Cult Watch: Updates of cult activities from the Philippines

		Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1Peter 3.15

Cult Profiles Cult Updates	"SI CRISTO AY TAO LAMANG" O "SI CRISTO AY TAO?" For Christians desiring to share their faith with an Iglesia Ni Cristo (1914) member, I would suggest that you do not used the phraseology "Si Cristo ay tao lamang." This is because the INC (1914) members believe that Christ is not an ordinary human being (i.e. "tao lamang") which, in their world view, makes Him at par with us. He is, according to them, "a unique human being" therefore eliminating any speculation that He is equal with other created beings like us. The Pasugo/June 1995 issue will give you an idea on what they believe about Christ: "Finally, we affirm that in spite of the high regard that we have of the person of Christ, that in spite of the many attributes that He possesses, all of them were given to Him by God which which set Him as a unique human being, Jesus Christ is a man and not God...." (Bienvenido C. Santiago, "Is Jesus Christ Called 'God' In John 1:1?"), p. 12. You will notice that the INC 1914 writer stated that "Jesus Christ is a man" and not "Jesus Christ is man only." If you need our refutation on Santiago's above article, please do inform us. ______________________________________ THE TAGALOG TRANSLATION OF RECOVERY VERSION Witness Lee, the late founder of the Local Church cult group, developed a study Bible (i.e. Recovery Version of The Bible) designed to propagate his self-styled teachings. The primary edition of their New Testament was actually named "Gold Bar" because of the gold edging along with it. Their New Testament was was first release last 1985 and another publication took place in University Press, England. Once again, another translation took place when Lee and his committee decided to produce a Tagalog translation entitled, "Ang Bagong Tipan: Salin sa Pagbabawi." This is a leather-bound Bible with gold edging also designed to rival those of the recognized Evangelical study Bibles. This Tagalog translation called Filipino Recovery Version of 1985 and 1991 is actually a translation of their Chinese and English translation and not coming from the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Lee includes also that of the Old Testament but without notes. This translation is a very biased one containing the notes and theology of Witness Lee which cannot be endorsed by many of the recognized Bible scholars. ______________________________________ MORMON FOUNDATION SPONSORED BY A MORMON OWNED COMPANY Many Filipinos including Christian members and pastors are being captivated by this new networking business offered by NU Skin. Unfortunately, several believers involved in this Multi-Level Marketing company do not know that the owners are zealous Mormons. In fact, they are considered to be the major sponsor of a Mormon founded Mabuhay-Deseret Foundation in the Philippines even around the world. I can see nothing wrong with Christians working in the company owned by a Hindu, Muslim, Atheist or even Roman Catholic as long as that company do not support openly any of their ideology by affixing with it the name of their business. Christians can be the salt and light inside that company without compromising their faith. But it is a quite different thing to work in a company wherein it is an obvious fact that the company you are connected with are openly supporting a foundation that subtly promotes their unbiblical belief. By watching the NU Skin CD or VHS, you will notice that the Mormons founded Mabuhay-Deseret Foundation was documented under the Force for Good segment. When I called their office foundation in Cubao, Quezon City to verify, I politely inquired if theirs is a religious organization. The lady from the other line informed me that the foundation is a non-government organization aimed at helping the needy Filipinos. I noticed that she was trying to evade my questions. So I probed even further by asking if the founder of this foundation is a Mormon. Her voice suddenly lowered by saying, "Yes." It was actually founded by a former official of the Mormon church in the Philippines according to her. With regards to the NU Skin, she revealed that it is owned by Mormons, as well, directed at openly supporting the Mabuhay-Deseret Foundation. And I ask her if she herself is a Mormon and she said, "Yes, I am." Note: The Bereans Ministry is speaking from a personal religious conviction and not about any of the products offered by the company. ______________________________________ HARRY POTTER MOVIE ON THE LOOSE IN THE PHILIPPINES Ever since the Harry Potter books became best sellers, many bookstores including the major ones here in the Philippines are selling it. This books may seem to be harmless at first glance but many Filipinos are ignoring the fact that the story is promoting witchcraft for kids. This book seems to show that witchcraft tends to be harmless but on the other hand it is not. Now that the story has been transformed into a motion picture, many Filipino children including