Philippine President Duterte says Christian belief in Trinity is ‘silly’

Rappler ^ | 12/29/2018 | Mara Cepeda

[SeekAndFind]

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte mocked the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, calling it “silly” on Saturday, December 29.

In a speech in Kidapawan City, Cotabato, the President attacked the doctrine of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as he once again went into a tirade against priests and the Catholic Church.

"You’re already praying at one God, then you’re going to pray at these cursed saints. There’s only one God. There’s only one God, period. You cannot divide God into 3, that’s silly,” said the President.

Before attacking the Holy Trinity doctrine, Duterte said Jesus Christ is “unimpressive” because he had allowed himself to be nailed on the cross.

"Your God was nailed on the cross. How unimpressive. I’m God and you will crucify me? I’d tell them, ‘Lightning, finish all of them. Burn all the non-believers.'"

The passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is among the central doctrines of Christian faith, with Christians believing that Jesus sacrificed himself to save the world from sin.

The President likewise belittled the belief in saints, whom he previously called as “fools” and “drunkards.”

"Saint Catalina, Saint Anne, Saint Thomas, Saint Sebastian, Saint Rodrigo, they’re nothing… I don’t know them. Look, those documents were written – if at all – 3,000 years ago. Why would they care about our lives now?"

"Who wrote about them? Who’s Saint Thomas? We don’t know who they are. That might even be a name for a cow or camel then"

The President – under whose term a string of priests have been murdered – had previously stirred controversy for calling God “stupid."

On December 6, Duterte even joked that bishops should be “killed” for supposedly doing nothing but criticizing his administration, which is waging a bloody war against drugs that has killed thousands.

[Paddyboy]

Muslims hate the concept of the Trinity,which is why they refer to Christians as polytheists..they also deny the crucifixion since it is impossible to kill God..I wonder if Duterte is a closet Muzzie?

[excalibur21]

I don’t see how the Bible can be interpreted that way. He must be relying on something else.

[af_vet_1981]

I don’t see how the Bible can be interpreted that way. He must be relying on something else.

The modern non-Trinitarian sects/cults rely on the Bible for their positions. One can see how they can interpret the Bible that way and still reject their heresy. There centuries of traditional interpretation by councils in the one holy catholic apostolic Church that established the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as dogmatic for Christianity.

[af_vet_1981]

The United Kingdom of Israel was torn asunder by rebellion (poor marital discipline had something to do with it) and split into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). While both kingdoms enjoyed the grace of God, one might say the Northern Kingdom envied the Southern Kingdom and Judah's legitimate primacy. The Samaritans are apparently some combination of the rebellious Northern remnant and the Gentiles came to settle in the land. The Samaritans re-formed, re-constructed, and (imagined that they) restored the true religion, rejecting the primacy of Judah and the Jews.

One could be a good Samaritan yet salvation (and primacy) remained of the Jews. There is a historical similarity between the Jews/Samaritans and what has occurred among Christians.

[Mark17]

Which Philippine restorationst faith community would that be bro?

Aforementioned, as in post 22 and even prior to that in this thread.

Hog wash sir. It appears you know nothing about the Philippines. Have you ever been there? No self respecting INC member would EVER call himself part of the restorationist faith community. They are exactly the opposite. My MIL is an INC member. They are hostile to Catholics and evangelicals alike. The INC is just another false religion, equally as bad as Mormonism or JWs.

Yes, he that endures to the end shall be saved. The Messiah emphasized this truth and warned His disciples many times to watch and always be ready.

I disagree with your interpretation of scripture bro, as I ALWAYS do. You take it completely out of context. Jesus was not talking about Heaven or Hell, but physically surviving the tribulation period. A period I knew nothing about, when I was a catholic. Nice try bro, but it won’t cut the mustard. I suggest you do some serious Bible study, in context, and without any random verse generating. 👎

[Mark17]

The modern non-Trinitarian sects/cults rely on the Bible for their positions.

Oh please bro. I must AGAIN disagree with your interpretation of scripture. I doubt there is even one, single, solitary thing that we agree on? If someone reads the New Testament, and comes away with non Trinitarian views, I would equate that, with someone standing outside at high noon, and telling me the sun isn’t shining. I am really going to go out on a limb, and say, at noon, the sun IS shining. 👍 Maybe that is about the only thing we will ever agree on. And another thing, go to the Philippines 🇵🇭 and figure out what they really think.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

The modern non-Trinitarian sects/cults rely on the Bible for their positions.

Interestingly, they arrive at false teaching by perverting Scripture, which is exactly what Rome does by ignoring Scripture unless it is convenient.

Non-Trinitarian or Trinitarian, you can ignore and pervert Scripture and end up in falsehood.

"His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction."

[Mark17]

.I wonder if Duterte is a closet Muzzie?

