Is the Catholic Church an APOSTATE Church?

It all boils down when this SAVAGE WOLVES will COME of
MEN who RISE and DISTORT THE TRUTH. Apostle Paul clearly
said these will come AFTER they LEAVE. Do you know who
the APOSTOLIC SUCCESSORs are?

In the course of time a lot of issues and teachings have been debated either openly or thru the this new medium we now call as the internet.  Many have used this tool as a way to express their views.

In manner's that are at times very crude if not rude to either side. We have our flaws, we have our own disagreements but we should not be swayed to consider the points being shared or views being pressed upon us that seem to attack our current state of faith.


I am not without flaws, in time people may find me obnoxious due to my way of answering or pointing out the faith I have found to understand and hold dearly. As with our catholics acquaintances here who may happen to pass this site.

But it is my hope that we bring our views forth as many catholics and other religions have used this medium to defend their faiths. It is but natural, but we should try likewise to contain if not restrain ourselves from engaging in unhealthy exchange of words with no factual basis.  So we may understand better the points being presented and shared.

"So before you comment or bring your points forward. Please do read the full article first"

I am a convert and was once a catholic so I understand very well the teachings of this religion.  In my early school days in high school, I was an active member of our bible study group in a prominent school run by Jesuits. I had several priest's as mentors. Did the rosary everyday for two years straight. In my desire to search and know the truth.

Anyway, it is my hope also to share with you why I decided to join the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Ironically though prior to my conversion, like most of the catholics view, I had this understanding that the INC was just another religion like the protestants.

This is why there were several teachings that caught my attention. And a lot of  catholic defenders have been discussing this to the point of being too harsh if not irrational in their accusation. But it is understandable as they would naturally feel that their faith is being unjustly attacked.

But in the end we should consider with all certainty the faith we hold is the true faith bounded in the GOSPEL and TEACHINGs of Christ and taught by the Apostles of Christ.

Let me start with the title of this article "Is the Catholic Church an APOSTATE Church?"

First, as many of the Catholic defenders know already and the INC does not in anyway deny it that the Catholic Church WAS ONCE the Church of Christ. Do take note of the term "WAS ONCE the Church of Christ".

Thats one of the points many Catholics should be AWARE of. That the Catholic Church "WAS ONCE the Church of Christ".  

Obviously the Catholic Church is NO LONGER called the CHURCH OF CHRIST.  As many of you would agree to that. For the name you hold now is the CATHOLIC CHURCH.

But of course some of you catholics would still like to associate yourselves with the name of the CHURCH OF CHRIST thru HISTORICAL CONTINUITY or APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION as most catholic defenders would like to press that point.

Sure historically the Catholic Church can be traced back and came about from its previous name Church of Christ.

But in terms of CONTINUITY with regards to the TRUE NAME  we know that the Catholic Authorities ABANDONED that name (Church of Christ) for ANOTHER name. And from then on the Catholic Authorities has continued with its changes please see below.

“In 1870, at the Vatican Council, the name ‘Roman Catholic Church’ was proposed, but it was rejected. The bishops assembled unanimously decided upon this official name: ‘The Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church’” (Discourses on the Apsotle’s Creed, Rev. Clement Crock, p. 191)

Whether you like it or not, the Church of Christ is the TRUE NAME of the true church BUILT and FOUNDED BY CHRIST.  Naturally, that true church should be called AFTER THE NAME of its FOUNDER, which of course is Jesus Christ.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo upholds that BELIEF and remains FAITHFUL to that GOSPEL or TEACHING which the Apostles upheld.

Abandoning the name of the Church of Christ  for ANOTHER name is with all due respect to catholics here is a RENUNCIATION OF ONES RELIGIOUS FAITH (Apostasy).

The Apostle held that faith until the very end of their lives. They POINTED OUT that even if THEY or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one they preached...LET HIM BE ETERNALLY CONDEMNED.

Galatians 1:7 NIV…Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9…I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Unless you consider the name of the Church of Christ not part of the gospel or teaching taught by Christ and his Apostles. Then please do tell and prove your point.

But we know otherwise and how IMPORTANT that name is for the true followers are CALLED BY THAT NAME. I am sure you catholics would agree to that.


So WHOEVER preaches a gospel other than what the true followers have accepted thru the apostles, LET HIM BE ETERNALLY CONDEMNED.

