Friday, August 23, 2002
Dear ________________________
Enclosed you will find copies of all the correspondence between myself and Jose Ventilacion. We who are preachers of the gospel, or claim to be, should not be excused from public scrutiny. Mr. Ventilacion has claimed that certain people have "chickened out" from debating him. My investigations have proved that he is simply very selective in who he debates. You will recall that he dropped two names in our hearing: Lanning Courtney and a Dr. Billy Washington. I corresponded with Lanning, spoke to him on the telephone, and met him in person. The truth is, Mr. Ventilacion has been sent propositions numerous times from Lanning, but he does not respond, rather, he goes behind the backs of people like Lanning who did offer to debate and calls them chickens. I have enclosed a proposition of which Mr. Ventilacion is in receipt. Now, if he should deny he received it, or claim that it is somehow lost, please give him your copy.
There are those who love the truth and therefore believe it. There are those who love not the truth and therefore believe a lie. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) I hope that the truth concerning what the scriptures teach is really with what you are concerned. This correspondence is sent to you in an effort to help you see the truth concerning what has transpired between Mr. Ventilacion and myself and to help you see the truth of the scriptures. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to write me at the above address.
Without making this letter too long, I would like to keep before your mind that Mr. Ventilacion has had enough time to respond to the debate propositions sent him and that he has failed to answer the questions put before him, some of which were:
- Who baptized Felix Manalo?
- Can you point me to a single manuscript of a New Testament book in Aramaic? I do not want a "version," but I want an Aramaic, word-for-word copy of an Aramaic autograph of a New Testament book.
- What in Acts 2:39 forbids us from taking the meaning to be literal throughout?
- What makes the Far East far east?
- If, Joe, you are inspired as you say, can you offer to us the proof? Can you, and will you, offer the proof to our senses, that of seeing and hearing, just like in Acts 2?
- Where is the proof to your claim that the Catholic Church existed in the second century?
- Where is the historical proof that there was not a single faithful Christian on the earth in the second century?
Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." Matthew 7:13-20
If Mr. Ventilacion should answer these questions to you, I would appreciate you forwarding the answers to me.
Mr. Ventilacion's charges against me are answered in these materials. He characterized my writing as a "diatribe and poor exegesis," but it has turned out thus far as I predicted it would, that he would not say why nor offer an exegesis of his own. He also promised to answer my questions in the debate. He said that he would examine my proposal and determine if they were worthy of his consideration. Since he has not responded to myself or Lanning, I am left to conclude that he deemed the proposal unworthy, but he should at least explain to me why. I also predicted this of him, and so, another prediction of mine has thus far turned out fulfilled.
Apologies from me for my error are also found herein. All of these materials have been published on the internet at my web site. Also, you will find other helpful links there concerning the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
I have also included a proposition for a written exchange. I have not sent it to Mr. Ventilacion, but ask that you personally hand it to him. If you are unable to do so, let me know and I'll mail it to him.
I wish you well in your pursuit of the truth, if that truly is your objective, and stand ready to help you in the same.
Sincerely,
Patrick Kelly