The Current I.N.C.'s Addiction To Worldly Fame And Glory

If there's one thing that the observing and discerning public majority is noticing about the current trend of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, it's the intense love affair of Eduardo Manalo's Church Administration with Guinness World Records. Something that is truly unprecedented during the time of the previous spiritually-guided Executive Ministers of the church.

If you're doubtful, just take a look at their well-kept and highly guarded GLORY ROOM.

The way they hold and present these wooden plaques is reminiscent of idol and graven images’ adoration.

Like what I said, these are the things that the general public can observe with the current Iglesia Ni Cristo Church Administration. Unfortunately, the people who have pledged their absolute obedience to Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo are completely oblivious of these glaring symptoms of idolatry and worthless vanity.

So to put things in the right perspective, let's try to see what the fuzz is all about. What exactly is this Guinness World Records fascination that got this religious organization in such a frenzy?

In a nutshell, the Guinness World Records history dates all the way back to 1951 in Ireland. It was in November 10, 1951 when it was founded by Sir Hugh Beaver of Guinness Breweries. Based on an argument he got involved in, in a pub, on which was the fastest game bird in Europe, he realized that there was no such book or record to settle the debates about records.  [Source: History of Guinness World Records]

That other numerous questions were debated upon in pubs across Ireland and abroad, how ironic that the INC wants in on this debate and has actually become fascinated with holding the record on the best in this, the most in that, the longest this, and so on.  I just wonder if they would still hold up theses plaque if Guinness had a different logo that depicts its origin more closely...

What do you think?

Seriously now...

Guinness World Records - a collection of records measured by superlatives. "MOST" number of... "LONGEST"... "RICHEST"... anything that you can be "BEST IN" in this world. Therefore, this is simply an elaborate list of worldly achievements. And anybody who aspires for worldly achievements and worldly recognition will definitely be addicted to Guinness World Records.

But is it a sin to be proud of such achievements, to boast to the whole world that the INC has done this and that and have the Guinness World Records plaques to prove their record-breaking prowess? What does the Bible say about this?

"But now you are proud, and you boast; all such boasting is wrong. So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin."

~ James 4:16-17 Good News Translation

 

So the answer to our question, YES IT IS A SIN. And the Iglesia Ni Cristo, its Executive Minister, its Sanggunian Ministers, its members are all guilty of sinning... if we do not do the good we know we should do. So instead of wasting time, effort and most especially, the hard-earned money of the brethren on this ludicrous vanity of breaking world records,  let us find out, what are the good things that we should do rather than being proud and boastful?

Here are but some of them, let's start with the topmost important commandment: (These should be the "superlatives" that the INC should be focusing on instead of their Guinness World Records.)

 

"Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"

~ Matthew 22:37-39 New Living Translation

1. "Love God with all your heart, soul and mind" - Absolute love and obedience to God, not to man, not to EVM.
2. "Love your neighbor as yourself" - the love we show towards our neighbor or others does not have any discrimination or qualifiers (age, gender, educational achievement or religion). The love we should show to others should be equivalent to how we love ourselves. Let us remember that this second one is EQUALLY IMPORTANT!

 

"For instance, God’s law is ‘Honor your father and mother; anyone who reviles his parents must die.’ But you say, ‘Even if your parents are in need, you may give their support money to the church instead.’ And so, by your man-made rule, you nullify the direct command of God to honor and care for your parents."

~ Matthew 15:4-6 The Living Bible

3. "Honor your father and mother" - This has now been a "conditional" doctrine inside the church under Eduardo V. Manalo's leadership simply because it is something he himself is not able to fulfill thereby giving clemency towards anyone who will disrespect and forsake their own parents in favor of their complete submission to EVM. And because of this new man-made rule of EVM, he nullifies the direct command of God to honor and care for his parents (this is definitely deserving to be put in the Guinness World Records).

But EVM fanatics will just disregard all of these extremely important commandments simply because they consider the Family of Bro. Eraño G. Manalo and the rest of the expelled brethren as ENEMIES of the church in order for them to justify their cruelty, lack of empathy and vindictiveness. Is it really doctrinal to be bearers of hatred and bigotry towards people you consider as your enemies?

 

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ... Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! You must be perfect—just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

~ Matthew 5:43-44, 46-48 Good News Translation

4. "Love your enemies" - Therefore, even if you see anyone as your enemy, the Christian approach is still to love him. If you feel that he is persecuting you, do not retaliate with violence, but rather, with a prayer for them. So the "INC vs. Expelled"-mentality of not talking to them or avoiding them or castigating them is actually a pagan practice and not a Christian doctrine.

 

"Learn to do right; seek justice.
    Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
    plead the case of the widow."

~ Isaiah 1:17 New International Version 

5. "Too many to mention" - Clearly, all of these things will not be seen anywhere near EVM's top priorities as he leads his congregants of blind followers. On the contrary, they have honed their skills and expertise in doing exactly the opposite of the instructions in this verse. Sadly, the Iglesia Ni Cristo and its members under the leadership of Eduardo V. Manalo have been widely known to be religious bullies, political meddlers, vindictive, oppressive and corrupt. The cause that they will take up will always be towards their personal gain for money and power, not for the fatherless and definitely not for the widows.

These are just some of the "good" that they ought to do but refused to do simply because, for the fanatic followers of Eduardo V. Manalo, the two most important commandments will always be:

1. "Obey your leaders (absolute obedience)" = EVM and His Administration
2. "Abundantly give offerings (abundantly)" = Offerings, Special Special Special Offering, etc. and now... DONATIONS!

...and the rest will just be subordinate commandments to these TOP 2 commandments for EVM. This "Most Important Person In The World" reverence to EVM has been widely accepted by most INC members and everything else is secondary to this man-made doctrine.

So if there are still so many "good" that they know they should be doing but still refuse to do it, would all the Guinness World Records in the world mean anything towards becoming good Christians worthy of salvation? No... but it does make EVM SMILE 🙂

But for the rest of the enlightened brethren, this is what their hearts cry out...

It only takes a little common sense and an open heart to ultimately realize, exactly for who's glory the Guinness World Records are for. It is definitely not for the glory of our Almighty God.

 

~ Antonio Ramirez Ebangelista