This is the standing warning to those who preached a gospel other than what the apostles had preached. So if YOU ACCEPT that gospel in Galatians then it will not be hard to understand the gospel below:

"Do not go beyond what is written." 1 Corinthians 4:6 (New International Version)

That is why the INC points this out to catholics not to shame you or just to get  at your very nerves which you might feel you're faith is being attacked to the point of being too personal. As I have tested my faith from persecutions from catholics alike and other religions. I have found strength in the teachings and gospel of Christ.

So take this as a test, and carefully comprehend the points we are raising for you to consider. And hopefully you can understand why many of the INC are converts that came from the catholic faith.

Many of you catholics believe if not all that their can be NO APOSTASY because  of what Jesus Christ had promised which they pointed out in this verse:

 Mathew 16:18 “Thou art Peter,  and upon this rock I will build by church: and the GATES OF HELL shall not prevail against it.”

Catholics defenders points this out as proof that how can there be an APOSTASY when Christ himself promised this as one catholic protested:

If His Church had apostatized, then the gates of hell would have prevailed against it, making Christ a liar.

The verse is correct but the assumption of this catholic is inaccurate. Do hear me out first before you judge. What did Christ PROMISED in the said verse? THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT referring to the church or more accurately ITS FOLLOWERs.

Apostasy or an apostate church is not the equivalent to the gates of hell.  Unless you can point out a FACTUAL basis that the equivalent of APOSTASY is the GATES OF HELL.

Apostasy is turning your back from your original faith or BELIEF. In tagalog PAGTALIKOD sa iyong orihinal na PANINIWALA O PANANAMPALATAYA. Webster renders it a RENUNCIATION OF ONES RELIGIOUS FAITH.

While the GATES OF HELL or in another version it refers to DEATH or the SECOND DEATH in the lake of fire or HELL.

Matt. 16:18 ¹⁸So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.

Do take note of this that the DEATH referred to here is the SECOND DEATH in the LAKE OF FIRE. So we should be AWARE that the apostles & its first followers experienced DEATH not the SECOND DEATH or the GATES OF HELL referred to in this verse.

That is why in John 11:12  (NASB) Jesus said to her, " I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,”

So although the apostles and the first followers have died come JUDGEMENT DAY the GATES OF HELL or the SECOND DEATH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE will NOT PREVAIL against the true followers. Thats a fact and do take note THAT PROMISE will be FULFILLED come JUDGEMENT DAY.

The APOSTASY  is a FACT the APOSTLEs themselves have POINTED OUT clearly. The Catholic Defenders should be aware of this verse. They cannot DENY the TRUTH of this passage.

2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 (New American Standard Bible)

 ²that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a  spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

 ³ Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come (referring to the DAY OF THE LORD) unless the APOSTASY comes FIRST, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

The day of the Lord will not come UNLESS the APOSTASY comes FIRST. Please be aware that the DAY OF THE LORD refers to the coming of Jesus Christ on JUDGEMENT DAY. In another version APOSTASY refers to REBELLION:

Thessalonians 2:1-4 (NIV) ¹ Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. ³ Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness^[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

The apostles have been POINTING this APOSTASY to them for quite sometime. The TRUE FOLLOWERs knew this to be true. As we the Iglesia Ni Cristo know about it this too. Take note of the continuance of  the passage:

⁵ DON’T YOU REMEMBER THAT WHEN I WAS WITH YOU I USED TO TELL YOU THESE THINGS? ⁶AND NOW YOU KNOW WHAT IS HOLDING HIM BACK, SO THAT HE MAY BE REVEALED AT THE PROPER TIME. ⁷ For the secret POWER OF LAWLESSNESS IS ALREADY AT WORK; but THE ONE WHO NOW HOLDS IT BACK WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO TILL HE IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY. 

The apostles USED to tell the true followers about these things pertaining to the APOSTASY that would come. During the apostles time the MAN OF LAWLESSNESS was still HELD BACK. For HE may be REVEALED at the PROPER TIME.

Take note also that the POWER OF THE LAWLESSNESS is ALREADY at WORK during the time of the APOSTLEs. But he is still HELD BACK till the ONE WHO HOLDs it back is TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY.  Of course that would be the APOSTLEs.

Continued in this article:

The SAVAGE WOLVEs and the MEN who will DISTORT THE TRUTH