Interesting Questions-110
The true religion from a third
world country?
Letter to the Editor:
PASUGO, December 1995, p.3
I AM AN American and my upbringing tells me that
most of the good things in life flow from a progressive country to
those in the Third World. Underdeveloped and developing nations are
highly dependent on a progressive country in terms of economy and
finances.
Spiritually, the West sends religious
missions with accompanying material benefits to those in need in
different parts of the world—the Philippines included.
How, then, could you say that the Iglesia ni
Cristo is man's vehicle for salvation when the country itself from
which it emerged is still a developing nation? Wouldn't it be
logical for God to choose a country far more equipped to help others
to be the place from which the true religion would originate?
Tim Johnson
Manila, Philippines
Editor's reply:
There is no significant connection between the
affluence of a country and its being the place of origin of the true
religion. Your view that most of the good things in life flow from
progressive countries to poor ones may be true in terms of economy
or finances.
However this observation may prove to be wrong in
other cases, For instance, it does not apply to the direction that
the true religion must take in its missionary expansion.
That the true religion or the true Church
must necessarily originate from affluent nations is belied by
biblical proof. Christ Himself said:
Jesus looked at his disciples and said, "Happy
are you poor; the Kingdom of God is yours!" (Lk. 6:20, TEV)
Moreover, the Holy Scriptures testify:
Now remember what you were, my friends, when God called you. From
the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high
social standing. God
purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame
the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to
shame the powerful.
He chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is
nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.
This means that no one can boast in God's presence. (1 Cor.
1:26-29, TEV).
In the same way, it was God's divine will and
purpose to choose Bethlehem to be the place of origin of God's Son,
Jesus Christ, as it is written:
The Lord says,
Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in
Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family
line goes back to ancient times. (Micah 5:2, ibid)
Should we question God for choosing Bethlehem, a
small town, to be the birthplace of Jesus? Should we not believe
Jesus because he did not come from an affluent town?
Though common human views may agree with your
contentions, the Bible does not. In fact, when God first chose a
nation to be His own, He elected Israel, the smallest nation on
earth (cf.Dt. 7:7).
The Lord did not love you and choose you because
you outnumbered other peoples; you were the smallest nation on
earth. (Dt, 7:7, ibid)
In the same manner it is also up to God to decide
where He wants the true Church or true religion to originate. It so
happened that in these last days God chose the Far East or the
Philippines.
Whether the Iglesia ni Cristo reemerged in a
progressive and developed country or otherwise is not the bone of
contention. That it is man's vehicle for salvation does not depend
on the economic conditions prevalent in its country of origin.
This illustrates the point that in spite of man's
prejudices, it is God's purpose in election that stands (cf. Rom.
9:11-12).
Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in
order that God’s purpose
in election might stand:
not by works but by
him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.
(Romans 9:11-12, NIV)
___________________
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.