“REMEMBER THOSE WHO ADMINISTERED YOU”

(FILIPINO TRANSLATION BELOW)

“Remember your former leaders, who spoke God’s message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7 GNB)

In reading this verse, what immediately springs to our mind are those by whom we were administered — the Messenger of God in these last days, Brother Felix Y. Manalo, who administered the Iglesia Ni Cristo for almost half a century, as well as Brother Eraño G. Manalo, who administered the Church for about 46 years before he was laid to rest by God. They zealously and devotedly made known to us the words of God. They were instrumental for us to learn the pure words to which we now faithfully adhere. We did not have an ounce of doubt in their election as leaders placed by God. We never doubted that they led us and guided us in true service to Him because of God’s numerous testimonies or prophecies regarding His Messenger and His message. Through God’s guidance, they were able to purely and properly administer His nation. The Church, which was once lowly and insignificant in the eyes of man, reached a glorious stature, admired and respected throughout the world. Every member could confidently and proudly say to anyone, “I am a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.”

​That is why we cannot forget, and we must not forget, those who administered us. We remember the days of their births and even their death anniversaries. Moreover, what we must remember more than anything is “how they lived and died”. Let the whole Church remember their efforts by adhering to all the regulations. Let us remember how the ministers, workers and officers were once able to enforce all the rules and regulations of the Church, whether it is pertaining to the Ministry, Finance, Secretariat and others. Instead of our current feeling of being choked by an Administration that is “too strict”, we used to be joyful, and our peace of mind prevailed. We were once sure that everything the Administration was doing was to maintain holiness and cleanliness of the Church. Everything was done to ascertain that we would not lose our hope for salvation. They also made sure that every step they took served as a good example for the Church, that even when there was no word uttered from their lips, they were still able to teach how to live the right way.

Our leaders were the prime example of true and good watchmen of the flock, as illustrated in Ezekiel 33:7-9 AMP: “So you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at My mouth and give them warning from Me. When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his perversity and iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his evil way and he does not turn from his evil way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.”

This is the reason that the Administration emphasized to us about the complete renewal of life. This is also the reason why they never consented for anyone, especially ministers, to commit evil, especially if it will do damage to the Church. If corruption or evil acts would even arise, they would immediately suppress it. We could say that the Church was “closely guarded”, that it would not be touched or affected by evil. They did not allow evil to reign because “Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death.” (James 1:15 AMP)

“Imitate their faith in God”

Let us remember and imitate the strong faith the Messenger of God had in the promises of what God can do. This is why he never budged in his conviction, teaching the words of God, despite the many obstacles he encountered. Persecution was on every side. Opponents from different faiths ganged up on him to try and stop the work that was just beginning. False ministers even emerged and opposed the teachings and endangered the faith of some. Nevertheless, he bravely defended the Church.

The same faith and conviction was seen from Brother Eraño G. Manalo. He boldly and wisely faced the new challenges of the time, like how can the Church overseas grow without sacrificing the teachings and regulations of the Church in the face of the strong influence of other cultures? Just like in the time of the Messenger, there were also persecutions. There were also ministers and brethren who opposed the teachings, like Lucio Silvestre and Melanio Gabriel, who tried to set up their own religious group. Before Brother Eraño passed away, he also battled a secret movement that was called “new generation” (New Gens), whose purpose was to change the procedures of the Church.

Above all, how can we not remember the profound love they showed for the Church? How can we forget the people who fully sacrificed for us, even though they did not personally know many of us? How can we forget the worship services they officiated, which were always overflowing with blessings, from the beginning until the very end? That is why we went home, our souls nourished, filled with hope, preparing us for any challenges we would face in life. How can we forget the ministers and workers who advised us in order to edify us? Or the opportunities they gave for us to change when we were overcome by weakness? That even when there were times they were angry with us, they did not abhor or hate us, but only showed the intense desire for us to change?

HOW CAN WE FORGET THE PEOPLE WHO LABORED, SACRIFICED AND GAVE THEIR LIFE FOR THE CHURCH?
A.E.

