What You’re Really Giving up for Lent

What You’re Really Giving up for Lent

[4:37] – Although many Christian-professing religions observe this season, how does the Catholic Church specifically define this season of Lent?
[7:38] – Did the apostles observe Lent?
[10:13] – Is the observance of Lent something that is commanded in the Bible?
[13:26] – Are the members of this Church against remembering or commemorating the death of our Lord Jesus Christ?
[14:55] – What is it that our Lord Jesus Christ had taught His apostles?
[18:02] – Why do members of the Church Of Christ not observe religious days, months, and seasons of years like that of the Catholic Lenten season?
[19:39] – What should people do with such observances?
[25:55] – Is it wrong to eat meat, even on those days prohibited by the Catholic Church? Is it a teaching of God to forbid the eating of meat?
[29:44] – Where can we find in the Bible that if someone is upholding a doctrine of the devil or a false doctrine that he or she will not receive salvation?
[32:59] – Does God agree with those acts or actions even if done with devotion?
[34:11] – What’s subjecting one’s body to such brutal or harsh treatment have any value before the Lord, if such are based on man-made teachings or ideas?
[37:12] – What do the members of the Church Of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo do with the confidence that doing such things will not end up in vain?

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INC International Edition

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Today’s Topic: Lenten Season and Fasting

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Johnny Martin
Minister of the Gospel
Quezon City, Philippines

Brother Johnny Martin: Hello everyone and welcome to the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. You know, every year many Christian-professing religions practice the Lenten season and fasting in commemoration of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many are devoted in their services even to the point that they would inflict self harm upon themselves. But is that the true way of remembering or commemorating the death of the Lord Jesus Christ? Did the apostles ever observe such practices or traditions? And if not, will the Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ accept them even if they are done with sincere devotion? All of that and much more today on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition.

Participating in today’s discussion are Brother Solomon Joves in San Francisco, California, Brother Ruben Bustos in Los Angeles, California, and Brother Glenn David in Sydney, Australia. Hello, brothers!

All: Hello, Brother Johnny.

Brother Johnny: Well, brothers and dear viewers, it’s almost that time of year when Christian-professing religions are readying themselves for the Lenten season to commemorate the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now before we go into our discussion today, let’s take a look at this video which would shed some light on this season.

[Video starts – Source: Youtube]

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Busted Halo Street Seekers presents
You don’t know Jack! …about LENT
with Fr. Jack Collins, CSP

Father Jack Collins: Father Jack Collins from Busted Halo on the streets of the city of New York in front of Saint Patrick’s cathedral on this Ash Wednesday, asking people, “Why are they wearing ashes, and what is Lent all about?”

I see that you’re wearing ashes. Can you tell me why you’re wearing ashes?

Interviewee 1: I get them every year. It’s been a family thing since I was younger.

Interviewee 2: We had a responsibility to thank God to go to get our ashes and be grateful.

Interviewee 3: I think that this is a way to help me kind of stay connected since I don’t go to church all the time.

Interviewee 4: It’s a recognition of our mortality.

Interviewee 2: It’s good preparation for Lent and for Easter.

Fr. Jack: When you think of Lent, what do you think of?

Interviewee 3: A time for change, time for growth.

Interviewee 5: Sacrifice.

Interviewee 4: Christ dying on the cross, giving His life.

Fr. Jack: It’s kind of a time when we step back and acknowledge that not everything in the world is going right. We know that a lot of people are excluded. Sometimes even we ourselves bear grudges and maybe we need to forgive people, but often violence is met with violence. So Lent is kind of a time to say, “Wow, what is it that we can do in order to bring about in the world a better world, a better place for the world to be, which is of course the whole mission?”

[Video ends]

Brother Johnny: Okay brothers, now that we’ve watched that video clip regarding Lent and what others think about Lent, what are your comments about the things that were mentioned there in the video clip?

