What is Iglesia ni Cristo?

Response

Iglesia ni Cristo was established by Felix Manalo in 1914 in the Philippines. The term “Iglesia ni Cristo” is Tagalog (the language of the Philippines) for “Church of Christ.” Unfortunately, despite claiming to be a church, Iglesia ni Cristo exhibits all the fundamental characteristics of a cult. The primary characteristic is a singular charismatic leader who asserts to have received a special revelation from God. Felix Manalo, a former Catholic who renounced Catholicism during his teenage years, explored various Protestant denominations and the Jehovah’s Witnesses before founding his own church, the Iglesia ni Cristo, in 1914. In 1922, when a division arose within the church, he began asserting his role as God’s prophet to consolidate power and reaffirm his leadership over the church.

Among his assertions is that the Iglesia ni Cristo was foretold in the Bible. The specific prophecy cited is Isaiah 43:5–6, “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth.” Iglesia ni Cristo interprets the term east as “Far East” (based on an inaccurate translation) and contends that it signifies the creation of Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines.

The Iglesia ni Cristo asserts itself as the sole true Church of Christ because they are named “the Church of Christ” and can cite certain Bible verses that use the phrase “church of Christ.” Particularly, they refer to Romans 16:16, which states, “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.” However, in this verse, “churches of Christ” does not denote the name of a specific church but rather all the churches that Paul visited and that followed Jesus Christ. They also rely on a misinterpretation of Acts 20:28 that mentions “church of Christ,” whereas the original Greek text reads.

As the “church of God,” the name “Church of Christ” for a church is inconsequential. Many churches include “Church of Christ” in their name, but that does not establish them as the one true church.

Another instance of erroneous doctrine in the Iglesia ni Cristo is their Christology. They reject the divinity of Jesus Christ (a common trait among cults and false religions) and claim that God created Jesus, empowering Him to perform miracles. They reject the concept of the Trinity, asserting that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal entity. They also argue that the present-day Christian church has strayed from the true path and that the Iglesia ni Cristo represents the restoration of the original church lost in the first century, through God’s final messenger, Felix Manalo—the founder of Iglesia ni Cristo.

Another indication of the cult-like nature of Iglesia ni Cristo is its assertion of being the exclusive source of truth and salvation. While Christianity as a whole makes similar exclusive claims, the distinction lies in the fact that individual churches or denominations within Christianity do not (or should not) assert sole ownership of that exclusivity. Genuine churches acknowledge the presence of other Christian denominations beyond their own, affirming them as authentically Christian. They understand that believers may hold varying beliefs on secondary doctrines and still attain salvation. Jesus Christ Himself declared that salvation is through Him, emphasizing that He is the sole path to the Father “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”, (John 14:6), rather than through membership in a specific church.

Below are some of the other non-scriptural or extra-scriptural doctrines promoted by Iglesia ni Cristo:

• They insist that one must receive the gospel exclusively from authorized Iglesia ni Cristo messengers and ministers.

• They uphold the official name of the church as a crucial component.The church is called “Iglesia ni Cristo.” Other names are not the true name of the church and, therefore, are false churches.

• They believe a person must be a member of an Iglesia ni Cristo church and be water-baptized to be saved.

• They believe people must avoid eating dinuguan, which is a pork blood stew, a Filipino delicacy.

• Their members must avoid joining trade unions.

• Their members must avoid court sessions.

• They must vote in blocs.

• They are under compulsory church attendance.

• They must give tithes to the church.

According to Iglesia ni Cristo, all of the above rules and regulations are mandatory for a person to be saved. The Bible, of course, teaches that salvation is “the gift of God, not of works, lest any man boast” «not of works, lest any man should boast. », (Ephesians 2:9).

As is abundantly clear, the Iglesia ni Cristo is a cult. They deny essential historic Christian doctrine—namely, the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus Christ. They hold an almost unbreakable grip on their members, and they impose a man-made path to salvation through service and works. Our Lord predicted that in the last days there would come many who claim to be Christ and lead people astray «For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. », (Matthew 24:5). Thankfully, He also said that the true believers would not be turned away «All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. », (John 6:37).

As Christians, we must be wary of the teachings of false messiahs and cultic offshoots of Christianity, such as the Iglesia ni Cristo. We must be well-grounded in the word of God so that we can spot these purveyors.Years of misinformation. We must also acknowledge that individuals ensnared in these sects require the redemption available in Jesus Christ—the unique Son of God—just as profoundly as we did when we were engulfed in our transgressions.