I don’t think he is. He is from Mindanao, where he has had to deal with Muzzies. I am not sure, but I think he has had friends that are Muzzies. So do I. My SIL is a Muzzie, but I am always kidding with her about it. She takes it in stride. My opinion is, Duterte had an awakening, over Marawi. I don’t think he likes them much anymore.

[ebb tide]

I would equate that, with someone standing outside at high noon, and telling me the sun isn’t shining.

Do you honestly believe the sun always is always shining at noon???? Today, it was dark and raining at high noon at my house.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Do you honestly believe the sun always is always shining at noon???? Today, it was dark and raining at high noon at my house.

Yes, the sun is always shining at noon.

Please take a peek above the clouds.

[ebb tide]

I’m not that tall. You said, “someone standing outside”.

[Mark17]

Do you honestly believe the sun always is always shining at noon????

Yes I do bro. Do you have a problem with that? I don’t. Ask someone flying directly above you, at FL 450, if the sun is shining. He will probably have a different opinion than you, which is understandable. I have most opinions that are different from yours, but I am comfortable with that. 😁😇🤣🙄😝😂🤔😊👍

[af_vet_1981]

Jesus was not talking about Heaven or Hell, but physically surviving the tribulation period.

No, it is much more general than that. There are many sayings of the Messiah to all disciples to watch, not for the time of Jacob's Trouble, not for the fall of Jerusalem, but for the day of their reckoning. Additionally, to all who have ears to hear, each must endure, overcome, persevere to be saved. Consider the seven genuine churches in Asia that were part of the one holy catholic apostolic Church. They not only had to endure persecution, but also to maintain works, works, works.

• He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
• He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
• He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
• And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
• He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
• Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
• To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation, Catholic chapter two, Protestant verse seven,
Revelation, Catholic chapter two, Protestant verse eleven,
Revelation, Catholic chapter two, Protestant verse seventeen,
Revelation, Catholic chapter two, Protestant verse twenty six,
Revelation, Catholic chapter three, Protestant verse five,
Revelation, Catholic chapter three, Protestant verse twelve,
Revelation, Catholic chapter three, Protestant verse twenty one,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

[af_vet_1981]

No self respecting INC member would EVER call himself part of the restorationist faith community.

Iglesia Ni Cristo believes they are the restoration, and outside their little group, there is no salvation.

After the fall of Israel, she was replaced by the Church Of Christ (I Pet. 2:9, 3-5; Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16; Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation). Eventually, after the death of the Apostles, this Church which was established by Christ in the first century departed from the true faith. It was apostatized (Matt. 24:4, 11; Acts 20:29-30; I Tim. 4:1-3).

In these last days, God sent His messenger to administer man’s return to the true teachings of the Church. And it is in the Philippines (in the Far East) where God sent an angel or messenger to preach the true and pure Gospel of Christ to the people in order to bring them back to the true Church (Rev. 7:2-3; Isa. 43:5-7).

...

The Iglesia Ni Cristo believes that the task of understanding God’s words in the Bible, and teaching them without any alteration, without adding or diminishing, is given exclusively to the messengers of God (Mark 4:11-12; Rom. 10:15; Deut. 12:32).

We believe that the late Brother Felix Y. Manalo is God’s last messenger; he was the fulfillment of the Biblical prophecies concerning the messenger from the Far East (Rev. 7:2-3) who would preach to God’s sons and daughters in these last days (Isa. 43:5-6; 46:11; 41:9-11). God reveals the meaning of His words to His messengers by means of the Holy Spirit (II Pet. 1:20-21), and the proof that the messengers were taught by the Holy Spirit is that their teachings never contradict one another (I Cor. 2:13).

[Mark17]

Random verse generation again bro. I disagree with your theology bro. I always will. Get used to it.

[af_vet_1981]

Not about physically surviving the tribulation period, but certainly about watching and not misbehaving; so that upon the Lord's return not being cut asunder and assigned a portion with the unbelievers or being beaten with stripes. Note that this even includes the Apostles as well.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Luke, Catholic chapter twelve, Protestant verses thirty two to forty eight,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

[af_vet_1981]

Random verse generation ...

Not random; making the point from the scriptures.

[Mark17]

No self respecting INC member would EVER call himself part of the restorationist faith community.

Iglesia Ni Cristo believes they are the restoration, and outside their little group, there is no salvation.

Hogwash bro. No self respecting INC member that I know (and I have known a ton of them) has ever used those words. Yes, they do think they are the OTC, just like the Catholics do. They are full of it, of course. The INC is a cult, with a capital C. I would venture to guess, you have never met an INC member. If you haven’t, count yourself lucky. You aren’t missing a thing.
The INC. An angel and his church. It’s pure bunk. 👎

[ebb tide]

You initially said, “someone standing outside”, not someone flying at “FL 450”. Make up your mind.