By LLOYD RUBEN I. CASTRO
THE SUCCESSES OF the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) in every aspect of its work these last 17 years—the influx of new converts; the establishment of more local congregations and ecclesiastical districts; the increasing number of ministerial students, ordained ministers, and Church officers—are an indication of the current Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo’s victorious administration.
For the faithful, this rapid growth and expansion of the Church is, in turn, a confirmation that the Almighty God holds firmly the Church and its Administration. So on his birthday, October 31, the brethren all over the world not only are sending their love and well-wishes but more significantly, they are taking this special occasion as an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to keep at all cost their unity with the leader entrusted by God to administer the Church.
Why? How indispensable, according to the Bible, is the Administration in the true Church Of Christ and in God’s work of salvation?
First, the Church Administration is neither hired nor appointed by any person on earth. The minister who leads the Church is appointed by God from whom his authority comes as well:
“I have become its minister, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known.” (Col. 1:25 Holman Christian Standard Bible)
As the apostles who administered the first-century Christian Church had, the Administration in the true Church Of Christ today solely has the God-given right to preach His message of salvation.
Together with preaching the true gospel, the one function that sets apart the Church Administration from those of other organizations is reconciling people to God (II Cor. 5:18–20).
The ministry of reconciliation is the office or authority to administer people’s reconciliation to God and the word of reconciliation is the gospel or God’s words in the Bible. These two divine “trusts” go together and were given to the administrator whom God placed in the Church (Col. 1:25).
In short, by proclaiming God’s true teachings, the Church Administration reunites people with Him. The Church Administration has this right and duty. This is what the Iglesia Ni Cristo Executive Minister tirelessly fulfills.
In preaching the pure gospel, Brother Eduardo never fails to urge the brethren to remain true to their membership in the Church Of Christ whatever they go through in life. His aim is for them to remain in union with God to gain salvation.
The true Christians firmly believe that if they are to fully benefit from the Church Administration’s love and care, then they could not afford to break their connection to it. For them, no loss would be greater than this—losing their unity with God and with Christ. Apostle John asserted:
“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” (I John 1:3 New King James Version)
It is the Church Administration that has fellowship with God and with Christ. Hence, one must have fellowship with the Church Administration to have fellowship with God and with His Son. It is because the ministry and word of reconciliation are given to the Church Administration.
All people need to reconcile to God because they were separated from Him and became His enemies due to their sin (Col. 1:21).
And no good awaits them—“But only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Heb. 10:27 New International Version).
Hence, for people to be saved from eternal punishment by fire, they need to be reconciled to God. This reconciliation is effected through the instrumentality of the Church Administration.
Can people not do this on their own by praying to and worshiping God? They can not, because God does not listen to those who are separated from Him, for He considers them as His enemies (Isa. 59:2 nkjv).
All people lost the right to worship God because they all sinned (Rom. 5:12). They must seek first to be reconciled to God before He accepts their services to Him and be saved. Again, only the Church Administration can reconcile people to God.
This truth is demonstrated in the conversion of a Gentile, a Roman military officer named Cornelius, into the Christian faith during apostolic times. Acts 10:1–2 describes Cornelius and his family as devout, God-fearing, charitable, and prayerful.
Yet, God did not readily accept his good deeds. An angel of God came and said to him, “… Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter” (Acts 10:4–5 nkjv).
From Apostle Peter, a messenger of God and Church administrator, would they hear God’s teachings (Acts 10:21–22, 33). And “while Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word” (Acts 10:44 nkjv).
Apostle Paul explained the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit:
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:13–14 niv)
Those who believe in the true gospel of salvation proclaimed by the Church Administration receive the Holy Spirit. Now, they have the seal of belonging to God—of being God’s servants who have the right to praise Him and to be saved on Judgment Day. This is the greatest victory that the Executive Minister is working very hard for every Iglesia Ni Cristo member to attain salvation and eternal life.
So, as the Iglesia Ni Cristo brethren continue to receive God’s teachings through the Church Administration, they respond with utmost obedience, lest they unwittingly reject Christ and the Father. The Lord told those He entrusted to preach His gospel and administer His Church:
“He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” (Luke 10:16 nkjv)
Recognizing the Executive Minister’s labors and sacrifices as expression of genuine concern for their own salvation, the brethren double their zeal in joining the various works of the Church, cementing their unity with his administration and thus to God and to Christ. This, they understand, is in keeping with the apostles’ instruction to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3 niv). ❑
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