08/01/2026
This post is made in response to an attack against the National Baptist Day (RA11897) as something that is not of God.
- see pinned comment -
The Administrator of this National Baptist Day FB account believes in what the Bible says...
"One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" (Rom 14:5b).
Therefore, the author of the post is respected for his opinion.
But if he can receive any information and advise, the following is posted for his appreciation (and for everyone with him):
1) The National Baptist Day is a law, a Republic Act (known as RA11897), which passed into law in 2022 after it was both approved by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives in the month of May of the said year. It passed into law in July of the same year.
The words of the law state:
[ REPUBLIC Act No. 11897]
AN ACT DECLARING THE SECOND THURSDAY OF JANUARY OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL WORKING HOLIDAY TO BE KNOWN AS "NATIONAL BAPTIST DAY"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "National Baptist Day Act".
SEC. 2. It is hereby the declared policy of the State to recognize the Baptists for the continuous pursuit of their evangelical mission to contribute to nation-building by establishing Christian schools that instill academic excellence and build character in individuals, and churches that proclaim teach and share biblical principles for the betterment of society'.
SEC. 3. To recognize the important contribution of the Baptists in nation-building, the State shall promote the observance of the second Thursday of January of every year as ''National Baptist Day" and proclaim the same as a special working holiday.
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
The RA11897 passed into law on July 23, 2022 without the signature of the President, in accordance with Art VI, Section 27 (1) of the Constitution.
2) The reality is, for 4 years now, since that momentous day in July of 2022, the Republic of the Philippines, the State itself, extends recognition to Baptists
- for the continuous pursuit of their evangelical mission to contribute to nation-building by establishing Christian schools that instill academic excellence and build character in individuals;
- churches that proclaim teach and share biblical principles for the betterment of society'.
This recognition, in itself, is something that is consistent with the truth of 1 Pet 2:13, "... the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."
One can readily recognize, even by just reading the provisions of RA11897: this law serves as a recognition, a "praise of them that do well."
Moreover, Rom 13:3 says, "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same."
3) As Baptists, we take the Bible as our foundation of faith and practice. We do not simply preach the word. We intend to do well both as Bible-believing Christians and Baptists in evangelism, in education, in building the lives and character of people young and old and gain the praise of those who are in authority. This is consistent with how we should be in all respects of ministry, of walk, of conduct, of how the Gospel is lived and seen in us.
See how the Apostle Paul instructed the church in Philippi:
โDo all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vainโ (Phil 2:14-16).
4) Congressman Benny Abante, Jr actually had no part in the very wordings of RA11897. Even as he filed the original bill at the Lower House, it was the Senate that worded the final version. The same was simply adopted by the Lower House and which became the law. It was therefore an Act of the whole legislative. No objections were made by anyone, both in the HOR and Senate.
The note written in the law itself says: This Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 2522 on May 30, 2022 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 6522 on June 1, 2022.
5) Bible-believing Christians are instructed by God's Word:
โSubmit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the kingโ (1 Pet 2:13-17).
The fact is:
We have before us, in the very real sense, physically, legally, an ORDINANCE OF MAN, a law of man in RA11897. It is very clear that if we claim to be Biblical Christians, especially being Baptists, IT IS OF GOD TO SUBMIT OURSELVES TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN FOR THE LORD'S SAKE.
It is not of God to reject every ordinance of man when you can submit to the same "for the Lord's sake."
Let us not use liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour those who are in authority.
FINALLY, for everyone who have nothing but hatred for Congressman Benny Abante, you are loved.
โBut I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjustโ (Matt 5:44-45).
โBut love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evilโ (Luke 6:35).
โBe not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with goodโ (Rom 12:21).
THIS IS BEING BAPTISTS.