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Glenn David
Minister of the Gospel
Sydney, Australia

Brother Glenn David: Yes, Brother Johnny, I thought it was a very interesting title for a segment, especially for those who don’t know the expression, “You don’t know jack,” which simply means one doesn’t know anything or [have] any knowledge of that subject matter. So as for this priest, we can probably say that he’s the one that doesn’t know jack mainly because he’s spreading a belief that millions of people in the world uphold, not just there in New York, but also maybe there in the Philippines, New York, wherever you are, even here in Australia. But if one were to do their research concerning Ash Wednesday or the Lenten season, I think you’ll find many people will change their mind or think twice about commemorating or celebrating that season.

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Solomon Joves
Minister of the Gospel
San Francisco, California

Brother Solomon Joves: Also Brother Johnny, if I may give my reaction, one thing that I noticed is that the people that were interviewed by this Catholic priest seem to not be in agreement as to their definition or understanding of what the Lenten season truly is for them.

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Ruben Bustos
Minister of the Gospel
Los Angeles, California

Brother Ruben Bustos: Brother Solomon is right, Brother Johnny. If you notice, these people were giving their various conclusions about what they feel that the Lenten season was about and Ash Wednesday, and it seemed like no one really knew what it really was or what it stood for.

Brother Johnny: Okay. Well, brothers and dear friends, let’s go right into our discussion right now of this particular topic regarding Lent. Now although many Christian-professing religions observe this season, how does the Catholic Church specifically define this season of Lent? Brother Solomon, if we could begin with you please.

Brother Solomon: Brother Johnny and dear viewers, according to a Catholic book entitled The Visible Church, on page 184 of that book, it states the following:

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“Lent is a season of penance set apart by the church in memory of the fast of our Lord in the desert,…” “The date of the beginning of Lent varies from year to year, according to the date of Easter.

In Latin it is called Quadregisima (fortieth), from which are taken the Italian Quaresima and the French Quarentieme. The English name is from the Anglo- Saxon Lencten, which means Spring.”

Source: The Visible Church, p. 184

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Solomon Joves
Minister of the Gospel
San Francisco, California

Brother Solomon: Dear friends, from what we have read, Lent, according to the Catholic Church, is a season of penance, set apart by the Catholic Church in memory or in remembrance of the fast of our Lord Jesus Christ in the desert. Remember our Lord Jesus Christ prior to beginning His public ministry fasted for forty days and forty nights. Now according to the Catholic Church, the Lenten season is in observance or in commemoration or done in memory of that fast of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brother Ruben: Brother Johnny if I may read from another Catholic source, a book entitled The Question Box, on page 442, it mentions the following:

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“What is the meaning of Lent?… the Church’s annual retreat, urging Catholics to share in the solemn commemoration of our Redemption by our Lord’s death on the Cross. The forty days were suggested by the fasting of Moses, Elias and especially our Lord…”

Source: The Question Box,
Bertrand Conway, p. 442

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Ruben Bustos
Minister of the Gospel
Los Angeles, California

Brother Ruben: So from the statements that the Catholic Church has mentioned, they say that Lent is the annual retreat of the Catholic Church where Catholics are urged to commemorate our Lord Jesus Christ or the redemption of theirs by our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, they mention that that is the time that they reflect on our Lord Jesus Christ. They set aside time for that. They remember the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. They remember His suffering. They remember His life as well as His death, and His ultimate resurrection.

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Glenn David
Minister of the Gospel
Sydney, Australia

Brother Glenn: And Brother Johnny, according to this Catholic website, www.catholic.org, it is the season before what we know as Easter, and in the Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday, it marks the first day of the Lenten season, which begins forty days before or prior to Easter. Although Sundays are not included in that count.

Brother Johnny: Well, brothers, those are interesting facts or information about the Catholic belief regarding the Lenten season. However, quite curiously, Brother Ruben, did the apostles ever observe this Lenten season during their time? In other words, did the apostles observe Lent?

