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God commands that our spiritual leaders be remembered in the right way, that their faith be imitated, and that strange teachings do not lead us astray.
THE EARLY YEARS of Brother Eraño G. Manalo’s administration of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) are now a distant memory. On April 12, 1963, when Brother Felix Y. Manalo passed away, many members of the Church had not yet even been born. With the passing of the man whom God sent to begin the mission of preaching about the one true Church Of Christ, most observers believed that the Church, too, would eventually pass away. No one, even among the members back then, could have imagined how far the Iglesia Ni Cristo would progress under the leadership of Brother Eraño Manalo.
Today, it’s easy to take for granted that the Iglesia Ni Cristo is worldwide and that it keeps growing with hundreds of houses of worship built and hundreds of new ministers ordained every year. No one is surprised any longer that millions constitute today’s Church membership from peoples and nations all over the world.
The Central Office and the Central Temple stand firmly and majestically as if they had always been there. The orderly system of reports and records that keeps everything running with dynamism and efficiency is a regular part of the life of all Church officers. It’s also easy to assume that the Church has its television and radio programs, the New Era University, the New Era General Hospital, and the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) School For Ministers.
Still fresh in the minds and hearts of members of the Church is the sudden pain and loss they felt and the tears that flowed upon hearing of his passing on August 31, 2009.
For ten grey days, mourners streamed in from all over the world. The multitude came because of the great love they felt for the one who had touched all their lives during his 46 years as Executive Minister.
If such a long, endless sea of mourners was a manifestation of the love so many held for Brother Eraño Manalo, it was also just as much a testament to the love that Brother Eraño had for all those millions. All the members of the Church knew that “Ka Erdy” did everything he could, offering every day of his life in lovingly serving the Church, feeding the flock with God’s pure message from the Bible, to make sure that the brethren would all be ready for salvation. And he will always be lovingly remembered.
In the Bible, God commands that the leaders be remembered in the right way:
“Remember your former leaders, who spoke God’s message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith. … Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you from the right way. …” (Heb. 13:7, 9 Good News Bible)
Remember them. Imitate their faith. But do not let strange teachings lead you from the right way. If other religions have ancestral worship or bow down “in reverence” before images of past leaders and so-called “saints,” the Iglesia Ni Cristo will never do such things.
Apostle Paul described to the early Christians he was administering the right way of remembering leaders: “join in imitating” them (Phil. 3:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible). Apostle Paul was a shining example of purity of purpose in striving towards spiritual maturity in pursuit of “the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above” (Phil. 3:12–14 gnb). Above all, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the best role model of devotion to duty, love, and compassion. He would not allow even one of all whom God called to be lost (John 6:39 Living Bible).
During a worship service, the current Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, admonished all in attendance: “We should never allow to be wasted the many sacrifices of our previous leaders in administering the Church. What Brother Eraño Manalo did after the Messenger was laid to rest is also what we are doing today—making sure that every member of the Church is being brought to salvation.”
In the early Church, the leaders wrote to the members concerning what the Lord God expected of them so that they would be saved: “we beg you who have received God’s grace not to let it be wasted. … in everything we do we show that we are God’s servants” (II Cor. 6:1, 4 gnb).
In that same letter, Apostle Paul outlined many of the trying situations in which members can show that they are faithful servants of God:
“… We patiently endure suffering and hardship and trouble of every kind. We have been beaten … worked to exhaustion, stayed awake through sleepless nights of watching, and gone without food.” (II Cor. 6:4–5 lb)
Whatever may be the circumstances that God’s servants find themselves in, we prove our faithfulness not merely by words but in the same way Apostle Paul did, by “our wholesome lives and by our understanding of the Gospel and by our patience. …” (II Cor. 6:6–7 lb).
Troubles are inevitable. They cannot be avoided, especially as the day of salvation draws nearer. Apostle Paul described to the early Christians what leaders like himself experienced:
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken … we don’t give up and quit … We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” (II Cor. 4:8–9 lb)
When Brother Eraño was still alive, members of the Church in calamity-stricken areas knew they could soon expect a pastoral visitation or a message of comfort and inspiration. What could be felt in his daily activities was his deep concern for all of the congregations of the Church. No matter how exhausted he may have been from his unceasing labors for the Church, his spirit was tireless in reminding all of us of the proper focus we need to make it through:
“That is why we never give up. … we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” (II Cor. 4:16, 18 lb)
When difficulties and pains came to the brethren or the challenges seemed overwhelming, Brother Eraño would often quote to the brethren Apostle Paul’s words, “for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power” (Phil. 4:13 lb).
Apostle Paul learned to be content in every situation because of the power that he was granted from heaven, even if, at times, he had to live on almost nothing and suffered hunger (Phil. 4:12). This same heavenly power was what Brother Eraño often reminded the entire Church to pray for; and this also is the often-heard message of the current Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo.
Like Apostle Paul, Brother Eraño wanted to be sure that all his efforts for the salvation of the members of the Church would not be wasted. The key to being saved is obedience to the gospel message, without complaining or arguing, whether or not the overseer is still around (Phil. 2:16, 12, 14). To remain obedient, God’s servants need faith. Faith can be made more firm if we remember what God’s people have already overcome by faith (Heb. 11:29–30, 32–33).
We also learned from Brother Eraño to have a positive view of any challenges that arise. Instead of getting discouraged, we should rejoice, knowing that such experiences “are good for us,” as he would quote from Apostle Paul:
“… They help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.” (Rom. 5:3–4 lb)
The blessing for those whose strength of character has been forged by fiery trials is that they are being made “ready for his kingdom” (II Thess. 1:5 lb).
Brother Eraño Manalo is no longer with us, but what he stood for and taught radiates with life in our hearts. Under the leadership of the current Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo, the Iglesia Ni Cristo continues its ever-progressing parade of victories leading up to the day of salvation. Along with the victories, severe trials also still lie ahead. But we have good reason to be confident of making it through any hard trial that may come.
God fulfilled His promises, recorded in biblical prophecy, when the true Church arose in the Far East during the time of the first Executive Minister, Brother Felix Manalo. God also did what He said He would when the Church reached the Far West during the administration of Brother Eraño Manalo. Until the end, God will continue to fulfill all His promises to the Church, led now by Brother Eduardo Manalo, as it moves onward to the glory of salvation:
“Do not be afraid—I am with you! ‘From the distant east and the farthest west I will bring your people home’.” (Isa. 43:5 gnb)
This is an updated version of the article initially published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.
