In spite of what its critics are wont to say, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) hardly indulges in partisan politics.

Sure, it votes as a bloc during elections, but that act is not political, but doctrinal, in nature.

Part of our beliefs is that the true Church should not only be one in spirit but in mind as well.

This is in accordance with what is written in the Holy Bible: “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. What’s the opposite of unity or fellowship? It’s division.” (1 Corinthians 1:10, ESV).

As the Lord Jesus Christ said: “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24-25, NIV).

In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find one INC official or minister who has made any pronouncements against any politician based on his own personal opinion.

And unlike some religions or sects, the only “political” act — if one may even call it that — exercised by the INC is voting as a group during elections.

And even there, our preferences for candidates for various public offices are not announced publicly but discreetly and only to the membership by way of “sample ballots.”

Of course, it is beyond our control that the contents of the list are oftentimes reported by media, due to the public interest engendered by the widespread perception that the INC votes are decisive in many local, and even closely contested national, elections.

This is not to say that the Church Administration controls the political thoughts and beliefs of its members — that is a myth. On the contrary, each member is free to air his views on any issue of importance in our country, as shown by the vocal and emphatic op-ed commentaries by many media personalities who are INC members: Anthony Taberna, Gerry Baja, Dan Marcoleta, this columnist, among others.

For as it is written in Matthew 5:37 (KJV): “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than this cometh of evil.” But once the decision has been made as to which candidates to vote for, our beliefs compel us to walk the line, so to speak.

This is why we can only scoff at and be amused by those who criticized the rally held yesterday at the Quirino Grandstand as an act of “politicking.”

For one, no effort was spared to underscore that it was “a rally for peace.” It was not in support of, or against, any public official, except perhaps for the fact that the underlying rationale for the assembly was to express our strong support for our President when he called for the rejection of any impeachment move against the Vice President for being not only useless, but potentially deeply divisive as well.

This is as it should be, for we in the INC adhere to this Biblical injunction: “For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.” (Romans 13:1-7, KJV).

Thus, to anyone insinuating — or even openly declaring — that the rally was to bring about the downfall of the present government, we say, “Oh, really now?” Such pronouncements stem from the arrogance of ignorance, an irrational fear of what they do not understand, and a general lack of awareness as to what the INC stands for, which doctrines are all based on the Bible and on nothing else.

(Disclosure: Atty. Topacio is a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo. He belongs to the Locale of Better Living, Ecclesiastical District of Metro Manila South.)