Felix Manalo and Authority

I made a challenge to Ginoong Pantas regarding the Historicity of their so-called Sugo or Messenger Brother Felix Manalo and how he got the authority from Heaven. So here's the discussions that he left it unanswered. (Text in Red are my Responses)

Alright… I understand that in your faith, authority is passed down through priesthood lineage. Samantalang sa Iglesia ni Cristo, we believe authority comes directly from God through His calling of a Messenger, as seen throughout the Bible (Romans 10:15). We believe Brother Felix Y. Manalo was such a messenger in these last days, proven through the fulfillment of prophecy and the preaching of the true gospel.

Me: no question. That's the same system. Now the question is how do you know your authority comes directly from God to Felix?

Wait… is this still in line with the first question you raised earlier? Medyo nalito ako nang bahagya ah. Oh siya, back to the point tayo. Sa Iglesia ni Cristo, we don’t just accept that someone has authority because he says so. We look for biblical proof that he was sent by God.

Sinasampalatayanan namin na ang Ka Felix Manalo ay isinugo ng Diyos hindi dahil sa nag-claim o nagsariling angkin lang siya or a chain of ordination, but because his work fulfills biblical prophecies about a messenger in the last days, and his teachings align with the Scriptures. That is how we understand that his authority comes from God. I hope klaro sa inyo ‘yan.

Me: ok mukhang di mo na gets. My question is "HOW" did he got this (authority), not the other history na gusto mo I point out. Those things will follow after you made your stand. So sa Tagalog para madali. PAANO nya ito nakuha o natangap galing sa Dios? Disregard the doctrine and will come to it later.

Me: also why would you think it was just in our faith. Christ the man as in you ideology speaks with authority and ordain apostles on the same authority. So I assume you have the same manner as Christ the human did in your religion.

I already anticipated that question. But yes, we agree that Christ had authority and that He ordained apostles. That is clearly taught in the Bible. Pero mukhang may isang bagay tayong hindi napagkakasunduan at this point. We don’t assume we have the exact same manner as Christ ordaining apostles in a continuous chain.

Alam kong alam mo rin sa sa Biblia, authority comes from being sent by God, not simply from being ordained by another man. The apostles received authority from Christ, but the Bible also teaches that a falling away (or apostasy, na parehong itinuturo ng mga relihiyon natin) would happen. That’s why we believe God calls a messenger again when needed, rather than authority just continuing automatically through generations.

Me: that's the point but you are not answering the question. Now back to the question or let's just rephrase it. How did Felix or the Messenger obtain the authority from heaven? Since you believe in apostacy, so I assume you believe that God will restore something through his messenger.

I believe I already answered this on the other comment thread. Redundancy na kung uulitin ko lang din dito ang response ko. Thanks!

Me: seems like you don't know anything about authority. I understand you have faith in Felix Manalo as the messenger and maybe as his aesegesis goes that he fulfils some of the so-call prophecy according to your doctrine. But thats not the point there. You should present to us how did he receive the authority from heaven or to some being if you may that bestow the authority to perform the ministry. Other matters werr just appendages and irrelevant to the question.

Well, I actually get your point

I’m a polyglot myself kaya hindi mahirap para sa akin intindihin ang tanong na HOW o PAANO. Oh siya… you’re asking how Bro. FYM received authority, not the later proofs. But your question already ASSUMES that authority must be transferred through a visible act, like a laying on of hands or an angelic bestowal.

That assumption IS NOT the biblical standard. In the Bible (I’m not sure kung naituturo man lang ba ito sa relihiyon mo), many of God’s messengers received authority directly from God by calling and commissioning, not through a human chain. Gusto mo ng ilang halimbawa? Let me present some:

1. Moses was sent by God without inheriting authority from another prophet (Exodus 3:10)

2. Prophet Jeremiah was appointed before he was even born (Jeremiah 1:5)

3. Even the Lord Jesus Christ himself said His authority was given by the Father (John 8:42; Matthew 28:18)

So, ‘yung tanong na HOW o PAANO sa mga Banal na Kasulatan ay ganito: God calls, appoints, and sends. That is the mechanism.

From our understanding, Brother Felix Y. Manalo received authority in that same biblical way through God’s calling to preach. The Bible does not require a visible ceremony or another human to validate that calling.

Ang hinahanap mo lang talaga kasi, na iyon nga ay ang demonstrable transfer of authority from a prior holder, ay framework lang naman na specific sa belief system ng relihiyon mong Mormonism, not a universal biblical rule.

So the real issue is not “how” in terms of ritual mechanics, but whether a person is truly sent by God. And in the Bible, that is recognized by God’s calling and later confirmed by the work, not by a visible “handover” of authority.”

Spero hoc satis clarum esse.

Me: My question is obviously based on biblical standards and by saying it is not simply said you haven't clearly understand the importance of God's commission to every prophets in the bible. also you assumes that whenever we talk about authority, it was always passed down. that's not always the case and you'd already proven that on your example, the question still hangs, was Felix Manalo has the authority / commission from heaven during those times as he ministered in INC? you did not address that even a tiny detail rather you simply point out how you believe him through your standard teaching and translation that we disagree. the only thing I know from the story of Felix Manalo that perhaps might lead us to understand his line of authority or should we say calling, was the time when he lock himself in the room for a study, but here's the thing; none of Felix Manalo's proclamation shows that God speaks to him or gave him the authority, or even his cohorts might testify his commission that God really calls him. the only thing that you people are holding are the Isaiah prophetic words during Babylonian captivity and translate it as the Felix of INC. you should do better than that. there's a lot of weak spots if you people still choose to translate the scripture that way. but if Felix Manalo was indeed receive the authority from heaven and God did talk to him, the biblical translation that you always use will then be enforce to it. you see, I could believe your church anytime if I wanted to, but it's not in a biblical pattern. so again the question about How Felix Manalo receives his authority remains a mystery that will remain unsolved, the good part there is, aside from Mormonism, no other religion talks about it, obviously because they too has no authority, and you people can go with the flow using your own biblical eisegesis. But it's not gonna work with me.