Sign of the Cross Utos ba ng Diyos?

 ISANG pangkaraniwang pangitain sa mga kaibigan nating mga Katoliko ang PAG-AANTANDA o iyon bang kung tawagin sa English na SIGN OF THE CROSS.

Madalas na kapag napapadaan sila sa Simbahan, sa simenteryo, oh kapag sila’y nakadarama ng matinding takot at pangamba, bago at matapos magdasal, ay nag-aantanda sila sa pag aakalang ang gawaing ito ay nakababanal at may nag-aakala rin na ito ay ipinag-utos ng Panginoong Diyos.

Subalit sa aming mga Iglesia ni Cristo, ay hindi namin isinasagawa ang ganito. Kaya atin pong talakayin ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nag-aantanda o nagsa-SIGN OF THE CROSSang INC.

Tanda ng taong Katoliko

Hindi ito aral ng INC, kaya atin pong tanungin ang Iglesia Katolika, ano ba itong PAGAANTANDA o pagsa-SIGN OF THE CROSS?

Narito po ang kanilang sagot:

"ANG TANDA NG SANTA KRUS

 "Ang paraang ginagawa sa paggamit ng Santa Krus ay dalawa: ang magantanda at ang magkrus. ANG PAGAANTANDA AY ANG PAGGAWA NG TATLONG KRUS NANGHINLALAKI NG KANYANG KANANG KAMAY; ANG UNA'Y SA NOO,... ANG TANDA NG SANTA KRUS AY SIYANG TANDA NG TAONG KATOLIKO,.." [Siya Ang Inyong Pakinggan:Ang Aral na Katoliko, Page 11]

Maliwanag ang Sagot sa atin ng aklat na sinulat ng Paring si Enrique Demond, kaya isinasagawa ang PAG-AANTANDA o SIGN OF THE CROSS ay sapagkat ito ay TANDA ng taong Katoliko.  At totoo naman ito dahil madali mo naman talagang makilala ang Katoliko sa Hindi Katoliko, kapag nasa sasakyan ka, pag napatapat sa Simbahan, at may nag-antanda eh alam mo na kagad na Katoliko iyon.

Niliwanag din ng aklat Katoliko kung papaano isinasagawa ang pag-aantanda, ito ay paggawa ng tatlong krus ng hinlalaki ng KANANG KAMAY; ang una ay sa NOO.

Hindi niyo ba napapansin mga kaibigan na kahit kaliwete ang isang Katoliko hindi siya maaaring mag-antanda sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang kaliwang kamay? Kailangang KANANG KAMAY lamang ang kaniyang gagamitin.  At hindi niya maaaring umpisahan ang pag-aantanda sa ibang bahagi ng katawan maliban sa kaniyang NOO lamang?

At dahil sa ito ay PAGAANTANDA na gamit ang KANANG KAMAY at NOO, kaya ito ay maaari nating tawagin na TANDA SA NOO at KANANG KAMAY.

Ipinag-uutos ba ito ng Biblia?  May mababasa ba tayong verse sa Bible na nagtuturo na gawin ang bagay na ito?

Ang Tanda sa Noo at Kanang Kamay

Sa Biblia, may binabanggit na TANDA SA NOO AT KANANG KAMAY, pero ang kapansin-pansin hindi ito tanda ng mga taong maliligtas o tanda ng mga hinirang ng Diyos, kundi tanda ng mga taong mapapahamak:

Apocalypsis 13:16  “At ang lahat, maliliit at malalaki, at mayayaman at mga dukha, at ang mga laya at ang mga alipin ay pinabigyan ng isangTANDA sa kanilang KANANG KAMAY, o sa NOO;”

Mabuti ba ang pagkakaroon ng tandang ito? Ano ba ang idududulot sa tao kung tayo ay mananatiling magkakaroon o magsasagawa ng tandang ito?

