By Andrei Nicholas S. Bonete
There are 4,200 religious groups in the world today, according to Dr. Michael J. Vlach of the Southeast Community College in Nebraska, United States of America. According to him, it is difficult to state the exact number of groups since there are religious organizations not registered within their governments. Within this figure, there are groups whose beliefs and doctrines are supposedly based on the Holy Scriptures. However, digging deeper reveals that there is only one which God guides, protects, gives a daily dose of bread to feed – His own church.
The Bible teaches man to be cautious with religious organizations since their leaders have different reasons for preaching. There are preachers today that teach because of physical, emotional, and security benefits, which pronouncements are obviously true. One way of determining whether the organization that he is in is erroneous is through comparing the leaders
How should a person concerned of salvation know which leader speaks the truth? Which leader is fearless enough to stand up and defend his beliefs? Which one is a cowardly leader?
Not one leader of any biblically-based group will dare announce in public that they are the false prophets or false Christs that is forewarned by the Holy Scriptures. Each of them will claim that they are God’s messenger and that they preach the truth, like what fish vendors do when they say that their products are fresh from the sea. One way of distinguishing the real one from another is to test it. Observe the group, compare different doctrines taught by these groups, listen to their religious programs and public debates, and ultimately, asking questions to the leader of the organization.
Unfortunately, there are leaders who refuse to be asked of faith-related questions. The so-called Reverend Apollo C. Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ: The Name Above Every Name refuses to be asked. He said that those who question him are “truly a child of the devil”. This statement is directly in contravention with the duty of the leader to answer the questions that are asked of him.
The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) or Church of Christ, headed by Mr. Eraño Manalo also couldn’t be asked. He doesn’t show himself to his members. His ministers do the responsibilities that a religious leader should carry out in defense. The Church of God International offered a public debate with the INC but answered that the former debate first with the Pope in Rome who was physically ill at that time. One of their doctrines teaches that those outside of their religion are already “sentenced to the fire.”
The Bible has forewarned humanity to beware of false Christs because they will mislead many. Again, Rev. Quiboloy claims that he is the Son of God. Another example is Dr. Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda of Creciendo en Gracia or Growing in Grace who also claims that he is the Lord Jesus Christ. So now there are two who claim that they are Christ. It is possible that more claim the same. They bring along with them erroneous doctrines that unfortunately have mislead many. Dr. Jose Miranda teaches that there is no such thing as sin and that prayer is only a waste of time which are also against the Bible’s teachings.
Religious leaders who don’t engage in question and answer activities are considered as cowards since they could not defend their beliefs. A coward is defined as one who lacks courage, or has behavior that is cowardly. He doesn’t have the guts to defend his beliefs especially if that leader knows that much is at stake. He either feels threatened or is worried of something that will happen if he loses, or that something underneath might be discovered in the process of inquiry. Many church leaders are like this.
Fearless leaders on the other hand are not afraid of performing their duties as preachers. They don’t fear physical death. Oral defamations, character assassinations, cases filed against them won’t be enough to hinder them from preaching. They preach not because of the material benefits that are to be gained unlike others who live a comfortable life while their members suffer from hunger or poverty. They preach because they have a mission to spread the word of God, just as what the early Christians did, just as what the apostles did, just like what Apostle Paul did.
Among the Bible-based organizations, there is one who stands up to the challenge and goes through many things for the sake of salvation. And the leader is one for whom many cases had been filed against – with malice that is. He is being hounded so that his mouth may be stopped at all costs. He is the fearless one – the one who can answer all questions related to salvation. In the entire world, he alone has a program where questions regarding biblical matters could be fired. Tried and tested, no one can equal his understanding. That program is titled Ask Bro. Eli.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The Matters that People Need to Hear
By The Double-Edged Sword Staff
Ask Bro. Eli, 9/10/2007 Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines from U.S. via Satellite
The Old Path Trailed
In this Bible Exposition, a vital issue was raised regarding the origin of Ang Dating Daan (the Old Path) where an inquirer mistakenly assumed that it is also the name of the congregation that Eliseo Soriano is leading. Soriano took the opportunity to clarify matters. Ang Dating Daan, he said, is the name of the program he is hosting that bears the interactive program Itanong mo kay Soriano (Ask Bro. Eli). However, the public commonly refers to the congregation as Ang Dating Daan.
As explained by Soriano, the words, “the old path” comes from the biblical verse, Jeremiah 6: 16, where a commandment says something about seeking the former way which is the Lord’s. As is known to all, at present, people are walking in their own lifestyle. These are new paths that are mostly invented in accordance with people’s own preference – which are not the Lord’s. The program’s name, therefore, is an initiative suggesting compliance with the verse cited.
Identifying Each Power
In Soriano’s broadcast programs, he is often asked the delicate topic about the trinity concept being of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In this event an inquirer asked about the distinction of the three entities.
