A CRITIQUE OF IGLESIA NI CRISTO EXECUTIVE MINISTER EDUARDO V. MANALO’S STATEMENT ON THE RH BILL PART VII

In sheep's clothing: Clothed in white are INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo with INC ministers

A CRITIQUE OF IGLESIA NI CRISTO EXECUTIVE MINISTER EDUARDO V. MANALO’S STATEMENT ON THE RH BILL

PART VII 

[This is the seventh part of my critique of Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo’s position on the RH Bill. The words of Mr. Manalo are in green while my comments are in black.]

The RH Bill supported by the Iglesia ni Cristo is also supported by foreign-funded pro-abortion group Likhaan

The Bible instructs married couples not to deprive one another of intimate marital relations for long, extended periods of time; further, any abstinence at all for a married couple is supposed to be with the mutual consent of husband and wife and not for the purpose of preventing pregnancies (I Cor. 7:3-5).

The above statement is presaged by Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo with his judgment that methods of natural family planning are “immoral, since they contradict the commandment that God has given to married couples.” What commandment is that? Mr. Manalo mentions 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 which says:

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.  The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (NIV).

Mr. Manalo says that 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 is the commandment given by God to married couples

Notice that Mr. Manalo categorically calls the above as God’s commandment. But what does the apostle Paul say it is? Let the apostle Paul speak for himself:

“I say this as a concession, not as a command” (1 Cor. 7:6, NIV).

The apostle Paul says it is a concession, not a command. On the other hand, Mr. Eduardo V. Manalo says it is a command – from God, no less. Who are we to believe? The apostle Paul or Mr. Manalo? Does Mr. Manalo read his Bible? If he does, how come he misses that? How dare Mr. Manalo supplant the inspired and infallible Word of God with his human and fallible word! What else is left of Mr. Manalo’s credibility to preach about God’s Word which he distorts and misrepresents? We just simply cannot take his word.

The Apostle St. Paul, the inspired writer of 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 says that it is a concession, not a command (1 Cor. 7:6). Mr. Eduardo V. Manalo on the other hand says that it is God's commandment. Who are we to believe? The apostle Paul or the INC Executive Minister?

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell! We have said it before, and now I say it again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one you accepted, may he be condemned to hell!” (Gal. 1:8-9, Good News Translation).