Brother Felix Y. Manalo:
God's Last Messenger
and His Message
and His Message
The emergence of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in the Philippines fulfills
the prophecies of God written in the Bible concerning His sons and daughters
whom He will call from the Far East in these last days (cf. Isaiah 43:5-6 and Moffatt; 41:9-15; 46:11-13; Acts 2:39; John
10:16; Revelation 7:2-3). These biblical prophecies have also pointed to a
servant of God whom He will send to lead God’s chosen people from the ends of
the earth:
"Thou whom I
have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men
thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my
servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for
I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea,
I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my
righteousness." (Isaiah 41:9-10
KJV, enphasis mine)
God said to His “servant” whom He
“have taken from the ends of the earth”
that “I have chosen thee, and not cast
thee away.” Another biblical prophecy points out that God’s messenger from
the ends of the earth will came from “a far country” in the East, or the Far East:
"Calling a
ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far
country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed
it, I will also do it. Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from
righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my
salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion
for Israel
my glory." (Isaiah 46:11-13 KJV)
The “ravenous bird from the east”
mentioned in Isaiah 46:11 is also the the man that executeh God’s counsel from
a far country. Through him, God will bring near His righteousness. Thus, the
messenger of God from the ends of the earth, from the Far East, is a preacher
of the Gospel for the righteousness of God that He will bring near to the
people through this messenger is the the Gospel which is also the power of God
to salvation:
"For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for
everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the
righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The
just shall live by faith.’" (Romans 1:16-17 NKJV)
Brother Felix Y. Manalo is the
messenger of God from the ends of the earth and from the Far
East, whom God sent to perform this task. God has given His
messenger the assurances that He will help and strengthen him un pursuing such
noble task in the face of tremendous odds and difficulties. God said to Him:
"Fear thou
not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen
thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my
righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10
KJV)
The growth and development of the
Iglesia Ni Cristo from its humble beginnings to its present dynamic stature,
attest to the fulfillment of these prophecies. The membership of the Church increased
at a phenomenal rate from a handful of adherents gathered in its pioneering
years to the millions now scattered in many parts of the world.
The houses of worship that the
Church has built has effectively changed the Philippine landscape which the
Catholic Church used to dominate. The iglesia Ni Cristo houses of worship now
can also be seen in different parts of the world where the Church gained a
foothold.
The power of the unity of the
Church members, their vitality in their practice of religion, their fidelity to
the doctrines taught to them, and their unswerving resolve to surmount all
difficultiesare indications of a vibrant faith – the result of the preaching
functions of the late Brother Felix Y. Manalo.
THE DIVINE CALL
Brother Felix Y. Manalo was born
at the time when the seeds of the revolution against the Spanish were being
sown in the Philippines.
He was born on May 10, 1886, ten years before the outbreak of the Philippine
revolution (1886-1898), at Sitio Calzada, Barrio Tipas, Taguig, the firstborn of the couple Mariano Ysagun and
Bonifacia Manalo.
He was nurtured in the Catholic
religion by his devout mother and father. His parent made to attend the “caton
class” (a catechism class) in Tipas to ensure that he learned the basic tenets
and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1893, when he was seven years
old, he was made to attend public school in Sta. Ana, Taguig. However, because
of the death of his father and the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in
1896, his studies was disrupted.
In 1899, when his mother
remarried, his uncle, Mariano de Borja, a Roman Catholic priest, adopted him.
During that time, his uncle was assigned in Sta. Cruz, Manila. He continued his studies in Manila.
In the house of his uncle in Sta.
Cruz, Manila
where he found a copy of the Holy Bible. Then, he immediately began reading the
copy of the Holy Scripture that he found. Because he during that time he was
living with his uncle, a Catholic priest, and literally living inside the walls
od the Roman Catholic Church, and even attending a Catholic school during
that time, he can thoroughly compare the teachings and practices of the Roman
Catholic Church with the teachings written in the Bible.
Consequently, he lost his faith
in Catholicism when he discovered that the Catholic teachings, rites and ceremonies
are not in the Bible. Thus, he decided leave the Roman Catholic Church, hence
leaving also his uncle’s house and his studies in Manila. In December, 1902, he went back to
Tipas to help his mother twiced widowed and seven months pregnant during thatv
time. There in Tipas, when his relatives and townmates learned that he leave
his uncle’s house and stop his studies in Manila,
rebuked his decision. And when they learned that he also decided to leave the
Catholic religion persecuted him and made lies against him, hoping through
these he changed his decision. But, the sixteen years old Felix Manalo stand
firm on his decision never to come back to the Catholic religion because their
practices and teachings contradict the teachings written in the Bible.