“ALALAHANIN NINYO ANG MGA NANGASIWA SA INYO”

“Alalahanin ninyo ang mga nangasiwa sa inyo, na nagpahayag sa inyo ng salita ng Diyos. Isipin nga ninyo kung paano sila namuhay at namatay, at tularan ninyo ang kanilang pananalig sa Diyos” (Heb. 13:7 MB).

Sa pagbasa sa talatang ito, ang kaagad na pumapasok sa ating isipan na mga nangasiwa sa atin ay ang yumaong sugo ng Diyos sa mga huling araw, ang Kapatid na Felix Y. Manalo na namahala sa Iglesia Ni Cristo sa loob ng may kalahating siglo, gayundin ang Kapatid na Eraño G. Manalo na namahala sa Iglesia sa loob ng 46 na taon bago siya pinagpahinga ng Diyos. Sila ang buong sigasig at katapatan na nagpahayag sa atin ng mga salita ng Diyos o sila ang Kaniyang kinasangkapan upang ating matutuhan ang mga dalisay na aral na ngayon ay siya nating sinasampalatayanan. Wala tayo ni katiting man na alinlangan sa kanilang kahalalan bilang mga lider na inilagay ng Diyos upang tayo ay pangunahan at gabayan sa tunay na paglilingkod sa Kaniya, sapagkat ito ay batbat ng mga patotoo ng Diyos o ng mga hula patungkol sa Kaniyang sugo at pasugo. Dahil sa patnubay ng Diyos sa malinis at maayos nilang pamamahala sa Kaniyang bayan, ang Iglesia na dating hamak sa paningin ng tao, ay nakarating sa kalagayang maluwalhati, hinahangaan at iginagalang sa buong mundo. Naging malakas ang ating loob at taas noong nasasabi ng bawat kaanib sa kanino man ang mga katagang, “Ako’y Iglesia Ni Cristo.”

Kaya nga hindi natin malilimot at hindi natin dapat limutin sila na mga namahala sa atin. Naaalala natin ang araw ng kanilang kapanganakan at maging ang kaarawan ng kanilang kamatayan, gayunpaman, ang higit sa lahat na dapat nating alalahanin ay “kung paano sila namuhay at namatay.” Alalahanin natin ang kanilang mga pagsisikap upang buong higpit na tuparin ng buong Iglesia at ipatupad lalo na ng mga ministro, mga manggagawa, at mga maytungkulin, ang lahat ng mga tuntunin sa Iglesia maging ito man ay ukol sa Ministeryo, Pananalapi, Kalihiman, at iba pa. Paano natin malilimot ang katotohanan na sa halip na ang maramdaman natin ay para baga tayong sinasakal dahil sa “sobrang higpit” ng Pamamahala, ay kagalakan at kapayapaan pa rin ng damdamin ang nananaig sa atin sapagkat natiyak natin na ang lahat ay ginagawa ng Pamamahala para mapanatili ang kabanalan, kalinisan, at huwag mawala ang ating karapatan sa kaligtasan. Tiniyak din nila na ang bawat hakbang na kanilang isinasagawa ay magsisilbing magandang halimbawa sa Iglesia, na bagamat wala namang namumutawing salita sa kanilang mga labi, ay patuloy silang nakapagtuturo sa atin ng tamang pagdadala ng buhay.