adults are about to watch it. And it is a sad fact that many movie owners do not know the effect of such movie to the young and old alike. The Bible forewarns and even abhors every form of witchcraft from the Old Testament to the New Testament. ______________________________________ WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY Ever since the tracts hit the Christian bookstores the people became very much encouraged because of its goals to edify the believers and to evangelize the cultists. These are some of the comments we received through text messaging: "I thank God for your ministry of exposing the false teachings of these groups. [I] pray for Gods wisdom to all of you. I am Godfrey of Iloilo and like other Christians aim to expose the false teachings." - a teacher "Salamat sa Dios sa pagkakatatag ng The Bereans ... Joel G. of GMA Mennonite church" - a church member "I am a worship leader in our local church here in San Mateo, Rizal. May I know about the ministry of the Bereans para mai-share ko sa meeting ng mga council in our local church kasi po I am one of the council member. Puwede ko pong i-suggest na gawing one of the activities ng church ang gagawin ninyong pagse-seminar. Marami po kasing churches sa may area namin na puwedeng i-invite for the seminar na iko-conduct." - a worship leader These are but some of those touched and encouraged by the ministry. We believe that many more Filipinos will know and pray about the mission and vision of The Bereans. May these tracts be an instrument to lead the cultist out of darkness into God's marvelous light. ______________________________________ THE BEREANS: APOLOGETICS RESEARCH MINISTRY ANNOUNCES THEIR FIRST TEN ARTICLE TRACTS The Bereans: Apologetics Research Ministry announces this August 25, 2001 the release of their first ten article tracts which are now available in the 9 branches of the Philippine Christian Bookstores (PCBS) in the Metro Manila and soon will also be available in the 46 outlets in the provinces: Ang Pinakadelikadong Libro sa Buong Mundo –- A shocking exposé of mistranslations made by the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ through their own version of the Bible known as “New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.” You will be aware of the JW Governing Body involved in the “translation.” It will also help Christians on how to use the NWT to lead a Jehovah's Witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. Trinidad Ayon sa Kapahayagan ng Bibliya –- A very helpful article to many Christians and non-Christians alike in proving how the Trinity doctrine is supported by both the Old and New Testaments. This will also aid every Christian who is having difficulty explaining the Trinity doctrine to the skeptics. Jesus is God (But Not the True God) Says I.N.C. Ministers –- A revealing article that will put the Philippine-based indigenous cult group known as Iglesia Ni Cristo (1914) to shame. This will hopefully challenge every individual I.N.C. (1914) ministers and members to go back to the year 1939 where the I.N.C. (1914) writers of Pasugo magazine teaches Jesus Christ to be “God” but not the true God using Isaiah 9:6 and Hebrews 1:8 as supporting verses. To date they have already abandoned these and a number of verses proving Jesus’ deity. It will also show the group’s shallow doctrinal position about Christ. Ang Mga Kulto Ng Kristiyanismo –- A brief article dealing with the various known cultic groups in the country and comparing it with orthodox Christianity in terms of major doctrines although not exhaustive. Cultic groups includes PMCC 4th Watch, United Pentecostal Church, Metro Manila Christian Church, etc. M.M.C.C. “The Boston Movement”: Kulto Ba? -- An exposé of one of the fastest growing cultic groups in the Philippines. This will inform any one who is interested about the group’s early beginnings and how they differ with the mainline Church of Christ in practice and conflicts with the orthodox Christianity in terms of soteriology (salvation). Ang Bibliyang Hindi Mapagkakatiwalaan -– When the Jehovah’s Witnesses launched their new Tagalog version of the Bible, many gullible Filipinos will surely believe that this is just another Bible “translation.” Think again, for in this article, the writer will inform you that this is just a Tagalog rendition of their English New World Translation. It will also expose a number of Bible verses twisted in order to insert their preconceived theology in the pages of the Scriptures. Isang Pagsusuri sa mga Katuruan Ni Soriano –- An article dealing with two of the false teachings of the Ang Dating Daan founder, Eliseo Soriano. This will make the public aware of his faulty Bible interpretation, including his belief about Jesus Christ being a Mighty God but “not” the Almighty God. A belief held already by Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Ang Dating Daan: Tama Bang Magpaliwanag Ng Bibliya? -– This will give you a brief history of the said cultic group. It will also assist every new Christian believer regarding proper Bible Study. Kaligtasan: Ano Ang