Out of curiosity, in April, 1903,
he went with the “Colorums” on their lenten pilgrimage to the mountains of San Cristobal and
Banahaw. After learning that their teachings also contradict the teachings of
the Bible and that the “Voice of the Almighty” was a hoax, after that lenten
pilgrimage he went back to Tipas. After a short period of time in Tipas, he
went back to Manila.
In the summer od 1903, he established a hat store in Paranaque. During this time, he continued his
studies of the Bible.
Although, there were already many
Protestant churches in Manila during that time, but they did not
immediately captured the interest of Brother Felix Y. Manalo. Perhaps, his
attention was focued on his study of the Bible. Hence, when Brother felix Y.
Manalo started his intense examination of different Protestant churches, he was
not without any knowledge of the Bible. When he started his examination of
different Protestant sects, he was already studying the Bible for five years (he
started his study of the Bible in the year 1899).
What made him to decide examine
the Protestant sects? When he witnessed a religious debate between a Roman
Catholic Church and a Protestant pastor in the early months of 1904. Other say
that this was the event that made him doubting his Catholic faith. There are
wrong. Brother Felix Y. Manalo already left the Roman Catholic Church in 1902.
Thus, the religious debate he witnessed only help him decide to embraked a
comprehensive examination of the Protestant sects and denominations.
In 1904 to 1913, Brother Felix Y.
Manalo embarked on an earnest investigation of the Protestant churches and
denominations, even joining some of them one after another. But this did not
quench his thirst for the truth, for they too did not teach the words of God they
should have been taught. So he severed his relationship with them.
One day in Novemner, 1913,
Brother Felix Y. Manalo secluded himself in one of the rooms of his house at Pasay City.
For two days and three nights he kept himself in the room depriving himself of
sleep and food. Intensively studying the Bible and fervently praying to God.
This period of reflection and withdrawal from the world outside led to his
enlightenment of knowing the divine mission that God called him, to preach the
Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo in Pilipino) which is the true Church
written and taught by the Bible.
From then on there was no turning
back. He was determined to disseminate the truth that was revealed to him. With
his wife, he went to his former friends in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila and started preaching the Gospel to
them. Thus, the preaching of the last work of salvation had began.
After establishing two locale
congregations (Punta and Tipas), Brother Felix Y. Manalo officially registered
the Iglesia Ni Cristo with the Philippine government on July 27, 1914. This is
the official date of the establishment of the Church
of Christ in the Philippines.
From that time on, for almost
half a century, Brother Felix Y. Manalo administered the Church so effectively
and so efficiently that even his detractors have to grudgingly acknowledgehis
dynamic, leadership, his talent in administration. He cared and cherished
Christ’s beloved Church until his death on April 12, 1963.
“His ministry of 48 uninterrupted years of spiritual leadership,”
observed by Sol H. Gewkoh in an article published in the Manila Times (My 9, 1966), “gave
Manalo the rare distinctionof being the only person in any religious sect in
history to have reigned that long.”
THE MESSAGE
Brother Felix Y. Manalo’s
preaching was unique. From the first time it was heard, it had immediately
drawn the attention drawn of his countrymen not only because of its logic and
lucidity but also, and more importantly, because of the undeniable truth that
flows profusely from the holy Scripture whence it came. He preaced like the
fiery preacher that he was and yet in the engaging conversational style.
Socratic or question-and answer method his preaching was, which made it more
lively and effective. But more significant than the liveliness and elegance of
his preaching style was the impact on the life of the believers.
The first few converts that he
had, had been profoundly affected by the doctrines he taught. They were changes
by its power, set apart from the world, and became new creatures in Christ.
Their minds were enlightened by these teachings which are so distinct from the
currently accepted dogmas but so identical with the teachings of the Bible.
They were struck with the overflowing compassion of these teachings that have opened
their minds to the knowledge of the will of God.
Through the preaching of Brother
felix Y. Manalo, they came to known who the true God is, the Father alone, our
Creator (John 17:1, 3;I Cor. 8:6). How different this doctrine is from what
they used to believe. They have always thought that the Son of God is God, and
so is the Holy Spirit along with the Father. So when Brother Felix Y. Manalo taught
and affirmed to them the absolute oneness of God citing chapter and verse from
the Bible to prove it, he found many responsive souls. The preaching of Brother
Felix Y. Manalo that the Father is the only God and aside from there is no one
else further proves that he is indeed the messenger of God in these last days:
"Fear not,
for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you
from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do
not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of
the earth.
“’You are My
witnesses,’ says the LORD, ‘And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may
know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God
formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
I, even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and
saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you
are My witnesses,’ Says the LORD, ‘that I am God." (Isaiah 43:5-6,10-12 NKJV)
Brother Felix Y. Manalo, ever
faithful to the words of God in the Bible that the Father alone is the true
God, he preached that Christ, the Son of God, is human in nature and not God.