Sila ay magandang halimbawa ng pagiging tunay at mabuting bantay ng kawan tulad ng inilalarawan sa Ezekiel 33:7-9 MB: “Ikaw, Tao, ang ginagawa kong bantay ng Israel; anumang marinig mo sa akin ay sabihin mo sa kanila bilang babala. Kapag sinabi ko sa taong masama na siya’y mamamatay at di mo ito ipinaabot sa kanya upang makapagbagong-buhay, mamamatay nga siya sa kanyang kasamaan ngunit pananagutan mo ang kanyang kamatayan. Ngunit kapag binabalaan mo ang masama gayunma’y hindi rin nagbagong-buhay, mamamatay siyang makasalanan ngunit wala kang dapat panagutan.” Ito ang dahilan kaya binigyang-diin ng mga namahala sa atin ang ukol sa lubos na pagbabagong buhay. Ito rin ang dahilan kaya kailanman ay hindi nila kinunsinti ang sinuman lalo na ang mga ministrong gumagawa ng kasamaan lalo na ng mga gawang nakapipinsala sa Iglesia. Nagsisimula pa lamang na bumangon ang katiwalian o masamang gawain ay agad na nila itong sinusugpo. Maituturing na “bantay-sarado” nila ang Iglesia upang hindi masaling at mapinsala ng masama. Hindi nila hinayaang maghari ang kasamaan sapagkat “Kapag lumala ang kasalanan, ito’y nagbubunga ng kamatayan”—kamatayan sa taong masama at pagkasira naman ng bayan ng Diyos (Sant. 1:15 MB).

“Tularan ninyo ang kanilang pananalig sa Diyos.”

Alalahanin at tularan natin ang matibay na pananalig ng Sugo ng Diyos sa mga pangako at magagawa ng Diyos kaya siya ay hindi natinag sa kaniyang paninindigan na ituro ang mga salita ng Diyos sa kabila ng maraming hadlang na kaniyang nasagupa. Kabi-kabila ang mga naging pag-uusig, at nagtulong-tulong ang mga kaibayo sa pananampalataya upang agad nilang masugpo ang nagsisimula pa lamang na gawain. Bumangon din ang mga hindi tunay na ministro na lumaban sa aral na nagsapanganib sa pananampalataya ng iba, gayunman, ay buong giting at paninindigang ipinagsanggalang niya ang Iglesia. Ang ganoon ring pananalig at paninindigan ang nakita natin kay Kapatid na Eraño G. Manalo. Ang makabagong hamon ng panahon ay buong tapang at talino niyang hinarap tulad ng paano susulong ang Iglesia sa ibayong dagat nang hindi naisasakripisyo ang mga aral at tuntunin ng Iglesia sa harap ng malakas na impluwensiya ng ibang kultura? Tulad din sa panahon ng Sugo, marami ang mga pag-uusig, bumangon din ang mga ministro at mga kapatid na lumaban sa aral, tulad nina Lucio Silvestre, Melanio Gabriel, na nagsikap na magtatag ng kanilang sariling pangkatin ng pananampalataya, at bago siya namatay ay kaniyang binaka ang isang lihim na kilusan na binubuo ng tinatawag ng “bagong henerasyon” (NewGens) na ang layunin ay baguhin ang maayos na pamamalakad sa Iglesia.

Higit sa lahat, paano natin hindi aalalahanin ang matinding pagmamahal na iniukol nila sa Iglesia? Paano natin malilimutan ang mga taong sa atin ay labis na nagmalasakit bagamat hindi nila personal na kilala ang marami sa atin? Paano natin malilimot ang kanilang mga pangangasiwa ng pagsamba na sa tuwi-tuwina ay punong-puno ng mga biyaya, mula sa pasimula hanggang sa ito ay matapos kaya umuuwi tayong busog ang kaluluwa, puno ng pag-asa, handang harapin ang anumang hamon ng buhay? Paano natin malilimot na mga ministro at mga manggagawa ang kanilang mga pagpapayo upang tayo ay palakasin, o ang pagbibigay sa atin ng pagkakataon na makapagbago kapag tayo’y napagtatagumpayan ng kahinaan, na kahit na may pagkakataong tayo ay kanilang kinagagalitan ay hindi ang pagkamuhi o galit ang ating nakikita sa kanila kundi ang kanila pa ring matinding hangarin na tayo ay maituwid?

PAANO NATIN MALILIMOT ANG MGA TAONG NAGSAKRIPISYO, GINUGOL ANG BUHAY PARA SA IGLESIA?

A.E.
“They tried to bury us…they didn’t know we were seeds.”

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