THE RATANA CHURCH and the Holy and Faithful Angels

The twin platforms of his teachings were the Bible and the Treaty ofWaitangi.

One formed the basis of the Movement's religious doctrines,
and the other defineed its socio-economic objectives.

Ratana's theology, and in particular the emphasis on the `Faithful Angels' (Anahera Pono), though Biblical in origin, were sufficiently unorthodox to ensure the expulsion of his flock from mainstream Christianity, and the formation of the Ratana Established Church of New Zealand in 1925.

The sole exception was the Methodist church, who, during the Movement's formative years, maintained their close and supportive association with both the Morehu and the Mangai.

Thus; for the Ratana Church, a belief in and the inclusion of Angels as part of the core of the Ratana Faith, led to the (reluctant) formation of the Ratana Established Church of New Zealand, primarily so that elders of the Ratana Faith could be licensed as marriage celebrants, and secondarily to consitute an Established Body, under the laws of New Zealand.

I have enlarged the two parts of the Creed, (5, and 9) where the Angels are included.
 
 

THIS IS THE CREED OF FAITH OF THE RATANA CHURCH
in Maori and then in English

KAUPAPA O TE WHAKAPONO O TE HAAHI RATANA.

THE CREED OF FAITH OF THE RATANA CHURCH

  1. E Whakapono ana ahau ki a IHOA ara, ki te Matua, ki te Tama, ki te Wairua Tapu, ko Ia te Kai-hanga o nga mea katoa, te Putake o te Ora Katoa; a, e whakahau ana, e Kawana ana i Ana mahi katoa i runga i te Matauranga i te Aroha.

1. I believe in Jehovah of Hosts, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Creator of all things that do exist, and the Author of all life, who in Infinite Wisdom and Love presides over all His Creation.
 
 

2. E Whakapono ana ahau ko te tangata i hanga e IHOA kia rite ki Tona ake ahua, no te takanga ki te hara, ka mataara mai i te tino tika me te hari o tona oroko - hanganga ai. No reira i ahei ai kia whai Kai-Whakaora te tangata hei awhina, hei whakaora i a ia i roto i ona hara, i te kaha ano o te hara, atu ano i tenei oranga tae noa ki te oranga i ko atu o te mate.

2. I believe that man was created in the image of Jehovah, but that through wrongdoing, he lost the possibilities and joy of this his heritage; thus the necessity arose for a Saviour/Redeemer to deliver him from the power and consequences of sin in this life and the life that is beyond the death of the body.

3. E Whakapono ana ahau na IHOA i tono mai te Tama i roto i te ahua kikokiko, hei Kai-whakaora mo nga tangata; a, i whakakite ano a te Karaiti i Tona mana kei runga noa atu i te kaha o te hara, o te pouri tuaikerekere, me te mate. Ko te Rangi Tona Torona ko te Whenua ano tona turangawaewae a, tona tino nohoanga ia kei roto i nga ngakau o te hunga e tahuri pono atu ana ki a Ia; a, ka noho tahi ano Ratou ki a Ia i roto i Tona Kororia he meatanga na Tona Wikitoria.

3. I believe that Jehovah sent His Son in the human form (of Jesus Christ) to redeem man and to conquer the power of sin, of darkness and of death. Heaven is now Christ's throne and the earth is his foot-stool, but His chosen dwelling place is in the hearts of those who truly believe in Him and have union with Him in His Victory and Glory.

  4. E Whakapono ana ahau ki te Wairua Tapu, ko te Ha nei Ia o IHOA, ko te Kai-homai i te Ora e puta mai ana i te Matua, i te Tama, e koropikoria nei e whakakororia tahitia nei me te Matua, me te Tama; Nana hoki nga korero a nga Poropiti. Ko Ia kei te whakaoho i nga ngakau o nga tangata kia mataara tonu ki te hara me te whakawakanga; ko taua Wairua ano hei arahi i nga tangata kia whakaaro, kia U ki te Kai-whakaora hei okiokinga, kia rite ano ki a te Karaiti nga ngakau me nga hinengaro ara te ki i te Aroha Tapu.

4. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Breath of Jehovah, the giver of life, who proceeding from the Father and from the Son is to be worshipped with the Father and the Son. The Prophets spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He reveals to man's consciousness his sins and their correction and leads man to trust, and rest firmly upon the Saviour, transforming his heart and mind until he becomes Christ like in Holy Love.

