     Bagaman nagsikap siyang maglingkod, hindi tinanggap ng Diyos ang paglilingkod ni Apostol Pablo nang siya ay kaanib pa sa relihiyong Judaismo.  Kinailangang siya’y ilagay o dalhin ng Diyos sa paglilingkod sa loob ng Iglesiang itinatag ng Panginoong Jesucristo (I Tim. 1:12).  Kaya siya inilagay sa Iglesia ay dahil dito lamang niya maaaring isagawa ang paglilingkod na tatanggapin ng Diyos.

Ang pinagtuunan ng pansin

     Kaya nalilihis at nagkakamali ang marami sa pagpili ng relihiyon ay sapagkat sa iba nakatuon ang kanilang pansin.  Ano lamang ang pinagtuunan nila ng pansin?  Ito ang sagot ni Apostol Pablo:

     “Sapagkat saksi akong sila'y nagsisikap na maging kalugud-lugod sa Diyos. Mali nga lamang ang kanilang naging batayan.  Dahil hindi nila kinilala ang katuwirang mula sa Diyos, at nagsisikap silang gumamit ng sarili nilang pamamaraan; hindi sila sumunod sa pamamaraang itinakda ng Diyos.” (Roma 10:2-3, Magandang Balita Biblia)

     Maraming tao ang nagsisikap na maging kalugod-lugod sa Diyos, ngunit ang ginagawa nila’y ayon lamang sa kanilang sariling akala.  Hindi nila pinag-uukulan ng pansin kung tama o mali ang kanilang batayan sa paglilingkod sa Diyos.  Hindi na ang nais ng Diyos ang kanilang ginagawa kundi ang sarili nilang gusto at pamamaraan, sa halip na ang pamamaraan ng Diyos.  Kaya, paano magiging tunay ang kanilang relihiyon samantalang mali at hindi tunay na aral ng Diyos ang kanilang sinusunod?  Ganito ang sinasabi ng Diyos sa mga ganitong uri ng tao:

     “Sasabihin naman ni Yahweh,
Sa salita lamang malapit sa akin ang mga taong ito,
at sa bibig lamang nila ako iginagalang,
subalit inilayo nila sa akin ang kanilang puso,at ayon lamang sa utos ng tao ang kanilang paglilingkod.” (Isa. 29:13, Magandang Balita Biblia)

     Gaano man kasigasig at katiyaga ang mga tao sa pagsamba at paglilingkod sa Diyos, mawawalan ng kabuluhan ang lahat ng  mga ito kung ang pagsamba nila ay batay lamang sa tuntuning gawa ng tao.  Dahil dito, marapat magsiyasat ang mga tao.  Baka naging palagay na ang kanilang kalooban na wasto at tinatanggap ng Diyos ang ginagawa nilang paglilingkod dahil buong tiyaga nila itong ginagawa.  Ngunit ang hindi nila namamalayan ay hindi naman wastong aral ang kanilang sinusunod.

     Samantala, ang iba naman ay nahuhulog sa layuning magtamo ng material na pakinabang kapag naglilingkod sa Diyos:

   

"At dumating sa iyo na wari ang bayan ay dumarating, at sila'y nagsisiupo sa harap mo na gaya ng aking bayan, at kanilang dinidinig ang iyong mga salita, nguni't hindi nila ginagawa; sapagka't sila'y nangagsasalita ng malaking pagibig ng kanilang bibig, nguni't ang kanilang puso ay nasa kanilang pakinabang." (Ezek. 33:31)

     May mga tagapangaral ngayon na ang binibigyang-diin ay ang ukol sa material na biyayang diumano’y ibibigay ng Diyos kung susundin nila ang mga utos ng Diyos na itinuturo nila.  Iniaalok nila sa mga tao na sila ay ilalapit sa Diyos para magkaroon ng trabaho, makapag-abroad, yumaman at sumagana, at iba pang materyal na pangarap ng mga tao.  Ito ang nakapang-aakit sa  mga taong nasa kagipitan at matinding pangangailangan kaya agad-agad silang sumusunod sa mga tusong tagapangaral.  Mangyari pa, ang hinahangad ng mga tao ay ang pakinabang na katumbas ng kanilang gagawing paglilingkod.  Ang ganitong relihiyon ay walang bisa at dapat layuan:

     “Naturingang may relihiyon subalit wala namang bisa iyon sa kanilang buhay.  Layuan mo ang ganyang mga tao.” (II Tim. 3:5, SNB)

Ang daang patungo sa kaligtasan

     Napakahalaga at kailangang matiyak natin na ang relihiyong ating kinaaaniban ay tunay na sa Diyos.  Dapat din nating matiyak na ito ang tamang daang patungo sa Diyos at sa kaligtasan.

     Ang daang patungo kaligtasan ay itinuro ng Panginoong Jesucristo:

     “Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate!  The highway to hell is broad,  and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way.  But the Gateway, to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” [Ang langit ay mapapasok lamang sa pamamagitan ng makipot na pintuan!  Ang daan patungo sa impiyerno ay malapad, at ang kaniyang pintuan ay sadyang maluwang para sa karamihan na ang pinili ay ang magaang na pagdaan dito.  Subalit ang Pintuang Daan patungo sa Buhay ay maliit, at ang daraanan ay makipot, at ilan lamang ang nakasusumpong nito.] (Mt. 7:13-14, Living Bible)

     Hindi kataka-taka na maraming tao ang mapapahamak at iilan lamang ang maliligtas.  Ito’y sapagkat ang pipiliin ng marami ay ang pintuang maluwang, yaong magaang na pasukan.  Madaling pumasok sa maluwang na pintuan, ngunit ito ay patungo sa kapahamakan o impiyerno.  Samantala, ang pintuang-daan patungo sa buhay ay maliit at makipot, kaya ilan lamang ang nakasusumpong nito.

Ang makipot na pintuan

     Sino ang pintuang makipot na kailangang pasukan ng tao?  Ganito ang itinuturo ng Panginoong Jesucristo:

     “I am the door; anyone co comes into the fold through me will be safe.” [Ako ang pintuan; sinumang pumasok sa kawan sa pamamagitan ko ay magiging ligtas.] (Jn. 10:9, Revised English Bible)

     Ayon mismo sa Panginoong Jesucristo, Siya ang pintuang daraanan upang makapasok sa loob ng kawan.  Ang sinumang papasok ditto sa pamamagitan Niya ay maliligtas.

     Alin ang kawan na kinaroroonan ng mga pumasok sa Panginoong Jesucristo at siyang kinapapalooban ng mga maliligtas?  Ayon sa Bibliya,  ang kawan na ililigtas ng Panginoong Jesucristo ay ang Iglesia ni Cristo.  Ito ang binili o tinubos Niya ng Kaniyang dugo (Gawa 20:28, Lamsa Tanslation).

     Kaya, napakalaking pagkakamali ng mga tao na akalain at paniwalaan na maaaring maligtas ang sinuman kailanma’t siya’y nagsisikap na maglingkod sa Diyos, saanmang relihiyon siya umanib, o kahit pa wala siyang kinaaanibang relihiyon.  Hindi mapanghahawakan na naglilingkod ang mga tao sa Diyos kung ang kanilang batayan ay ang mga aral at utos ng tao.  Kailangang mapabilang ang tao sa tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo na itinatag at ililigtas ng Panginoong Jesucristo.

     Ibig ba ninyong maligtas?  Ang isa sa mga pangunahin at mahahalagang hakbang ay ang pagsusuri sa inyong kinaaanibang relihiyon at ang pag-anib hindi sa alinmang relihiyon, kundi sa tunay na Iglesia Ni Cristo.*****

Pasugo God’s Message/February 2002/Pages 16-18
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[Study IGLESIA NI CRISTO]
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Bible Study Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question you have in mind. 
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