Apocalypsis 14:9-11 "At ang ibang anghel, ang pangatlo ay sumusunod sa kanila, na nagsasabi ng malakas na tinig, Kung ang sinoman ay sumamba sa hayop at sa kaniyang larawan,at tumatanggap ng TANDA SA KANIYANG NOO, O SA KANIYANG KAMAY,  Ay iinom din naman siya ng alak ng kaglitan ng Dios, na nahahandang walang halo sa inuman ng kaniyang kagalitan; at siya'y PAHIHIRAPAN NG APOY AT ASUPRE sa harapan ng mga banal na anghel, at sa harapan ng Cordero: AT ANG USOK NG HIRAP NILA AY NAPAIILANGLANG MAGPAKAILAN KAILAN MAN; AT SILA'Y WALANG KAPAHINGAHAN ARAW AT GABI, sila mga nagsisisamba sa hayop at sa kaniyang larawan, at sinomang tumatanggap ng tanda ng kaniyang pangalan."

Ang mga taong nagsasagawa ng PAG-AANTANDA o SIGN OF  THE CROSS ay ang mga taong mapapahamak, sapagkat sila ang nagtataglay ng TANDA sa NOO at KANANG KAMAY.

At ito ay sinasang-ayunan maging ng PASIYON ng Iglesia Katolika na sinulat ng isa pang Pari na si Aniceto dela Merced:

 "Ipag uutos mag quintal sa noo o canang camay sucat pagca quilalanan na sila nga, i, campong tunay nitong Anti-Cristong hunghang." [Pasion Candaba, isinulat ng Paring si Aniceto dela Merced, Page 210]

Sabi ng Pari, ang nagtataglay ng TANDANG ito ay kabilang sa mga tao na tinatawag na Anti-Cristo o kalaban ni Cristo kaya po tiyak na mapapahamak at hindi maliligtas sa Araw ng Paghuhukom.

Kaya iwan na po natin ang ganitong gawain.

“Tanda sa Noo at Kanang Kamay” iba raw sa “Tanda sa Noo o Kanang Kamay”

Sa kagustuhan namang makapangatuwiran (o magpalusot as usual) ng mga kaibigan natingCatholic Defenders, ang nakalagay daw sa talata ay “TANDA SA NOO O KANANG KAMAY” at hindi daw “TANDA SA NOO AT KANANG KAMAY”, sinasadya daw ng mga ministro sa INC na palitan ang “O” ng “AT” para daw mapalitaw na ang Katoliko ang tinutukoy, nagkakasala daw ang mga ministro sa INC sa ginagawa nilang ito na maging ang Biblia daw pinapalitan ng salita para mabagao ang kahulugan.

Kaya puntahan po natin ang nasabing talata sa Bibliang Griego ang orihinal na wikang ginamit sa pagsulat ng Bagong Tipan:

Revelations 13:16  “και ποιει παντας τους μικρους και τους μεγαλους και τους πλουσιους και τους πτωχους και τους ελευθερους και τους δουλους ‘ινα δωση αυτοις χαραγμα επι της χειρος αυτων της δεξιας η επι των μετωπων αυτων”

 Pagbigkas:

 kai poiei pantas tous mikrous kai tous megalous kai tous plousious kai tous ptōkhous kai tous eleutherous kai tous doulous hina dōsē autois kharagma epi tēs kheiros autōn tēs dexias ē epi tōn metōpōn autōn

Revelations 13:16  And^G2532 he causeth^G4160 all,^G3956 both small^G3398and^G2532 great,^G3173(G2532) rich^G4145 and^G2532 poor,^{G4434 (G2532)}free^G1658 and^G2532 bond,^G1401 to^G2443 receive^{G1325 G846} a mark^G5480in^G1909 their^G848 right^G1188 hand,^G5495 or^G2228 in^G1909 their^G848foreheads:^G3359 [KJV with Strong’s Concordance]

Ang salitang Griegong “η” [ē] (pansinin ang letrang kulay pula sa itaas) na sa English ay isinalin bilang “OR” na sa tagalog ay “O”, ay maniniwala ba kayo na kasing kahulugan din ng salitang “AND” na sa tagalog ay “AT”?

Tingnan ang paliwanag na ito ng isang kilalang Greek Dictionary:

G2228

ἤ   ē  ay

A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than: - and, but (either), (n-) either, except it be, (n-) or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles. Compare especially G2235, G2260, G2273.

[Strong’s Greek Dictionary]

Kitang-kita sa dictionary na kasama sa kahulugan nito ang salitang “and”.