Brother Ruben: No, Brother Johnny. The irony of it is the Catholic Church positively asserts that Lent could not be traced back to the apostles. In fact if we read a book entitled The Externals of the Catholic Church written by John F. Sullivan, we could read on pages 209 to 210 the following:

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“The History of Lent. The duration of this penitential season has not always been the same in different ages of the Church’s history. We cannot assert positively that Lent can be traced back to the Apostles, but we know that some sort of fasting time has been observe before the Easter festival from very early days. It is mentioned by Tertullian and St. Irinaeus, and especially by St. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, who defined that it was to be a fast of forty days; and rules concerning it were made by early Councils, prescribing fasting as a strict obligation. … the Lenten regulations of our Church were very severe, especially in the early Middle Ages. All flesh meat was forbidden, …”

Source: The Externals of the Catholic Church
John F. Sullivan, D.D. Nihil Obstat, pp. 209-210

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Ruben Bustos
Minister of the Gospel
Los Angeles, California

Brother Ruben: Now from what we have read, dear friend, it mentioned here that the duration of this penitential season has not always been the same in the different ages of the church’s history. But we must emphasize, Brother Johnny, from what we have read, that the Catholic Church admits that they could not positively assert that such a practice can be traced back to the apostles. However, there was something that they do assert positively. They say that there was some sort of fasting that was done. It was mentioned by Tertullian, mentioned by Irinaeus and even Athenesius, who was the one that had mentioned that the forty days should be observed. Now if you notice that these persons that they had rattled off or mentioned, all of them came after the death of the apostles. Now even the rules of fasting they mentioned, they were made by early councils and they were strictly observed. In fact, if I may quote from the book, it said, “The regulations of our Church were very severe, especially in the early Middle Ages. All flesh meat was forbidden.”

Brother Johnny: Okay, now let’s stay on this point, brothers. Is the observance of Lent something that is commanded in the Bible? Is it something that is recorded in Scripture and something that Christians are ordered to do? For example, did Jesus teach it to His followers? Did His apostles teach it to the members of the early Christian church? Brother Solomon, if we could ask you those questions.

Brother Solomon: Well the simple answer, Brother Johnny, is no. And in fact, the Catholic Church themselves or itself admits that it is not recorded in the Bible. And we can read all about that here in a book entitled A Catholic Dictionary on page 507. This is what is written:

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There is no mention in Scripture of the observance of Lent, …”

Source: A Catholic Dictionary, p. 507

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Solomon Joves
Minister of the Gospel
San Francisco, California

Brother Solomon: In this Catholic book it is admitted that there is no mention in scripture or in the Bible regarding the observance of Lent. In other words, the Bible doesn’t say anything about Lent that is being observed by the Catholic Church and its many members, or even religious groups. Therefore, it can be safely concluded that the members of the Roman Catholic Church is doing something that is not found in the Bible, that they’re practicing something, observing a season, a practice that is not recorded in the Holy Bible. It is unbiblical.

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Today’s Topic: Lenten Season and Fasting

Brother Johnny: Very interesting points, brothers. Now dear viewers, in short the Catholic Church implemented a season called Lent, wherein its members would fast for forty days before Easter in remembrance of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, what we must understand is that such a practice or tradition cannot be traced back to the apostles. It is not found in the Bible.

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Johnny Martin
Minister of the Gospel
Quezon City, Philippines

Brother Johnny: This observance of Lent arises long after the death of the apostles, so observing Lent, well, that’s not the proper way to commemorate the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, which brought about redemption. But since the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo or the Church Of Christ don’t join in the unscriptural observance of Lent, does that mean to say that we are against commemorating the death of the Lord Jesus Christ? That’s what we’re going to talk about next as the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition continues. Please stay with us.

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INC International Edition

Brother Johnny: Welcome back everyone to this episode of the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. Today we are discussing Lent which is an annual observance for the members of the Catholic Church and even other religious groups. And we have learned so far that this observance is something that is not in the Scripture.