Of course, Catholic and Protestants alike, believe too that Christ is a man, but
Christ to them is both true man and true God. So for most Catholics and
Protestants who have always conceived Christ as God, the teaching that He is
not God is simply heretical. Brother Manalo, however, stressed that what is
heretical is the belief in the deity of Christ for it is not biblical. He
recognized Christ as the Head and Savior of the Church, man’s mediator to God,
the Son of God, but never as the true God because it is clearly written in the
Bible that the Father of Jesus Christ is the only true God.
To the members of the Churchof
Christ, Brother Felix Y. Manalo preached
God’s purpose in creating man. Brother Manalo preached how God intended to create
men in His own image and made them holy and righteous (Gen. 1:27; I Pt. 1:16),
and how man falls short of the glory of
God (Rom. 3:23; 5:12). Of course, even then, there were other peachers who
taught the same things. But the difference lies on their understanding of the
Bible on how man can attain sanctification and righteousness. Catholics were
made to believe that indulgences, sacraments, sacramentals and flagellation
could cleanse man and make him holy and righteous before the sight of God.
Protestants thought that they can be justified by faith alone. But the biblical
teachings that Brother Manalo preached point to the shedding of the blood of
Christ as the only means to attain the forgiveness of sin (Heb. 9:22). Christ’s
blood was shed to cleanse and redeem only His Church, the Church of Christ
(Acts 20:28 Lamsa). It is therefore a necessary condition for justification and
salvation that man should join the Church that Christ will save. This is the Church of Christ, or Iglesia Ni Cristo in
Filipino.
Brother Felix Y. Manalo preached
that man must enter the Church
of Christ in order to be
saved come Judgment Day (cf. John
10:9, 16; Acts 20:28 Lamsa), because the God’s righteousness must be observed
declaring that:
"Fathers
shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to
death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin." (Dt.
24:16 NKJV)
The Lord Jesus Christ did not
disobeyed any God’s law, thus this law written in Deuteronomy 24:16 was also
observed by the Lord. Hence, Christ commanded those who wants to be saved to
enter the fold through Him or the enter the Church of Christ
because the Church is His body and He Himself its Savior:
"For a
husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the
church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body." (Ephesians
5:23 TEV)
In the sight of God Christ and
his Church are “one new man” (Eph. 2:15), because Christ is the head, and the
Church is His body (Col. 1:18). Thus, Brother Felix Y. Manalo preached that the
Lord Jesus Christ can save man without breaking God’s law written in
Deuteronomy 24:16 through the Church
of Christ (His body and
He Himself is its head).
Brother Felix Y. Manalo did not
teach that the Iglesia Ni Cristo is just one church among too many. He taught
unequivocally that the Iglesia Ni Cristo is the one and only true Church that
man should join in these last days.
Here then is a teaching that
stands in utter opposition to the common notion that Church membership has
nothing to do with salvation, justification and sanctification. And the critics
and detractors of the Iglesia Ni Cristo would not take this sitting down.
Debates were inevitably held between the ministers of the Iglesia Ni Cristo and
preachers of other religions dwelling on such controversial topics as the means
of salvation and the nature of Christ.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo was taught
by Brother Felix Y. Manalo to consider the Bible as the sole basis of faith,
the sufficient guide in the worship of God. Every doctrinal position of the
Iglesia Ni Cristo is biblically supported. Brother Manalo trained the ministers
of the Church to defend these positions by reading and quoting the Holy Bible.
This explains why the Iglesia Ni Cristo strongly rejects the Catholic traditions
because they are unbiblical.
BROTHER
MANALO’S LEGACY
The memory of Brother Felix Y.
Manalo shall always remain with the Iglesia Ni Cristo. The teachings of God
which Brother Manalo preached shall always guide the Church in her journey to
the eternal kingdom. His fraternal love and devotion to the Church shall always
live in the hearts and minds of the faithful. To most members of the Church of Christ, whatever is said about him is a
matter of deep personal concern. For he is more than a brother to them; he is
to them God’s last messenger who was instrumental in bringing God’s
righteousness near them. And they have biblical basis for such belief.
Of course, others like his
critics and detractors, rejected his preaching vehemently. They persecuted
those who were converted into the Iglesia Ni Cristo to discourage them. But
that did not seem to faze the members. Undaunted, they held on to their faith
knowing as they did that they gave received the teachings from God’s messenger
himself.
Brother Felix Y. Manalo is gone
now, but the Iglesia Ni Cristo shall always thank Godfor having sent His
messengerin these last days. His memory lives and the message of God that he
brought to God’s chosen people in these last days shall always occupy a central
place in their hearts.
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