At dahil sa ang salitang “η” [ē] ay kasing kahulugan din ng salitang “AND” o “AT” sa tagalog, ay hindi kailan man magiging maling sabihin na:

“TANDA SA NOO ‘O’ KANANG KAMAY”  

ay katumbas din ng

“TANDA SA NOO ‘AT’ KANANG KAMAY”

Wala po iyang pagkakaiba kung sa orihinal na wikang ginamit sa Biblia na wikang Griegoang pag-uusapan.  Kaya po hindi nagkakamali ang INC sa bagay na iyan.

Kaya sorry na lang mga magiting na Catholic Defenders, dahil walang magagawa ang pagpapalusot ninyong ito, palibhasa’y hindi ninyo matutulan kaya ultimo iyong salitang “AT” at “O” ay ginagawan ninyo ng isyu.

At para lalo nating matiyak na talagang ang Apocalypsis 13:16 ay sa mga Katoliko tumutukoy, ibaba lang ang pagbasa sa talatang 17 hanggang 18, at ganito ang ating matutunghayan:

Apocalypsis 13:17-18  “At nang huwag makabili o makapagbili ang sinoman, KUNDI SIYANG MAYROONG TANDA, sa makatuwid ay ng pangalan ng hayop o bilang ng kaniyang pangalan. Dito'y may karunungan. Ang may pagkaunawa ay bilangin ang bilang ng hayop; sapagka't siyang bilang ng isang tao: at ang kaniyang bilang ay ANIM NA RAAN AT ANIM NA PU'T ANIM.”

Ang nagbigay o siyang nag-utos na ang mga tao’y magkaroon ng TANDA sa NOO AT KANANG KAMAY ay ang taong may bilang na ANIM NA RAAN AT ANIM NA PU’T ANIM [666], na ang kinatuparan nito ay ang PAPA sa ROMA, at kung nais mabasa ang kumpletong pagtalakay, puntahan ang LINK na ito:

ANG MAY NUMERONG ‘666’ NA BINABANGGIT SA APOCALYPSIS

Kaya po sa mga kaibigan naming mga Katoliko, iwan na po ninyo ang gawaing iyan, dahil ang PAGAANTANDA ng KRUS, o pagsa-SIGN OF THE CROSS ay TANDA SA NOO AT KANANG KAMAY, tanda ng mga taong mapapahamak, isang gawaing hindi po makapagliligtas kundi magdadala sa atin sa kaparusahang walang hanggan sa araw ng paghuhukom.

Magsama-sama po tayo sa tunay na paglilingkod sa Diyos, halina po kayo at making sa mga katotohanan ng Diyos na itinuturo ng tunay na Iglesia -  Ang Iglesia ni Cristo.  

The Philippines is in the Bible

Is the word “Philippines” in the Bible?

Is a sign of ignorance, because the Philippines got its name only on March 16, 1521 [16^thCentury] when it was discovered by Ferdinand Magellan, and during that time it was named FELIPINAS [PHILIPPINES in English] which means  LAS ISLAS DE FELIPE “THE ISLES OF PHILIP” which was named after the King of Spain during that time – King Philip II, and the Bible was completed since 96 AD [First Century]. How could you find that word in the Bible? So it is absurd to even ask that question, and a real sign of GRAVE IGNORANCE among our detractors.

And another thing the INC never taught ever that the word PHILIPPINES is found in the Bible. So there is no reason for them to ask us that question at all, for it is not an INC’s doctrine.

But does the location, place or the land which was NO NAME YET by the time the book of Prophet Isaiah was written, which was named later  the PHILIPPINES really not mentioned in the Bible?

Well, before we go to that issue, let us ask our Detractors, a related question:

Does the word “IRAN”, IRAQ” and “TURKEY” in the Bible?

Of course no one among them would dare to answer YES. For it is an undeniable fact that these words cannot be found in the scriptures, for these names does not exist yet during the time when the Bible was written.

So we will ask them again:

Does the country of IRAN, IRAQ, and TURKEY mentioned in the Bible?

Do you think they would dare to answer NO? if ever they would dare to answer No, then they are committing a very big mistake for these countries were indeed mentioned in the pages of the Holy Scriptures.

The word IRAN, IRAQ, and TURKEY, of course can’t be found in the Bible because that names do not exist yet? But do those countries already existed when the Bible was written?  Would you dare to answer NO? Especially you ERIC?