5. E Whakapono ana ahau ko nga Anahera Pono a IHOA kei te whakarite me te mahi tonu i Tana e pai ai; he Kai-mahi nei, he Karere nei ratou katoa Nana; he Kai-Awhina ano i te hunga e Whakapono ana ki a IHOA; he hoa mahi ano ratou no te tangata; a e mahi tonu ana ki a IHOA i runga i te Aroha.

5. I believe that the Faithful Angels of Jehovah are ever active doing His will. They are His workers and messengers. They are the helpers of all those who truly believe the Gospel of Jehovah. They are Co-Workers with man. They render continuous loving to Jehovah.

6. E Whakapono ana ahau ki te Haahi Tapu a te Karaiti, ko te huihuinga nei ia o te hunga e whakapono ana ki a Ia, a e kotahi ai hoki te katoa i roto i a Ia; me te mahi tahi ano i runga i te pono, i te aroha, ki te Matua, ki nga tangata; a me te mana ano ki te whawhai ki nga tikanga me nga mahi a te Rewera.

6. I believe in the Holy Christian Church, the company of all those who have truly received the Christ and are united with Him and with each other; in seeking righteousness and in rendering loving service to God and to man, and fighting against all evil beliefs and sinful practices.

7. E Whakapono ana ahau ki nga whakaakoranga a te Karaiti e mea nei, ko IHOA to tatou Matua i te Rangi, a he tuakana he teina nga tangata katoa; ko a tatou mahi katoa kia kaua e meatia i runga i kia tatou ake, engari kia rite te whakaaro o tetahi ki tetahi, ano he hoa mahi tahi no IHOA, e awhina ana, e mea ana kia hua te pai me te Rangimarie ki nga tangata katoa Kia pono ano te mahi a te tangata i te mea e tika ana kia mahia e ia i tenei oranga i runga i te ngakau he whakaaro hia IHOA a, ki nga tangata katoa ano hoki.

7. I believe as Jesus Christ has taught us, that JEHOVAH is our Heavenly Father and all men are brethren; that all our labours should be, not for personal gain, but in co-operation with each other as co-workers with JEHOVAH for benefit of mankind and the honour of God; that all men should be honest workers, and in love and justice and knowledge, each bear his share of the burden of life, thus serving JEHOVAH and his fellowmen.
 
 

8. E Whakapono ana ahau ki te Paipera, ara, ki nga pukapuka katoa o te Kawenata Tawhito, o te Kawenata Hou; ko te Paiheretanga i nga tino whakaaturanga nunui a IHOA ki te tangata mo te Oranga-Pumau o tona Wairua me te Oranga Tinana ano hoki.

8. I believe in the Holy Bible, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, for it is the record of JEHOVAH's greatest revelations concerning the eternal life of the Spirit and the vitality of the body.

9. E Whakapono ana ahau kei a IHOA te Maramatanga; me te Hari Nui, mo toku Wairua me toku Tinana, na rungatia mai i te Kotahitanga ki a te Karaiti, i runga i te Aroha Noa o te Matua, i roto i te kaha o te Wairua Tapu me nga Anahera Pono, me te mahinga tahi ano hoki ki te Hunga Whakapono Tika.

9 I believe that in JEHOVAH is the light and the great joy for my Spirit and for my body. This fact is experienced through union with Christ in the Infinite Love of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit and the Faithful Angels, and active fellowship with the true Christian believers.

10. E Whakapono ana ahau ko Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, he MANGAI no IHOA o nga Mano, e hora mai nei he Maramatanga Hou mo tenei Kaupapa i runga ake nei, mo te whakaoranga o te Wairua me te Tinana.

10. I believe that Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana is a MOUTHPIECE of JEHOVAH, spreading abroad new light as the above truths concerning the salvation of the Spirit and the vitalising of the body.

I really cannot see what the fuss was all about.

I have attended the Anglican, Presybterian, Brethren, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, and Pentecostal Churches,  at one time or another during my life.

In 1998, I was baptised into the Ratana Faith.

In all my spiritual journeys, I have always heard that Angels existed: they were present at the birth of Jesus Christ.

The advantage of the Ratana Creed is that it gives me a clear explanation of the working relationship bewteen Angels, God, and man.

The Angels are divided into Holy and Faithful Angels; the former group having more independent executive power to intervene on man's behalf.

If anyone can tell me why we should not pray to the Holy and Faithful Angels - please could they leave me a message (and hopefully a supporting URL), by sending me an e-mail

Reply from  Geoff Steadman August 1999
 

or have an explore of some other URLs?