Mga kapatid, sa aking muling pagbabalik sa mga pahina ng “weblog” na ito, hayaan ninyong ibahagi ko sa inyo ang isang makabuluhang diskusyon sa pagitan ng Katoliko at Iglesia ni Cristo. Nais ko pong ipagpauna na ang diskusyong ito ay di opisyal na tinitindigan ng Iglesia Ni Cristo bilang isang institusyon kundi isang pakikipagdebate sa pagitan ng kanilang miyembro na bahagi rin ng “on-line forum” na pinoyexchange.com.
Paksa: The 1st Century Church was completely apostatized
Ang kabuuan ng diskusyon ay ginamitan ng wikang ingles kung kaya’t hinihingi ko na po ang paumanhin ninyo sapagkat di ko po ito isasalin sa wikang Filipino.
Introduction By The Affirmative (Iglesia Ni Cristo)
It was a frigid noon when I and my wife arrived in Charlotte, NC. It was the beginning of the new millennium and there we were in a place we hardly known. It was our first time to step foot on US soil. Armed with just an address, a print-out from Mapquest, and few hundred dollars, we rented a car right there in the airport. Avis offered us a GPS to use but I refused. I needed to save some money. We got all we need to get to the address given to us, so I thought. With me on the wheel and my wife the navigator, we cruise through the highway, following directions after directions as stated in the print-out. Two, three,…five hours past, and we still can’t find the place we’re going to. We needed to fill-up the gas and ask for directions. In short, we got lost. I should have taken that GPS.
In this debate, I will offer you a GPS. It’s free. It’s up to you to accept or refuse it.
I am (name withheld), an active member of the Church of Christ or Iglesia ni Cristo. Let it be known that this debate is NOT authorized by the Church of Christ Administration so please do not construe this as official debate. My postings in this debate should not be referenced as official teachings of the church. If anyone would like to arrange a formal debate, kindly go to the nearest Iglesia ni Cristo congregation or visit our official website: www.incmedia.org and look for the addresses provided there.
In this debate, I will affirm that the first century church was completely apostatized. The word “completely” is the key word here. My opponent might argue that it was apostatized but not completely, or he might argue that it wasn’t apostatized at all. With him insisting on the word, I presume he would argue on the first. I am ready either way. I commend him for being courageous to stand-up for his belief and thank him for accepting me as his challenger.
I also would like to thank (Judge 1) and (Judge 2) for accepting to moderate this debate. It’s my pleasure to be around great thinkers like them. Not to be forgotten are the people in the gallery. The seats are almost full and the excitement fills-up the air. I can guarantee you a gentlemanly and yet, uncompromising debate. Lastly, I would like to commend my brethren on their zeal to defend the Church of Christ and her teachings.
May the Spirit of God be with all of us!
Introduction by the Negative (Catholic)
During this time of the year, people, especially Filipinos around the world, are focused and keeping themselves busy in preparing and double-checking their recipes for a sumptuous Media Noche feast to welcome the coming year. Markets, both wet and dry, are bustling with varying meats, fruits, seafood and veggies with every seller hoping to make a killing at the cash register.
Somehow, somewhere, the busy lifestyle of the urban jungle made this celebration superficial and purely material. Your ordinary cosmopolitan family is more concerned about what foods should be served on the table rather than making sure that everyone in the family would make it to this annual feast. The traditional values seem to have been drowned by the fast-paced lifestyle that we all are enjoying. We tend to forget that this season is a time to celebrate filial love, family unity and togetherness amidst these trying and busy times.
But is it enough for us to say that all those traditional Filipino values have completely disappeared? Is it right for us to conclude that no one, not even those who doesn’t dwell on the busy lights of urban living, still exists to this very day that continues to celebrate, observe and share that very same family love and devotion?
Through this debate, I am hoping to show you that old values don’t die. And that those people who cling to these values do everything to pass it on to their offspring.
I am representing myself and my beliefs on this debate. I guess there’s no special need to expound on that. As what my respectable counterpart mentioned in his introduction, this discussion isn’t an official Catholic vs. INC debate but rather, a civilized discussion between two people who are sitting on different sides of the fence but are willing to talk through their differences with courtesy and respect.
Let me extend my gratitude to (name withheld), who had taken a courageous stand in accepting this friendly challenge. We all know that this is going to be a first in RoT and I’m hoping that this won’t be the last.
Special thanks to both (Judge 1) and (Judge 2) for accepting the difficult task of being the moderators/judges for this debate. I would assure you that it’s all worth it.
This debate has given me the enviable chance to prove that my beliefs as a Catholic are not founded on shallow and shaky grounds. And I was fortunate enough to have gotten this opportunity to do this as part of my preparations for the coming year.
I am hoping that everyone who would witness this intellectual exchange of ideas would also be blessed amidst the uncertainty that most of us face in our spiritual lives.
May God bless us all as we re-trace the roots of His Church from the 1st century to this very day.
Let us all witness how truthful Jesus is to His word. For His word is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
to be continued…..