No one would dare to answer NO as I said already, because it is a fact that all countries in the world already existed during that time, only their names weren’t, for some of them were NOT YET  DISCOVERED nor NAMED YET during the time the Bible was written.

But those countries are mentioned in the Bible for these countries already existed during the Bible was written. Since their names were not yet IRAN, IRAQ, and TURKEY, the author of the Bible as instructed of course by the Almighty used their OLD NAMES during that time.

PERSIA is the old name of IRAN, and it is mentioned in the Bible:

2 Chronicles 36:20  “And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of PERSIA:” [King James Version]

IRAQ is mentioned in the Bible as MESOPOTAMIA:

Acts 7:2  “And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in MESOPOTAMIA, before he dwelt in Charran,” [KJV]

TURKEY as ASIA MINOR  or plainly ASIA:

Acts 16:6  “and having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in ASIA,” [Young’s Literal Translation]

Of course the word ASIA there would never mean the MODERN ASIA that we knew today as one of the seven continents, since that passage pertains to the propagation of the Gospel by Apostle Paul to the Gentile Nations.

The GREEK DICTIONARY has this to say about that word:

“G773

Ἀσία

Asia = “orient”

1) Asia proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to TURKEY today” [Thayer’s Greek Definition]

These countries were mentioned by the Bible using their OLD NAMES, that’s why those were used for those NAMES already existed during that time as an identification of the said countries.

So is it wrong to say that IRAN, IRAQ, and TURKEY is in the Bible?

Would you mind answering this question our beloved detractors?

Now let’s go back to the PHILIPPINE ISSUE:

Does the PHILIPPINES have a name already existed during the time when the Bible was written?

Of course the answer would be a definitely NO! For what I have mentioned already that the Philippines only got its name in 1521 [16^th Century].

Does the PHILIPPINES have an OLD NAME during the time when the Bible was written?

Of course the answer again would be a big NO!,  for there is no record in History that the Philippines used an OLD NAME, like CHINA which was called CATHAY before.

Does the land, place, or country which was named later the Philippines already existed during the time when the Bible was written?

Would anyone among our Detractors, especially you ERIC, would dare to answer this question NO?

Of course no one with the normal state of mind would ever dare to answer that questionNO. For it is an undeniable fact that all the lands in the whole world existed since the time of creation, so it is even proper and logical to say that the land or place which was later named the Philippines, already existed even before the time of Moses or even long before than the time when the Bible was written.

Does the land, place, or country which was later named Philippines mentioned in the Bible?

This is the PROPER QUESTION that they should ask the INC. 

If we ask them this question, I know that they would dare to answer NO, but the question is:

Can they prove that the country which was later called the Philippines is not mentioned in the Bible?

So let us go now where in the Bible the country of the Philippines which was no name at that time was mentioned:

Isaiah 46:11  “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.” [KJV]

The Bible specifically said that the RAVENOUS BIRD, which is a MAN that will EXECUTE GOD’s COUNSEL will come from a FAR COUNTRY FROM THE EAST.

What is the Characteristic of this FAR COUNTRY from the EAST?

Isaiah 24:15  “Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the EAST, even the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the ISLES OF THE SEA.” [Revised Version]

See? Very clear were the descriptions of the Bible regarding the FAR COUNTRY from the EAST from where the RAVENOUS BIRD will come from. This passage said : “ISLES OF THE SEA” it is clear then that the FAR COUNTRY being mentioned is composed of ISLANDS.

There we have it our dear readers, these following Biblical Descriptions.

It is a FAR COUNTRY from ISRAEL from where the Prophecy was written, from the EAST, and it is composed of ISLANDS.

But the EAST is composed of three divisions.  NEAR EAST, MIDDLE EAST, FAR EAST, which EAST is being mentioned by the PROPHECY?

Let us go have a look at Isaiah 46:11 in the Hebrew Bible, the original language of the OLD TESTAMENT:

The word EAST mentioned in the passage in English is mentioned in Hebrew as “MIZRACH”

And MIZRACH means:

“EAST. The Hebrew term, KEDEM, properly means that which isbefore or in front of a person, and was applied to the east, from the custom of turning in that direction, when describing the points of the compass, before, behind, the right and the left representing respectively east, west, south and north. Job 23:8-9.

