IQ No. |
Inquiry Subject |
Inquiry Highlight |
IQ-49 |
The good person in God's sight
|
THERE IS A ravaging illness that runs in the
family I belong to. It has already taken the lives of a
number of my uncles and aunts. I am not afraid of
the illness or the death it brings but of what is in store for me
when I die. As a Catholic I have learned that the good go to
heaven and hell is for evildoers. But, it is unclear to me as
to what kind of good deed it is to be done for one to be worthy of
God's kingdom. Is there a way that I could be considered good in
spite of the unintentional mistakes I make once in a while?
Consuelo, Obina,
Cavite, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question.
|
IQ-50 |
Is
clerical celibacy against the teachings of the
Bible? |
I READ TIME magazine, and I came across an
article about clerical celibacy. According to Mr. Frank
McCourt (author of the acclaimed memoir Angela's Ashes)
"celibacy is a sick rule" and "in a strange paradox, it's almost
sinful." I for one am still neutral when it comes to clerical
celibacy. I wrote because I would like you to give me a
biblical explanation about it. Is clerical celibacy
REALLY against the teachings of the Bible? What is
the proof?
Gary Macon,
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-102 |
Against
abortion |
ONE OF THE controversial moral issues today is
abortion. I just want to know the stand of the Iglesia ni Cristo
regarding the legalization of abortion. There have been some talks
about making abortion as a birth control method. What can your
Church say about this?
Rhea Joy C. Judia,
Bacolod City, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-108 |
Joining the
Church for the wrong reason and the wrong motive |
I AM VERY much attracted to one of the members of
your Church. I have tried my best to win her heart but
friendship was all she could reciprocate my love with.
She tells me that the members of your Church are not allowed
to have romantic relationships, much less marry, with non-members.
I find this cruel. What if a member happens to fall in love with a
non- member? Do your doctrines have power over one's heart?
I am willing to be a member of your Church so she could
accept my love. To my surprise, she rejected the idea. She
told me it was not the proper way of joining your Church. What,
then, is the proper way?
David Dularza,
Pangasinan, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question. |
IQ-109 |
On live-in
relationship and marriage |
MY LIVE-IN PARTNER has been
invited a number of times to attend your Bible study on doctrines.
In the process, she has come to understand your doctrines and is now
inviting me to listen. Through her I learned that your Church does
not approve of live-in relationships.
Personally I don't believe in marriage because it is just a piece
of paper. I know of many married couples who have ended up
separated. Their marriage did not work.
My live-in partner and I have a beautiful relationship. We have
been living together for more than 15 years, outliving even the
other marriages I know of. What could marriage do to our
lives. Do we still need it? We are happy and content the way
things are.
Roger Castillo,
Butuan City, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-121 |
On humility |
WHEN I WAS still young, my grandmother would time
and again emphasize to me the value of humility. She would always
remind me never to be proud but to have a modest estimate of myself
and to have a "low profile'' to show humility. I earnestly believe
in and live by what my grandmother taught me. But I would like
to know how the Bible defines humility. Also, when does
God consider a person humble or proud?
Emilia R. Sta. Cruz,
Agusan del Norte, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-123 |
On homosexual
relationship |
ONCE I TUNED in to a local television program and
was surprised with the feature of this Catholic priest who is living
with a man. This particular priest, in his sermons, is very vocal in
his stand that marriage of couples of the same sex is not wrong. He
reasoned out that the Bible does not explicitly prohibit such union.
I want to know, if the Scriptures do not forbid the union of people
of the same sex? Does it mean that people can get into
homosexual relationships without committing sin?
Imelda Gasarin,
Pasig City, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-125 |
A word on birth
control |
I HAVE BEEN watching your TV program every
weekend. Please answer my question: What is your stand about
birth control? Does the Bible prohibit the use of
contraceptives?
Renante Yu,
geenet@hotmail.com
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-132 |
On smoking and
drinking alcoholic beverages |
I RECENTLY RECEIVED a copy of Pasugo
from my best friend. The articles were so informative, inspiring,
and enlightening. I have two questions though. Is it a sin in
the sight of God to smoke? Does the Bible prohibit drinking
alcoholic beverages even without getting drunk?
Lawrence Cardinal,
Baguio City, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-134 |
On being a
soldier |
AS A JEHOVAH'S Witness, I have always believed in
what was taught to us that joining the military and becoming a
soldier is against the will of God. Soldiers fight and kill their
enemies. If you really uphold the teachings of the
Bible, shouldn't you also prohibit your members from joining
the military since the duty of a soldier violates the teachings of
God and of Christ that say "You shall not kill" and "Love your
enemies"?
Roger Bayliss,
Glendale. California, USA
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-137 |
On child
discipline |
I WAS BORN of very strict parents. A simple error
would be equivalent to spanking beyond tolerable limits. Oftentimes
I would think of leaving the house but the thought of what would
happen to me hindered me.
I am a grown up now and the beating has gradually stopped but the
scars it had left on different parts of my body continue to remind
me of the pain I felt then.