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Johnny Martin
Minister of the Gospel
Quezon City, Philippines

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Today’s Topic: Lenten Season and Fasting

Brother Johnny: It is not something that was commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ as the way to commemorate His death. It is not something that was taught by the apostles to the members of the early Christian community. But such observance arises hundreds of years after the death of the apostles. So the members of this Church, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, we do not participate in this observance. However, should that be taken to mean that the members of this Church are against remembering or commemorating the death of our Lord Jesus Christ? Brother Ruben, if you could please help us in providing our answer to that particular question.

Brother Ruben: Well Brother Johnny, in answering your question, the answer is no. In fact, we do, inside the Church Of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo, observe and remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. But in doing so, what we do is we follow the example or what is taught in the Holy Scriptures and we could read Apostle Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. This is what we could read:

For I received from the LORD that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
[1 Corinthians 11:23-25 New King James Version]

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Ruben Bustos
Minister of the Gospel
Los Angeles, California

Brother Ruben: Hence according to the Apostle Paul, he was very careful when it came to what he received from our Lord Jesus Christ, meaning to say he didn’t add to it, he didn’t take away from it, but he strictly observed the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is it that our Lord Jesus Christ had taught His apostles? That they should eat the bread which symbolizes the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. They should drink from the cup that contains the juice of the fruit of the vine that symbolizes the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they should do this in commemoration or remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brother Johnny: Now, Brother Glenn, what occasion did the Lord Jesus Christ do this, which was also passed onto the apostles to relay this to the true Christians to truly remember or commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Brother Glenn: This was done during the Holy Supper which our Lord Jesus Christ Himself instituted, and we can read that here in Matthew 26:26-28:

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
[Matthew 26:26-28 New King James Version]

Brother Glenn: So yes, our Lord Jesus Christ implemented the Holy Supper for His Church that when one was to eat from the bread, which symbolizes His body and drink from the cup, which contains the juice of the fruit of the vine, which symbolizes His blood, one would receive the forgiveness of sins and this is the true way, Brother Johnny, the true manner of commemorating the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Solomon Joves
Minister of the Gospel
San Francisco, California

Brother Solomon: And if you can notice, brothers and Brother Johnny, if you would allow me, there is no mention in the New Testament writings about the early Christians fasting for forty days, nor is it ever mentioned in the Bible that they were commanded to abstain or from eating flesh meats because the Bible doesn’t mention anything about our Lord Jesus Christ teaching or the apostles passing onto the early Christians that they should observe what is called Lenten season, beginning from what they call today as Ash Wednesday. So the Lenten season and all the practices and the traditions associated with it are completely unbiblical. They cannot simply be found in the Holy Bible.

Brother Johnny: And you know, dear friends, that’s the reason that the true way to remember or commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ is to partake of the Holy Supper being observed inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, and that’s really what we do as members of the Church Of Christ. We observe the Holy Supper in accordance with the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. It is during this very sacred occasion that we reflect and examine ourselves and vow to God that we will renew our lives, so that when we do partake of the bread symbolizing the body of Christ, and partake of the juice of the fruit of the vine symbolizing the blood of Christ, we will be able to partake in a worthy manner to receive the blessing of the forgiveness of our sins. Now, why do members of the Church Of Christ, Brother Glenn, not observe religious days, months, and seasons of years like that of the Catholic Lenten season?

Brother Glenn: Because the Bible is quite clear, quite specific in fact that the children of God do not do that. And we could read that here in the teaching of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 4:9, 10 and 7. This is what the Bible teaches us, this is what we could read:

But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
[Galatians 4:9, 10 and 7 New King James Version]

Brother Glenn: So for those whom God acknowledges as His true children or sons and daughters, as mentioned by the Apostle Paul, God desires that or expects them to never go back again. Don’t turn back to the weak and worthless system or be sinners again or slaves of sin as mentioned by the Apostle Paul. Now, how can this be done? Well it’s done when they’re observing religious days, months, seasons and years. For example, the Lenten season which totally contradicts the teachings of the Holy Bible, Brother Johnny.