The term as generally used refers to the lands lying immediately eastward of Palestine, namely, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Babylonia; on the other hand, MIZRACH, is used of the FAR EAST with a less definite signification. Isa 42:2; Isa 42:25; Isa 43:5; Isa 46:11.” [Smith’s Bible Dictionary]

This dictionary said, MIZRACH is used of the FAR EAST and he also mentioned Isaiah 46:11 as you can see above. So the RAVENOUS BIRD, the MAN that God will send to execute his counsel will come from a FAR COUNTRY from the FAR EAST, composed ofISLANDS.

Is the PHILIPPINES located in the FAR EAST?

"It cannot be without significance that the country which stands almost at the geographical center of the FAR EAST, THE PHILIPPINES, should also be that in which Christianity has taken the deepest root." (Asia and the Philippines,  written by a Jesuit Priest Horacio dela Costa, page.169)

And a prominent Historical Book affirms also:

"The PHILIPPINES were Spain's share of the first colonizing movement in the FAR EAST; The name means the ISLANDS OF PHILIP and refers to that grim ruler, King Philip II." [WORLD HISTORY by E. R. Boak, Preston Slosson, Howard Anderson, Page 445]

Can anyone among our detractors dare to prove that this is not the PHILIPPINES? If it is not the PHILIPPINES, can you kindly tell us which country it is that bears the said Characteristics as mentioned in the Bible?

Do you think Isaiah would not mention the name PHILIPPINES if that name already existed during the time he wrote the prophecy?  An undeniable truth that our country during that time have NO NAME YET, that’s why it was only described by the scriptures.

Remember Isaiah 46:11, is a prophecy about the coming of God’s Last Messenger and not about the emergence of a country.

The subject matter there is the RAVENOUS BIRD, it just so happen that the country where he would come from has no name yet. That’s why the prophecy did not mention any name of a country, and just described how we can be able to know and identify the country that is being spoken of.

So it is very illogical and absurd to insist that the name of the PHILIPPINES should be found in the Bible, because those people who are insisting that, is displaying their GRAVE IGNORANCE in BIBLICAL and HISTORICAL FACTS.

Some would say this upon realizing the teaching of the INC regarding the Philippines:

“It was so hard to believe that God would chose his LAST MESSENGER from a POOR and belonging to the 3^rd world country like the PHILIPPINES, why not He chose from AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, UNITED KINGDOM, etc? Why not from a strong COUNTRY which have highly educated persons, and from a STRONG RACE?”

Those people who oftentimes said this statement, are those who have a lack of knowledge about the scriptures, and often rely only on what they believed which is only the product of their own understanding and opinions. For they do not know the criteria of God in choosing his people and his messengers.

The Bible has this to say:

1 Corinthians 1:26  “for see your calling, brethren, that NOT MANY AREWISE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, NOT MANY MIGHTY, NOT MANY NOBLE;”

1 Corinthians 1:27  “BUT THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD DID GOD CHOOSE, THAT THE WISE HE MAY PUT TO SHAME; AND THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD DID GOD CHOOSE THAT HE MAY PUT TO SHAME THE STRONG;”

1 Corinthians 1:28  “AND THE BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD, AND THE THINGS DESPISED DID GOD CHOOSE, AND THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT, THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE HE MAY MAKE USELESS”.[Young’s Literal Translation]

The Bible has given us enough explanation on this issue. God chooses the weak to put shame the strong. He chooses the Foolish so that the Wise may put to shame, and so on.

Bro. FELIX Y. MANALO came from a WEAK COUNTRY and RACE. He has no HIGH STANDING in society, he has no HIGH EDUCATION, but God had chosen him to become his LAST MESSENGER, to SHAME the STRONG and the WISE.

Which he had done many many  times, during his battle against OTHER RELIGION’S FALSE DOCTRINES which often came from the STRONG COUNTRIES and RACE, which he succeeded, and contributed to the unstoppable growth of the Iglesia Ni Cristountil today. A fulfillment of God’s promise to his Messenger in these last days and to theCHURCH OF CHRIST [Iglesia Ni Cristo] which emerged in the time of the ends of the earth:

Isaiah 41:10  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I amthy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Isaiah 41:11  “Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.”