Dapat na Gawin? -- Since many cultic groups use James’ writings to “prove” that good work is needed to get a person straight to heaven. This article will aid every Christian believer to do a careful study of those “pet verses” in James and honestly compare it with the whole message of the Bible. Ngunt sa Ganang Atin ay May Isang Diyos Lamang -– Exposes the false belief of some religious groups like the Mormons, the Ang Dating Daan,and the Jehovah’s Witnesses -- being polytheists contrary to the Biblical view of monotheism. More article tracts like these will be available in the future to reach out and to evangelize the Filipino cultists in this generation. The Bereans continue to covet your prayers and support. ______________________________________ THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD ACKNOWLEDGES THE PLAIN TRUTH Before the founder of The Worldwide Church of God died last 1986 at age 96 there was already a slow doctrinal transition that took place under the leadership of his successor named, Joseph Tkach, Sr. After Tkach, Sr. died last 1995 due to cancer his son Joseph Tkach, Jr. took the baton in leading the movement. According to Mike Feazell, executive assistant to Pastor General, the older Tkach has this desire to teach the truth. In fact, during "February of 1991, two authorities of Worldwide Church of God were invited to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Illinois) to speak about their doctrinal changes at the Tanner Lecture Series." (The Deceivers, p. 281) Let us read Joseph W. Tkach's statement which is worth noting, "Gone are our obsession with a legalistic interpretation of the New Testament, our belief in British Israelism, and our insistence on our fellowship's exclusive relationship with God. Gone are our condemnations of medical science, the use of cosmetics, and traditional Christian celebrations such as Easter and Christmas. Gone is our long-held view of God as a 'family' of multiple 'spirit beings' into which humans may be born, replaced by a biblically accurate view of one God who exists eternally in three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. "We have embraced and now champion the New Testament's central theme: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus' saving work on behalf of humanity is now the focus of our flagship magazine, The Plain Truth, rather than end-time prophetic speculation. We proclaim the sufficiency of our Lord's substitutionary sacrifice to save us from the death penalty of sin. We teach salvation by grace, based on faith alone, without resort to works of any kind. We understand that our Christian works constitute our inspired, grateful response to God's work on our behalf -- 'We love because he first loved us' (1 John 4:19) -- and that by these works we do not 'qualify' ourselves for anything, nor do we compel God to act on our behalf. As William Barclay put it, 'We are saved for good works, not by good works." (CRI Journal, Winter 1996, p. 53) If this happened to the Worldwide Church of God, it can also happen to thousands of Mormons, I.N.C. (1914), Jehovah's Witnesses, Soriano followers, and many other cult groups out there. Bear in mind that it is not us that changes the heart of each people but it is the mighty work of the Holy Spirit who does the final penetration. As one apologist put it, "Plant, plant, plant, water, water, water, and allow God to make it grow." JEHOVAH'S WITNESS LAUNCHED THEIR N.W.T. IN TAGALOG TRANSLATION Last December 2000, during their annual convention held in Quezon City the Tagalog translation of their New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures was introduced to more than 8,000 strong Jehovah's Witnesses. The Tagalog translation of N.W.T. was called "Bagong Sanlibutang Salin ng Banal na Kasulatan." They printed 104,200,000 copies of that kind of Bible to be distributed to every living Filipino in this country. People must beware of such perverted translation. (To expose the error of this version please request for a tract entitled "Ang Bibliyang Hindi Mapagkakatiwalaan") I.N.C. (1914) PRODUCES A NEW PROGRAM "ANG TAMANG DAAN" To counter the criticism of Ang Dating Daan's Eliseo Soriano against the Igleisa ni Cristo (1914), the latter produced a new program on Net 21 titled, "Ang Tamang Daan." The purpose of this I.N.C. (1914) program is to refute Soriano's teachings by showing a video footage of him during his expose and make the Bible verse he is quoting align on what they believe. PHILIPPINE-BASED CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS MINISTRY A spiritual discernment ministry in the Philippines organized last 1995 called The Bereans: Apologetics Research Ministry launched their new website this June 2001 to minister in a worldwide scale. Filipinos all over the country including outside the Philippines will have the chance to be equip in sharing the gospel among the cultists. This ministry offers cult awareness seminar to every church organization that are interested. They have already conducted seminars to different churches and the response was excellent.