On Calling, The Last Messenger, and the Church Administration
One of the defining characteristics of our generation is the desire to become self-made. We admire individuals who build careers from nothing, entrepreneurs who create opportunities where none existed, and people who confidently say, “I forged my own path.” There is nothing inherently wrong with diligence or personal responsibility. In fact, the Scriptures commend both. Yet beneath this modern ideal lies a subtle temptation: the belief that everything significant begins and ends with human initiative.
The Bible presents a different picture.
On God's Election:
From Genesis to Revelation, one notices a recurring pattern. God is always the One who initiates. He calls. He chooses. He sends. Human beings respond, but they rarely begin the story. Noah did not appoint himself to preserve humanity. Abraham did not wake one morning and decide to become the father of a great nation. Moses did not campaign to lead Israel. Even the apostles did not volunteer themselves into the ministry. Each was called according to God’s purpose.
This pattern of divine election forms one of the foundational beliefs upheld by the Iglesia Ni Cristo. The conviction is that throughout history, God has continually set apart a people who would serve Him according to His will. That calling has never been accidental, nor has it been determined merely by human desire. Scripture repeatedly shows that acceptable service to God begins with His calling before it is expressed through human obedience.
This doctrine also carries a deeply personal implication. In a culture where people constantly ask, “What is my purpose?” the Bible gently redirects the question toward God. Instead of beginning with personal ambition, it begins with divine intention. Life acquires a different perspective when one believes that purpose is discovered through God’s calling rather than invented according to personal preference.
Many Filipinos understand the importance of being called. We grow up hearing stories of vocation, of public service, of parents sacrificing so their children might fulfill dreams that circumstances once denied them. We admire people who dedicate themselves to something larger than personal success. In many ways, our culture still recognizes that meaningful work often begins with responsibility rather than recognition.
The same principle applies spiritually.
On The Last Messenger - Brother Felix Y. Manalo:
The Iglesia Ni Cristo teaches that after the apostolic age, the original Church established by Christ eventually departed from the true faith, fulfilling biblical warnings concerning apostasy. It also teaches that in these last days, God once again called a messenger to preach the pure Gospel and guide people back to the original teachings of Christ. This conviction rests upon its interpretation of biblical prophecy, particularly those passages understood to point toward a messenger arising from the Far East.
For members of the Church, this belief is not merely a historical claim. It explains why doctrine matters so deeply. If God continues to call people through His appointed messenger, then faith cannot simply become a matter of personal interpretation or individual preference. It must remain rooted in the teachings God intends to preserve.
Modern society often celebrates independent thinking, and there is value in asking sincere questions and pursuing understanding. Yet there is also wisdom in recognizing the limits of human reasoning. The Bible itself reminds readers that God’s thoughts are higher than man’s thoughts, and throughout Scripture, understanding often comes because God reveals His will through those He sends.
This naturally leads to the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s belief regarding Brother Felix Y. Manalo as God’s messenger in these last days. Members believe that his mission fulfilled biblical prophecies concerning the messenger from the Far East who would preach the true Gospel and call people back to the Church established by Christ. Whether one shares this belief or not, it is impossible to understand the identity of the Iglesia Ni Cristo without understanding the central role this conviction plays in its theology and history. There is a valuable lesson that extends beyond doctrine itself.
Human history has always depended on trustworthy messengers. Families depend on parents to pass down wisdom. Schools depend on teachers to preserve knowledge. Nations depend on leaders who faithfully uphold the laws entrusted to them. Accuracy matters because what is transmitted shapes the lives of those who receive it. The Scriptures likewise emphasize that God’s words should neither be altered nor diminished, for truth loses its integrity when adjusted according to human convenience.
This commitment to preserving biblical teachings also explains the importance the Church places on administration.
On The Church Administration (Huwag Lalaban Sa Pamamahala):
The word “submission” often feels uncomfortable in contemporary culture. It is frequently associated with weakness or the loss of personal freedom. Modern society prizes autonomy, encouraging individuals to become their own highest authority. Yet healthy submission exists in nearly every meaningful institution. Students submit to teachers because learning requires instruction. Patients trust physicians because healing requires expertise. Citizens follow lawful authority because order depends upon it. Submission, when grounded in righteousness, is not humiliation. It is recognition that certain responsibilities have been entrusted by God for the benefit of others.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo teaches that the Church Administration carries the responsibility of guiding the members according to God’s words. This is not understood as personal authority exercised for personal gain, but as stewardship. The administration bears the solemn responsibility of preserving unity, protecting doctrine, strengthening the brethren, and ensuring that the Church continues walking according to the teachings of Christ.
This understanding also places responsibility upon every member. Faith is not lived merely through private devotion. It flourishes within an orderly spiritual community where guidance, accountability, and shared direction allow believers to grow together. There are moments when personal opinions may differ from collective instruction, but Christian maturity often reveals itself through humility rather than insistence. Humility is not the absence of conviction. It is the willingness to recognize that God has established order within His Church for the spiritual welfare of His people.
Living this way is increasingly countercultural in the point of view of influencers and social media. The world encourages individuals to become their own final authority, to follow only what feels comfortable, and to accept guidance only when it aligns with personal preference. The Christian life, however, invites believers into something far more demanding. It calls them to trust that God’s wisdom often arrives through the structures He Himself has established.
__
In the end, to soldier on in the Christian life is not simply to endure hardship. It is to walk faithfully within the calling God has prepared, to recognize the value of being taught, and to embrace the humility of being led according to His will. There is a quiet strength found in knowing that faith is not built upon changing human opinions but upon the enduring guidance of God, who continues to gather, teach, and lead His people toward the fulfillment of His promises.
— billymacdeus
No comments:
Post a Comment