Isaiah 41:12  “Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.” [KJV]

So fellow brethren if anyone [or specifically Eric] ask you this question:

Is the word “Philippines” in the Bible?

You can simply say:

“The word PHILIPPINES is not in the Bible, but the country of the Philippines which was no name yet during that time the Bible was written was clearly mentioned as the FAR COUNTRY from the FAR EAST [MIZRACH], composed of ISLANDS as the place where the Ravenous Bird or the Messenger of God in these last days would come from or appear  as stated in Isaiah 46:11 and Isaiah 24:15.”

If he ask you again, just ignore him, for he is just displaying his GREAT IGNORANCE andCLOSE MINDEDNESS…

So as we go back to the TRINITARIANS we can ask them this:

Can you show us a PROPERLY TRANSLATED VERSE in the Bible that describes your Trinity which is the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT, as the THREE PERSONS in ONE GOD?

The PHILIPPINES has a passage in the Bible that described it, but do that belief that I mentioned regarding the TRINITY have a passage in the Bible that described it?

Can you show us a verse or verses other than the popular 1 John 5:7 of the King James Version which was proven even by the Trinitarian Bible Scholars to be a FORGED or a MISTRANSLATED VERSE?

We have proven that the COUNTRY of the PHILIPPINES is indeed was mentioned in the Bible. It is the FAR COUNTRY located in the FAR EAST composed of ISLANDS…

So it is QUITE RIGHT to say that the PHILIPPINES is in the BIBLE.

Kung bakit wala kaming pasko?

Ang Iglesia Katolika at mga protestante ay may ipinagdiriwang na Pasko tuwing Disyembre 25 ng bawat taon, na ipinalalagay nila na ito ay ang kapanganakan ng Panginoong Jesucristo. Kaugnay nito, marami silang isinasagawang mga aktibidad at marami rin ang nakikibahagi sa mga iyon.  Kaya may mga pumupuna sa hindi pakikipagkaisa ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa pagdiriwang nila.  Sinasabi ng iba na mabuti pa raw ang kaarawan ng kapanganakan ng mga kaanib sa Iglesia ay aming ipinagdiriwang.  Inaakala tuloy ng ilan na napakaliit ng pagtingin ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa Panginoong Jesucristo.  Kung alam lamang nila na hindi tunay na kaarawan ni Cristo ang ipinagdiriwang nila tuwing Disyembre 25, kundi iyon ay isang pistang pagano na “isina Cristiano,” marahil ay hindi sila papayag na magkaroon sila ng bahagi sa pagdiriwang na iyon.

          Ganito ang mababasa sa isang aklat Katoliko tungkol sa Pasko na ipinagdiriwang ng mga Katoliko at mga Protestante:

“It has sometimes been said that the Nativity [Christmas] is only a Christianized pagan festival.” [Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, page 61]

Sa Filipino:

“Nasabi na sa ilang pagkakataon na ang Natividad [Pasko] ay isa lamang isina-Cristianong kapistahang pagano.”

          Pinatutunayan ng aklat na ito na ang Natividad o Pasko na ipinagdiriwang ng mga Katoliko at mga Protestante ay isa lamang “isina-Cristianong” kapistahang pagano.

Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng salitang PAGAN o “pagano”?

“PA'GAN, n. a Gentile; an idolater; one who worships false gods. This word was originally applied to the inhabitants of the country, who on the first propagation of the Christian religion adhered to the worship of false gods, or refused to receive Christianity, after it had been received by the inhabitants of the cities.” [Webster’s 1828 Dictionary]

Sa Filipino:

“PAGANO, n. isang Gentil; isang mapagsamba sa diosdiosan; sumasamba sa mga hindi tunay na diyos. Ang salitang ito ay unang ginamit sa mga unang mamayan ng isang nayon, na sa pasimula ng pagpapalaganap ng relihiyong Cristiano ay mga nahirati sa pagsamba sa mga hindi tunay na diyos, o yaong tumatanggi na tanggapin ang Cristianismo, pagkaraan na ito ay tinanggap na ng mga naninirahan sa mga lungsod.”