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Glenn David
Minister of the Gospel
Sydney, Australia

Brother Johnny: Well since this observance of Lent being done by the Catholic Church is something different from what the apostles taught to the members of the early Christian church, Brother Solomon, if we could ask you please, what should people do with such observances?

Brother Solomon: Well this is what the apostles taught all of us. In Galatians 1:8, listen to what he says:

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
[Galatians 1:8 New King James Version]

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Solomon Joves
Minister of the Gospel
San Francisco, California

Brother Solomon: According to the apostles, those who preached things that are different from what the apostles taught, they must be accursed. They and the wrong message and the wrong doctrines and teachings must be utterly and completely rejected. And since the observance of Lent was not taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, nor was it passed on by the apostles to the Christians, the true members of the true Church, then they should also be discarded because true Christians, as depicted in scripture, they do not observe the Lenten season. It is not biblical.

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Today’s Topic: Lenten Season and Fasting

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INC International Edition

Brother Johnny: Well, dear viewers, coming up next we’re going to be taking a little deeper look into things that are being done by those who are observing Lent. Now what practices does the Catholic Church observe when the so-called Holy Week of the Lenten season comes around? Well that’s what’s coming up next on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. Please stay with us.

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INC International Edition

Brother Johnny: Welcome back, everyone, to the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition where we had been discussing the Catholic Church’s observance of Lent. Well what are some things that the members of the Catholic Church do in their observance of the Lenten season? For example, during what is called Holy Week. What is one of the things that the members of the Catholic Church are taught to do during the Lenten season? Well, let’s watch this video clip.

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GOOD question?

News anchor 1: It’s a tradition in every Christian religion, the observance of Lent leading up to Easter Sunday. The time of penance and for Catholics, a time to give something up, traditionally, meat on Fridays.

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GOOD question?
Do Catholics Still Have To Give Up Meat On Fridays?

News anchor 2: But a lot of modern Catholics aren’t sure if that’s still required. Do Catholics still have to give up meat on Fridays? KXLY 4’s Melissa Luck, and the answer is the next good question.

Melissa Luck: McDonald’s didn’t create the rules about abstaining from meat on Fridays, but they may as well have. Many well-meaning Catholics end up in these drive throughs every Friday during Lent.

Father Richard King: It’s always been a tradition at least in the church in the United States, and I think throughout the world, to give up something.

Melissa: Long before the golden arches, canon law dictated that Catholics abstain from meat during the forty days of Lent. In fact, major world celebrations were created because of it.

Father Richard: If you remember the Mardi Gras down in New Orleans, the whole reason for that was that people gave up meat, mostly during Lent and so carnevale was the word, “goodbye to meat.”

Melissa: But like a lot of Catholic law, those rules were relaxed in the 1960s with the second vatican council. Suddenly priests faced their congregations, Latin went out the window, and the rules about meat during Lent changed too.

Father Richard: When I was a child, if you ate meat, that was considered a sin and you had to confess it. Now there’s not that kind of a sin attached to it.

Melissa: Now Catholic can eat meat during Lent. But what about Fridays? I called a few Spokane priests and couldn’t get an exact answer. One told me it’s up to the individual dioses to decide. But Father Richard King set me straight when I asked, “Do Catholics still have to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent?”

Father Richard: We are also asked to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and the other Fridays of Lent. And that means that we stay away from it.

Melissa: So the church asks you to abstain from meat on Fridays, but it’s between you and God what you decide to do. You don’t have to spill the beans about the double beef burrito in the confessional. Oh and remember the filet-o-fish? Yeah, the McDonald’s didn’t create the rules about Lent. But in a way the Catholic Church is responsible for this little square of fish and tartar. The chain lost so much business on Fridays during Lent, they created the filet-o-fish in 1963. I think we can all say amen to that. With this good question, I’m Melissa Luck, KXLY 4 HD News.

