Interesting Questions-97

No need to conspire to alter teachings

Letter to the Editor:
GOD'S MESSAGE, April-June 1995, p.3

I AM  A DEVOUT  CATHOLIC. In the process of my historical and biblical search for the truth, Mr. Efren Baula, a member of your Church gave me several copies of God's Message. I was satisfied in reading your magazine, although even before this, I already had doubts about my own beliefs and practices. In the July 1994  issue of God's Message, the article, "Just   when was Christ made God?", made it clear that Christ was made God in order to preserve the empire of Rome. This teaching is against the doctrines of the Bible. 
My  questions  are as follows:
     1. Was there a conspiracy between the Roman empire and the pagans to reverse the original biblical doctrines?  
     2. What   happened  to the early Christians, the original believers in Christ, during the evolution of the doctrine of Christ's deity?  
     3. Was the flock or the Iglesia ni Cristo then existing?  What was the name of the flock?

Nestorio Boco
Eastern Samar, Philippines

Editor's reply:

THERE WAS NO NEED for the Roman Empire and the pagans to conspire just to reverse the original doctrines of the Bible. In the first place, the Roman Empire was itself pagan even before Christianity came into being. When an alliance between the Roman Emperor Constantine and the bishops of the church was forged in the fourth century, the “Christianity” in existence then was no longer the same as it was during the time of the apostles. It had ceased to be the genuine Church established by our Lord Jesus Christ. It came to be called the Catholic Church, a name first used by Ignatius in the year 110 (cf. Roman Catholic, Rev. Edward K. Taylor, p. 3) and had begun adopting doctrines that are unbiblical such as the belief that Christ and the Holy Spirit are also God (cf. Discourses on the Apostles’ Creed, Rev. Clement H. Crock, p. 206). By the fourth century, the Christianity in existence (Catholicism) had more than enough pagan beliefs and practices in its system.

The early Christians or the original believers in Christ had already died by the start of the second century. Some were killed by Roman persecutors (cf. How the great Religions Began, Joseph Gaer, p. 214). Others who survived the persecution died of natural causes, and the rest followed the teachings of the bishops who took over control of the Church after the death of the last apostle, John (cf. The Book of Knowledge, vol. 3, p. 280-281). These bishops taught unbiblical doctrines (Whereon to Stand: What Catholics Believe and Why, John Gilland Brunini, p. 142) and the Church members followed them. In this manner, the original Church of Christ had apostatized from the true faith.

 As to your last question, the Church of Christ was already in existence during the time of Christ and the apostles (cf. Lk. 12:32; Acts 20:28, Lamsa). It was Christ who founded the Church (cf. Mat. 16:18) which was called after His name, the Church of Christ or Iglesia ni Cristo (cf. Rom. 16:16).

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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.  For the latest Worship Service Directory of Iglesia ni Cristo Locales and Congregations outside the Philippines, please visit www.iglesianicristoworshipservice.com or just click link at home page.