Bakit Mali ang Great Apostasy Claim ng Iglesia ni Cristo

Ang Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), na naitayo ni Felix Manalo noong 1914, ay nagtuturo na ang Iglesia na itinatag ni Jesus ay nawala, nag-fall away, at kinailangang i-restore ni Manalo. Ito ang tinatawag nilang Great Apostasy claim—ang paniniwalang bumagsak ang buong Church pagkatapos ng panahon ng Apostles.

Pero kung titignan natin ang Bible, history, at early Christian writings, hindi ito puwedeng mangyari.
Jesus Himself promised na hindi mawawala ang Church.
He promised na He would stay with it until the end of the age.
He promised the Holy Spirit would guide it into all truth.

Kung ganoon, paano nag-declare ang INC na “nawala” ang Church for 1,900 years at bumalik lang noong 1914 sa Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng isang tao?

The only conclusion: the Great Apostasy claim is impossible.

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Christ’s Promises Contradict INC’s Great Apostasy Claim

Para maging tama ang INC, kailangan nating paniwalaan na mali si Jesus.
Pero malinaw ang sinabi ni Cristo.

Jesus Built One Church — and It Will Not Fall

Matthew 16:18

“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Kung nag-fall away ang Church, ibig sabihin nag-prevail ang hell—na hindi puwedeng mangyari.

Jesus Remains With His Church Forever

Matthew 28:20

“And behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”

Hindi sinabi ni Jesus,
“I am with you… until the year 100 AD. Then bahala na kayo until 1914.”

The Holy Spirit Protects the Church From Error

John 16:13

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.”

So alin ang tama?

• Si Jesus at ang Holy Spirit?

• O si Manalo?

The answer is obvious.

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Why INC Depends on the Great Apostasy Claim

Ayon sa Catholic Answers tract What is Iglesia ni Cristo?, ang buong doktrina ng INC ay nakatayo sa isang bagay:

Kailangan nilang patunayan na nag-fall away ang early Church.

Kung hindi, walang dahilan para magkaroon ng Iglesia ni Cristo.

Kaya tinuturo nila na:

• The early Christians were wrong

• Church Fathers were wrong

• All bishops were wrong

• All councils were wrong

• All Christians for 19 centuries were wrong

…pero si Felix Manalo ang tama.

Exactly the same pattern ng:

• Joseph Smith (Mormons)

• Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses)

Lahat sila may “restoration” claim.
Lahat sila kailangan munang pabagsakin ang Catholic Church para maitayo ang kanila.

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Why Iglesia ni Cristo Is Particularly Troubling

Sa Catholic Answers article Into the Maw of the Cult, kitang-kita na ang INC ay hindi lang another restorationist group.
They behave like a high-pressure, anti-Catholic, tightly controlled sect.

Ilan sa observations:

• dumadating by the busload

• may ushers in black suits checking names

• very intimidating atmosphere

• coordinated attempts to attack Catholic speakers

• members discouraged from reading outside materials

• aggressive political and legal tactics

Kung babasahin mo rin ang Sects and Sin in Manila, documented ang:

• pressure sa members

• anti-Catholic propaganda

• loyalty enforcement

• political influence

• legal intimidation

This is not the behavior of the Church Jesus founded.

This is the behavior of a group na kailangang kontrolin ang members para hindi ma-expose sa outside information.

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Scripture’s “Boat” Symbol Refutes INC’s Claim

Sa Bible, ang boat ay simbolo ng Church.

When sailors tried to escape the ship:

Acts 27:31

“Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

Sa early Church Fathers, ang boat of Peter = the Church.
Ganito rin sa Noah’s Ark (Genesis 7).
Lahat ng naligtas, nasa loob ng ark.

Ang Iglesia ni Cristo ngayon ay basically sinasabi:

“Huwag kayo sa ark ni Christ.
Lipat kayo sa bangkang ginawa namin noong 1914.”

Bakit tayo lalabas sa barko ni Cristo para sumakay sa bagong gawa?

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Scripture Warns of People Falling Away—Not the Church

INC claims the Church fell away. The Bible says people fall away.

2 Timothy 4:3–4

“Having itching ears… they will turn away from the truth and wander into myths.”

Hindi sinasabi ni Paul:

• “The Church will disappear,”

• “The Church will collapse,”

• “A new church will rise in the Philippines.”

Sabi niya: mga tao ang bibitaw, hindi ang Church.

The Catechism agrees:

CCC 2089

“Apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith.”

Apostasy = ginagawa ng tao, hindi ng Church na pinangako ni Cristo.

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Restorationist Groups All Depend on the Same Claim

Pero wala ni isa sa kanila ang may:

• historical evidence

• apostolic succession

• continuity of worship

• biblical support

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Conclusion: Christ, Not Manalo, Guards His Church

The Great Apostasy claim of Iglesia ni Cristo fails because:

• Jesus promised His Church would never fall.

• Jesus promised to stay with it forever.

• The Holy Spirit protects it from error.

• Scripture warns about individuals, not the Church, falling away.

• History shows continuous leadership from the apostles.

• INC depends on contradicting Jesus Himself.

• INC’s behavior is controlling, anti-Catholic, and un-Christlike.

Ang pinakaligtas na lugar ay kung saan tayo dinala ni Cristo:

Stay in the Boat. Stay in the Church Christ Founded.