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Brother Johnny: You know, brothers, after watching that video clip, there was something that I found interesting that the filet-o-fish sandwich from the McDonald’s fast food restaurant, well that came about in connection with the Catholic Church’s observance of abstinence during their Lenten season.

Brother Ruben: You know, Brother Johnny, in conjunction to that video, if we read a book entitled Radio Replies Volume 2 on page 262, it mentions the following:

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“Every Friday throughout the year she [the Catholic Church] calls upon Catholics to give up the pleasure of taking meat on the day Christ gave up His very life for them. She prepares for the annual commemoration of the death of Jesus on Good Friday by the forty days of Lenten observance, and devotes the whole of Holy week to recollection, prayers, and fitting religious services.

Source: Radio Replies Volume 2, p. 262

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Ruben Bustos
Minister of the Gospel
Los Angeles, California

Brother Ruben: So, Brother Johnny, after watching the video and quoting from this book, it clearly mentions that one of the things that Catholics do is they do not eat meat during that season. In fact, this is what is taught to them by the Catholic priest. What we should notice even in the video, the priest that the reporter was talking to had mentioned that there were modifications to it. For example, they said that even on Ash Wednesday, they don’t eat meat and all of the Fridays included in the Lenten season, they abstain from eating flesh meat. But what should we, rather, what should be noted, I should say, is that the eating of flesh meat is forbidden inside the Catholic Church during that season.

Brother Johnny: Well, Brother Glenn, the question now would be this: Is it wrong to eat meat, even on those days prohibited by the Catholic Church? Is it a teaching of God to forbid the eating of meat?

Brother Glenn: Well the answer to that question, Brother Johnny, is no. God actually allows man to eat meat and we can read that here in Genesis 9:1-3. It reads:

God blessed Noah and his sons and said, “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth. All the animals, birds, and fish will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food.
[Genesis 9:1 Good News Bible]

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Glenn David
Minister of the Gospel
Sydney, Australia

Brother Glenn: So from what we read, Brother Johnny, God is not against us eating meat. In fact, since the time of Noah, God gave all the animals, the birds, the fish, the plants as vegetables for us to eat as food. Since then, there has been no command in the Christian era or the apostles and our Lord Jesus Christ never taught that we should abstain from eating meat.

Brother Solomon: Well in fact, Brother Glenn, there is a command written in the Bible that one is prohibited from eating flesh meat. But that is not a commandment of our Lord God. Although it can be found in the Bible.

Brother Johnny: Well wait a minute, Brother Solomon. So if it’s not a commandment of God, well then, whose command or teaching is it?

Brother Solomon: Well let’s turn to the pages of the Bible and find out. If we were to read 1 Timothy 4:1, 3, this is what we can read:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
[1 Timothy 4:1, 3 King James Version]

Brother Solomon: Dear viewers, what we have read might seem hurtful or even offensive to some of our Catholic friends, but we cannot deny the fact that it is recorded in the Bible that those who have departed from the true faith will give heed to seducing spirits and follow doctrines of devils. Doctrines not from God, but doctrines that are of God’s enemy and humankind’s worst enemy, for that matter. One of which is that they will be commanded to abstain from eating flesh meat. Therefore, if any of our viewers is devout in practicing these traditions in observance of what they call the Lenten season, we encourage you to examine your Catholic faith, and determine whether or not what you are following, the doctrines that you are upholding, belongs to God or belongs to the evil one. If you’re able to determine that it belongs to God, then stay in that church. Stay and embrace that faith. But even if there’s one teaching that goes against the commandments of God, a teaching in fact that is of the devil and not of the Lord God, then we must reject not only that teaching, but that church and that faith that we have embraced for so long as well. Why? Because that will not lead us to any good as we will determine later on, it will not lead us to the salvation of our faith or souls, but the contrary. We know what is wrong. We must now search for what is right.