Somehow, time has allowed me to escape the "'torture." What
worries me now is my little brother. He is receiving the the same
treatment I had when I was his age. I fear he is bound to
rebel one day.
I know that children ought to be reprimanded of their mistakes but
must it be to the extent of causing not only physical but hatred as
well? I know that ours is not an isolated case and so
through your letters section I would like to reach out to parents―that
they may be guided on the right way of disciplining their children.
Sandra Villanueva,
Cotobato, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-138 |
The key to a
happy family |
MY WIFE AND I could no longer patch up our
differences and so we agreed to get a divorce. She has custody of
our two kids who are still young. The tragic ending to our four-year
marriage happened two years ago.
Just last year, my job assignment took me to the Philippines—to a
neighborhood of mostly Iglesia ni Cristo families. Some are young
couples and two have already celebrated their golden wedding
anniversaries. On the onset of our acquaintance, they handed me a
copy of PASUGO magazine. Upon reading, your letters section
attracted my attention.
I would like to know how husbands and wives in your religion
maintain harmonious relationship despite problems that set in.
Charles Davidson,
Manila, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-139 |
Between God's
will and parents wish |
I AM A17-year-old Catholic who
been reading PASUGO and inquiring about the Iglesia ni Cristo for
almost half a year now. I have learned a lot of things by
reading your articles but I know that I still have a lot more to
learn. And the only way I can learn is by studying your
doctrines.
I have decided to undergo Bible study on doctrines but my
mother won't allow me to. She thinks I have other reasons for
joining your Church. But the fact is, I no longer believe in
Catholic teachings. I can't possibly go to a Catholic Church
and expect myself to understand their teachings; nor can I set aside
religion or forget I've ever come across such problem and go on with
my life. I don't want to be a pagan either.
I really want to study the doctrines of your Church but I
won't be able to do this without my parents permission, if I keep it
from their knowledge, I won't be able attend the worship services.
And If I decide to receive instructions on doctrines in spite of
their objections, I will disobey them and sin against God for He
ordered us to obey our parents, as written Ephesians 6:1-3.
I know that the second coming of Christ is near. And I don't
want myself and my family to be endangered.
How can I convince my parents to allow me to study your
Church's doctrines? They keep on saying that becoming a member of
the Iglesia ni Cristo won't change anything and that as long as one
is doing no evil to his fellowmen, he will be saved. Should I
disobey my parents and yet do what is right?
Jackie Lou Militante,
Quezon City, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-143 |
Family planning
with the use of contraceptives |
I HAVE SOME friends who say that to do
family planning through the use of artificial contraceptives is to
commit a sin because such practice is against God's teaching. What
can you say about this? I also heard that you don't allow your
members to practice the rhythm method—is this true?
Do you have a biblical reason for this? Elvira Trejo,
San Diego, California, USA
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-145 |
On homosexual relationships and same-sex marriage
|
RAMPANT AS lT is nowadays, homosexuality can
be palpably observed in almost all cultures. Consequentially, we
once in a while meet and become acquainted with men and women who
are called gays and lesbians. I, for one, personally know of people
who are romantically involved with members of the same sex and are
even planning to get married. When questions of morals and religion
are brought out in discussions, they just.‘ brush aside the issues
by saying that the Bible has no clear prohibition against homosexual
unions. l am not well-versed in biblical teachings, so may I ask
you, doesn't the Bible prohibit homosexuality? Biblically speaking,
can people get into homosexual relationships and same-sex marriage
without committing sin? "Roger Frost, Ontario,
Canada
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-146 |
On eating
unclean foods |
IN LEVITICUS 11:45, God said: "For I am the LORD
that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye
shall therefore be holy for I am holy."
I've been longing to know the explanation to why the members of the
Church of Christ eat those "unclean foods" mentioned in the Bible.
Are we considered holy before God if we eat these foods?
Swerte Castro,
suertecastro@yahoo.com
(in progress)
|
IQ-154 |
They will also
persecute you ... |
ITS NOT THAT I want to hide it from my family,
but I'm just waiting for the right time before I formally tell my
parents that I'm in the process of entering the Church Of Christ...
One of my cousins converted to the Iglesia Ni Cristo before and our
whole clan, including my parents, denounced him for doing that...
For a long time, I studied this Church and I'm convinced that this
is of Cod. However, the thought of being rejected by my
family sometimes haunts me. Could you please counsel me?
'Miss Sophie',
Bohol, Philippines
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
IQ-155 |
Interfaith
Marriage |
AS MUCH AS I must admit that I consider myself a
potential convert to the Church of Christ, having carefully studied
many of the biblical doctrines it upholds. I must
also confess that I find its prohibition on interfaith marriage
scary especially that I personally know of cases of successful
marriages even though the husbands and their respective
wives are of different religions. Do you have solid biblical basis
for forbidding interfaith marriage?
Roderic Morelos,
e-mail withheld upon request
(in progress)
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