                Maliwanag na sinasabi ng Dictionary na ang isang Pagano ay isang tao na hindi sumasamba sa tunay na Diyos dahil sa ang mga ito ay ang mga nahirati sa pagsamba sa mga diosdiosan, sa panahon natin sila iyong mga Hindu, Budhist, o alin mang relihiyon na lumuluhod at naglilingkod sa mga rebulto o larawan, na tumatanggi sa aral ng Cristianismo.  Sa pagsasabi na ang Pasko ay isina-Cristiano lamang na Pistang Pagano, ibig sabihin noon ay kinopya lamang ito sa pagdiriwang ng mga taong hindi Cristiano na sumasamba sa mga diosdiosan.

Ang Pagkapili ng Disyembre 25

          Ang pagkapili ng Disyembre 25, na diumano’y petsa ng kapanganakan ni Cristo, ay buhat lamang sa impluwensiya ng mga Romanong Pagano:

“…The choice of December 25 was influenced by the fact that the Romans, from the time of Emperor Aurelian (275), had celebrated the feat of the sun god (Sol Invictus: The Unconquered Sun) on that day.  December 25 was called the ‘Birthday of the Sun.’ and great pagan religious celebrations of the Mithras cult were held all through the empire.” [Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, page 61]

Sa Filipino:

“…Ang pagkakapili sa ika-25 ng Disyembre ay naimpluwensiyahan ng pangyayaring ang mga Romano, mula sa panahon ni Emperador Aureliano (275), ay ipinagdiwang ang kapistahan ng diyos na araw (Sol Invictus: ang Hindi Mapananaigang Araw) sa araw na iyon.  Ang ika-25 ng Disyembre ay tinatawag na ‘Araw ng Kapanganakan ng Araw’, at idinaos sa buong imperyo ang mga dakilang paganong pagdiriwang na panrelihiyon ng kultong Metraiko.”

          Maliwanag na ang Disyembre 25 ay hindi siyang tiyak na petsa ng kapanganakan ni Cristo [Wala naman talaga tayong mababasa sa Biblia kung kailan siya ipinanganak].  Ito ay ang Petsa ng isang kapistahan ng mga pagano, na ang ipinagdiriwang ay ang kanilangDiyos na Araw na si Sol Invictus o ang Hindi Mapananaigang Araw.”  Sa petsang ito ay idinaraos ang malaking panrelihiyong pagdiriwang na pagano. At maliwanag nilang inamin na ito ang kanilang pinagbatayan ng pagkapili nila ng Disyembre 25, na siyang kapanganakan daw ni Jesucristo.

Galing din sa Pagano

        Hindi lamang ang petsa ang kinuha o kinopya sa mga pagano kundi pati ang mga gawain kung araw ng Pasko gaya ng mga pagsisindi ng mga kandila at paglalagay ng mga Christmas Tree.

“The candles, in some parts of England, lighted on Christmas eve, and used so long as the festive season lasts, were equally lighted by the pagans on the eve of the festival of the Babylonian god, to do honour to him; for it was one of the distinguishing peculiarities of his worship to have lighted wax candles on his altars.  The Christmas Tree, now so common among us, was equally common in Pagan rome and Pagan Egypt.” [The Two Babylons Or the Papal Worship, p. 97]

Sa Filipino:

“Ang mga kandila, sa ilang bahagi ng Inglatera, na sinisindihan tuwing bisperas ng Pasko, at ginagamit sa buong panahon ng pagdiriwang, ay kaparehong sinisindihan ng mga pagano sa bisperas ng kapistahan ng diyos ng Babilonia, upang parangalan siya: sapagkat ang isa sa mga mapagkakakilanlang kaibahan ng pagsamba sa kaniya ay ang magkaroon ng mga sinindihang kandila sa kaniyang mga dambana.  Ang Christmas Tree, na ngayon ay lubhang pangkaraniwan na sa atin, ay kaparehong pangkaraniwan din sa Paganong Romano at Paganong Ehipto.”

          Nagsisindi ng kandila ang mga pagano sa bisperas ng kapistahan ng diyos ng Babilonia upang parangalan siya.  Ang Cristmas Tree naman ay pangkaraniwan sa paganong Roma at paganong Ehipto. 