Brother Johnny: Well, Brother Ruben, Brother Solomon just made mention of how adhering to a doctrine that is not true is detrimental to an individual. It will prevent him or her from receiving the promise of salvation. Now, where can we find that in the Bible that if someone is upholding a doctrine of the devil or a false doctrine that he or she will not receive salvation?

Brother Ruben: We can read the answer, Brother Johnny, in Galatians 5:19-21. Apostle Paul mentioned this:

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
[Galatians 5:19-21 New King James Version]

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Ruben Bustos
Minister of the Gospel
Los Angeles, California

Brother Ruben: Beloved friends, if we notice the Apostle Paul mentioned here or we’re talking about the works of the flesh. In fact, he enumerated many of them. One of the things that we would like to mention is what he mentioned regarding heresies. Let’s remember that heresy is possessing a false faith or believing in a false doctrine. Now the Bible clearly mentions to us that those who possess heresies will not inherit the kingdom of God or in short, they would not be saved.

Brother Johnny: Well, dear friends, we’ve taken a look at abstinence or the prohibition on the eating of meat, and we’ve seen how Catholics are practicing that during Lenten season. But what is yet another thing that Catholics, especially here in the Philippines, have been seen doing during the Lenten season? Please watch this video clip:

[Video starts – Source: Youtube]

Voiceover: In the only Catholic nation in Asia, the Philippines, Good Friday is one of the biggest holidays of the year. Many Filipinos take it seriously by making their own little sacrifices on the day they remembered the suffering and death of Christ. A quiet day for reflection, but in the small town [inaudible] just north of Manila, it’s one of the busiest days of the year. The police are in full force. There’s no shortage of street food, and despite the heat and the dust, tourists flock by the thousands. But they’re not here for the town fiesta, they’re here to witness what could be the most realistic reenactment of the day Jesus died. All day long these men walk barefoot, whipping themselves while they bleed from pushing their backs against tiny pieces of broken glass. But that’s just the sideshow. The reenactment does not start until noon, and the star, the actor playing Jesus, is fifty-year-old Ruben Enaje. But Ruben has done more than just acting. Every Good Friday for twenty-five years, he has had himself nailed to the cross.

[On-screen text graphics]
RUBEN ENAJE
Crucifixion Volunteer

Ruben Enaje: There are many ways to show your devotion to God, but I don’t know why I thought of having myself crucified.

[Video ends]

Brother Johnny: Dear viewers, we saw in the video how Filipino Catholics have themselves whipped with tiny pieces of glass and even have themselves nailed to wooden crosses during the Lenten season, which they say they do out of their devotion to God. Now Brother Ruben, does God agree with those acts or actions even if done with devotion?

Brother Ruben: Well to answer your question, Brother Johnny, the answer is no. In fact, it runs contrary to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. We could read the proof here in the book of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 23:

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[1 Thessalonians 5:23 New King James Version]

Brother Ruben: So here the Apostles mentioned that there is an instruction of our Lord God regarding our earthly bodies. Apostle Paul made mention that our Lord God wants us to preserve it. He wants us to take care of it. I’m pretty sure you will agree with me, brothers, that if a person is whipping himself with glass, that a person is nailing him or he’s allowing himself to be nailed to the cross, well, we know that that is not preserving one’s body. But actually goes against the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.

Brother Johnny: But again, brothers, they might say that well, they’re doing those things out of great devotion to God. Well, what’s subjecting one’s body to such brutal or harsh treatment have any value before the Lord, Brother Glenn, if such are based on man-made teachings or ideas?

Brother Glenn: Well if we were to consult the Holy Scriptures once more, the answer is no. And the proof of that we could read here in Colossians 2:22-23:

These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
[Colossians 2:22 New International Version]

[On-screen text graphics]
Glenn David
Minister of the Gospel
Sydney, Australia

Brother Glenn: So even during the time of the so-called Holy Week, there may be those who are very enthusiastic, devoted in celebrating this man-made tradition by inflicting self pain, a harsh treatment of the body, humiliating themselves. But the Bible says it lacks any value, meaning to say it is futile, it’s useless in the sight of our Lord God, which also conforms to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ that worship based on the laws and the commandments of men are in vain or totally useless. And the death of our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be commemorated in this way at all. It’s not acceptable in the sight of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Brother Johnny: Well, Brother Solomon, why are we really sure that services done with devotion or dedication are worthless if they are still based or founded upon man’s teachings?

