Originally Posted by
Hellblazer 2.1
Controversy and criticism
The Iglesia ni Cristo has come under fierce criticism from apologetics groups and other religions mainly due to disagreements over their doctrines and beliefs regarding the interpretation of the Bible. They have also been criticized by non-religious groups for their political influence and supposed restraint of press freedom.
Christian religious criticisms
Dr. Karl Keating, the founder of Catholic Answers claims that Dr. Jose Ventilacion, an INC minister and one of their chief debaters, broke an agreement in 1990 for a one-on-one debate made by the two organizations in National City, California. Instead of a one-on-one debate, Keating states that Ventilacion had three helpers assisting him, and that they were shouting at him during the debate. He also claims that God's Message magazine is dedicated more to criticizing and attacking Catholic and Protestant beliefs and doctrines (by referring to them as "tools of Satan" for example), rather than explaining their own positions.[36]
The Catholic Church refutes INC's claim that the beast of Revelation is the Pope, a belief shared by some other Christian religious movements. INC claims that the pope's title, Vicarius Filii Dei, Latin for Vicar of the Son of God, adds up to 666 which is the "Number of the Beast", and the Iglesia ni Cristo also allegedly claimed that it is engraved on the Pope's tiara, a charge that has been proven false[36] and a claim formerly shared by some in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but now officially rejected.[37] The Catholic Church also declared that Vicarius Filii Dei has never been an "official title" of the pope.[37]
Catholic Answers also rejects the INC's doctrines of apostasy within the Catholic Church and does not consider the verses used to support the doctrine of the Iglesia ni Cristo being prophesied nor the apostasy of the Catholic church are used in the right context. It contends that other verses are difficult to reconcile with the views of the Iglesia ni Cristo.[38]
Let Us Reason Ministries, an online apologetics research group, criticized the INC for holding the belief that it has the sole authority from God to interpret and preach the Bible, while other religions do not. They also claim that the INC intentionally misinterprets and misappropriates verses to agree with their doctrines and that they use fallacious arguments against other religions,[39] stating: "Unfortunately they ignore the whole history of the Church in the zealous rebuttals against Catholicism. Nothing is out of reach of their researchers to demean and belittle. Some of the greatest scholars in languages and history are ignored or misrepresented as they present what they believe is correct. I suspect that many know better in what they teach."[40] They also reject the INC's doctrine that one can only be saved if they are a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo.[41] According to The Bereans Apologetics Research Ministry, some of the beliefs of INC are contrary to mainstream Christianity.[42]. However, the Iglesia ni Cristo claims through biblical prophesies, that it was elected to be "the nation of God," as the Israelites were, and that God chose them to serve him.[4]
Dr. Charles Caldwell Ryrie has criticized the INC for allegedly misquoting his Ryrie Study Bible regarding John 1:1 in the May/June 1984 issue of the Pasugo. Ryrie has been quoted as saying, in a letter to Robert Elliff, the author of the book, Iglesia Ni Cristo: The Only True Church? "Anyone can look in my Study Bible and see how conveniently this author [the INC] omitted the last phrase in the note of John 1:1."[43]
The Members Church of God International has been in a long standing rivalry with the Church as shown in their television programs Ang Dating Daan (ADD) and Ang Tamang Daan. Brother Eliseo Soriano posted a paid advertisement in Manila Times broadsheets and invited the camp of Iglesia ni Cristo in a one on one debate and discussion. The Iglesia ni Cristo answered Soriano on their program by asking him to debate first with Pope John Paul II which was bedridden at that time and died a few days after this was posted. One notable incident between the two groups transpired on April 18, 2005 when a violent conflict occurred during a supposed peaceful familial negotiation between a convert of the Members Church of God International and their INC relatives. [44][45] Following an investigation, it was reported that the fight was started by INC members when an INC supporter began shouting against the ADD members during negotiations with the local police department of where the event would take place.
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