          Maging ang mga nagsipagsuri tungkol sa Christmas Tree ay nagsasabi na ito’y isang labi ng pagsamba ng mga pagano sa punong-kahoy:

“Some authorities consider the Christmas tree a survival of pagan tree worship and trace it to ancient Rome and Egypt…”[Collier’s Encyclopedia, vol 6, p.404]

Sa Filipino:

“Ang ilan sa mga awtoridad ay itinuturing ang Christmas tree na isang namamalaging umiiral na labi ng pagsamba sa puno ng mga pagano at matatalunton ito sa matandang Roma at Ehipto.”

          Kaya hindi nakikiisa ang mga Iglesia ni Cristo sa pagdiriwang ng Pasko dahil ito ay nagmula lamang sa mga pagano, hindi lamang ang petsa, kundi maging ang iba’t-ibang gawain na isinasagawa ng mga Katoliko at Protestante sa nasabing okasyon.

Magliligaw sa Katotohanan

          Isang katotohanan na ang Paskong ipinagdiriwang ng mga Katoliko at mga Protestante ay inimbento o katha lamang.  Hindi ito utos ng Diyos kundi utos lang ng tao.  Ang kautusan ng tao, kapag pinagsaligan sa paglilingkod sa Diyos, ay nagliligaw sa katotohanan:

Tito 1:14  “At upang maalis ang hilig nila sa mga alamat ng mga Judio atmga kautusan ng mga tao, na nagliligaw lamang sa kanila sa katotohanan.” (Salita ng Buhay)

          Hindi namamalayan ng mga nakikiisa sa pagdiriwang ng Pasko na sila ay naililigaw na sa katotohanang ikaliligtas, sapagkat sa kanilang ginagawa ay sumusunod sila sa mga kautusan ng tao at mga gawaing pagano.  Ang dapat maging saligan sa paglilingkod ng tao sa Diyos at sa ating Panginoong Jesucristo ay hindi ang mga utos ng tao kundi ang mga kalooban ng Diyos na nakasulat sa mga Banal na Kasulatan.

2 Timoteo 3:15-17  “Mula pa sa pagkabata ay alam mong ang Banal na Kasulatan ay nagtuturo ng daan ng kaligtasan sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya kay Cristo Jesus.  Ang lahat ng Kasulatan ay kinasihan ng Diyos, at nagagamit sa pagtuturo ng katotohanan, sa pagtatama sa maling katuruan, sa pagtutuwid sa likong gawain at sa pagsasanay para sa matuwid na pamumuhay,  upang ang lingkod ng Diyos ay magiging karapat-dapat at handa sa lahat ng mabubuting gawain.”  [Ang Bagong Magandang Balita, Biblia]

          Anumang aral na hindi ayon sa Biblia at labag pa sa itinuturo ng Biblia ay hindi ikaliligtas  kundi tiyak na ikapapahamak sa Araw ng Paghuhukom:

2 Tesalonica 2:11-12 “Sapagkat hindi nila tinanggap ang katotohanan, ipinaubaya sila ng Diyos na sila’y malinlang ng espiritu ng kamalian at papaniwalain sa kasinungalingan upang maparusahan ang lahat ng pumili sa kasamaan sa halip na tumanggap sa katotohanan” (Magandang Balita, Biblia)

Ito ang isa sa dahilan kaya hindi ipinagdiriwang ng Iglesia ni Cristo ang “Pasko” ng mga Katoliko at mga Protestante.  Ano ang mapapala sa isang araw ng masayang pagdiriwang, kung ito naman ay patungo sa pagkahamak ng ating mga kaluluwa magpakailan man?

 Sanggunian

Collier’s Encyclopedia.  New York: Macmillan Educational Company. 1964.

Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs. Francis X. Weiser. New York: Hartcourt, Brace & World, Inc., n. d.

The Two Babylons Or the Papal Worship. Rev. Alexander Hislop. Neptune, New Jersey: Loizcaux Brothers, Inc., 1943.

Converts Ex Catholic Pries turn to minister of INC

My Quest for the Truth, the way and the Life
by Beda Aboloc

(right click photos then select open link in new tab)

source: Pasugo Issue July 1964

Bro. Beda Aboloc became a minister and he also became as editor in chief of the Pasugo Magazine in November 1973-1974. But before that, he was an ordained Catholic Priest who latter quit Priesthood and was enlightened about the teachings of the Church of Christ.