Brother Solomon: Well because that is what is written in the Bible, Brother Johnny and dear friends, as we can read here in Matthew 15:9:

And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
[Matthew 15:9 New King James Version]

Brother Solomon: Worship and service of our Lord God ends up useless. When we say useless, it is worthless, in vain, unacceptable in the eyes of our Lord God. Even if it is motivated or prodded by one’s true devotion and their sincere desire to please our Almighty God. If and when it is merely based on man-made teachings, it is unacceptable in the eyes of our Lord God. It does not make man closer to God or holier or more worthy of receiving the promised salvation that God has in store for His faithful servants. Therefore, we need to constantly examine ourselves in the services that we say we render to our Lord God. Is it based merely on man-made teachings, doctrines concocted by man? Or and as they should be, are they based on the commandments of God written in the Bible? Because the moment we follow teachings that are only based on man-made doctrines, they are in vain, unacceptable, not worthy in the eyes of God, and they will not lead us to the attainment of His promises.

Brother Johnny: So dear friends, what do the members of the Church Of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo do with the confidence that doing such things will not end up in vain? Well, let’s read what the apostles wrote here in 1 Corinthians 15:58:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
[1 Corinthians 15:58 New King James Version]

Brother Johnny: Dear friends, first thing we would like to mention is members of the Church Of Christ, we don’t participate in the observance of Lent because it’s clear that such observance is not only not commanded in the Bible, but also it has practices that are contradictory to what the Bible says. To commemorate the death of Christ, what the members of the Church Of Christ do is observe the Holy Supper, which was instituted by Christ and taught by the apostles to the Church. Furthermore, what the members of the Church Of Christ do is use their time and their effort to always abound in the works for the Lord. Like what? Like attending congregational worship services regularly, sharing our faith with our friends and our countrymen, and obeying the other teachings that can be found in the Holy Bible. You know, doing such activities is definitely not in vain for it brings glory to the Lord God. And not only that, such active and faithful members of the Church Of Christ who use their lives in this way can be confident of salvation upon the return of our Lord Jesus. As Jesus Christ, our Lord, assured His followers in Matthew 24:13, “If you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved.”

We’d like to thank Brother Solomon Joves in San Francisco, California, Brother Ruben Bustos in Los Angeles, California, and Brother Glenn David in Sydney, Australia for giving us Bible-based answers, so that as the Apostle Peter said to the members of the Church, you will be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, which can be found in 1 Peter 3:15.

Well that does it for us here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. We hope you’ll join us again next time. I’m Johnny Martin, and thank you so much for watching. And as we come to the end of the program, we invite you to join us in a short prayer.

Brother Solomon: Almighty Father in heaven, we bow our heads in prayer before you, O Lord. We thank You from the very bottom of our hearts for having given us this wonderful and blessed opportunity to be able to study Your words of truth and to share them with our viewers. Praises
be unto You, O Father. We worship and glorify Your highest name. And now we beg of You to please help us all, not only to embrace Your truths but to follow them, O God. And we also say a special prayer to our viewers, help them to understand Your words and help them by moving their hearts to know more about Your truths and Your teachings that they too may be able to find out what they need to do, O Father, in order to be among Your people in these last days, and be among those who will be saved by Your son on the day of His return. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, please bring our prayers unto the Father. Intercede once again on our behalf that we may be certain He will listen to our supplications and grant all of our requests. Dear God, we believe that You’ve heard this humble prayer of ours, that You will continue to bless this program, O God, that it may reach more and more people, O Father, that more may come to know You as the true God that we must all serve and worship. These things we beg and pray in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

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