Complicated and deep this issue seemed to be, Soriano answered this in a very simple manner yet biblically-based. The Father is the Creator, he said. He is the greatest among them. The Son is the appointed preacher of Christianity. He is the savior of the believers. The Holy Spirit is the comforter. As the spiritual comforter of the Christians during persecutions, it is the help to Christian’s personal infirmities in order to obey fully the doctrines.
Who Created you?
A very bold atheist identified himself, marched to the front and before the audience asked Soriano this question, “Who created you?” Bro. Eli answered patiently that it is God who created every living creature. Logically he is included in the creation.
The atheist followed up with another question. He challenged Soriano to prove that it is God who created him. He asked, “Have you seen Him while creating you?” Soriano shot back at the atheist, “How can you tell yourself that an open wire has current? Do you need to get electrocuted first in order to believe?”
“How about your mind? Do you believe you have a mind in your head? If you do believe you have, are you literally seeing it?”
The atheist did not utter a word in response to those questions. Instead, he argued that if there is a God why are there flaws or handicaps among His creation, like the blind, the deaf and mentally-challenged people?
Soriano replied that flaws are with people because God wills it to be. It is His way of showing that human beings are powerless over Him. In this manner of teaching humans to be humble, people may learn to give way to reality despite their own preferences.
News that People Need
The host of the program, Itanong mo kay Soriano (Ask Bro. Eli), said that people wouldn’t get anything productive in what people in the country are talking about: showbiz, politics, money-making operations, fake government contracts, and who’s who are involved in rampant corruption, as these are the content in the news today.
He said these talks that people are hearing about never please God, but actually are repugnant to him. He said that what would please God are the talks that matter to Him, as these also benefit people. The importance of talking about God is that it leads us not to be victimized by false beliefs and practices, he said.
Soriano pointed out that major television channels in the Philippines are preventing the more pressing and more significant news from being known by public viewers. There are news from abroad that should be exploited but were never given emphasis by responsible networks. The important of this kind of information is that they are food for social inquiry, and more importantly, for the salvation of souls.
News like Catholic Pope Benedict’s saying that there is no limbo after hundreds of years in this belief is indeed news. The Catholics had imposed this belief to their members, Soriano noted. Accordingly, limbo is a concept arising from the Catholic Church accounting for those dead who cannot clearly be assigned to heaven or hell. Just imagine, how long people with this belief were being fooled, and many continuously are being fooled, he said.
Soriano's programs on television may go down in history as the most suspended by a censor's board, particularly the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) upon the influence of some groups who do not want to listen to him.
Ask Bro. Eli, 9/10/2007 Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines from U.S. via Satellite
The Old Path Trailed
In this Bible Exposition, a vital issue was raised regarding the origin of Ang Dating Daan (the Old Path) where an inquirer mistakenly assumed that it is also the name of the congregation that Eliseo Soriano is leading. Soriano took the opportunity to clarify matters. Ang Dating Daan, he said, is the name of the program he is hosting that bears the interactive program Itanong mo kay Soriano (Ask Bro. Eli). However, the public commonly refers to the congregation as Ang Dating Daan.
As explained by Soriano, the words, “the old path” comes from the biblical verse, Jeremiah 6: 16, where a commandment says something about seeking the former way which is the Lord’s. As is known to all, at present, people are walking in their own lifestyle. These are new paths that are mostly invented in accordance with people’s own preference – which are not the Lord’s. The program’s name, therefore, is an initiative suggesting compliance with the verse cited.
Identifying Each Power
In Soriano’s broadcast programs, he is often asked the delicate topic about the trinity concept being of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In this event an inquirer asked about the distinction of the three entities.
Complicated and deep this issue seemed to be, Soriano answered this in a very simple manner yet biblically-based. The Father is the Creator, he said. He is the greatest among them. The Son is the appointed preacher of Christianity. He is the savior of the believers. The Holy Spirit is the comforter. As the spiritual comforter of the Christians during persecutions, it is the help to Christian’s personal infirmities in order to obey fully the doctrines.
Who Created you?
A very bold atheist identified himself, marched to the front and before the audience asked Soriano this question, “Who created you?” Bro. Eli answered patiently that it is God who created every living creature. Logically he is included in the creation.
The atheist followed up with another question. He challenged Soriano to prove that it is God who created him. He asked, “Have you seen Him while creating you?” Soriano shot back at the atheist, “How can you tell yourself that an open wire has current? Do you need to get electrocuted first in order to believe?”
“How about your mind? Do you believe you have a mind in your head? If you do believe you have, are you literally seeing it?”
The atheist did not utter a word in response to those questions. Instead, he argued that if there is a God why are there flaws or handicaps among His creation, like the blind, the deaf and mentally-challenged people?
Soriano replied that flaws are with people because God wills it to be. It is His way of showing that human beings are powerless over Him. In this manner of teaching humans to be humble, people may learn to give way to reality despite their own preferences.
News that People Need
The host of the program, Itanong mo kay Soriano (Ask Bro. Eli), said that people wouldn’t get anything productive in what people in the country are talking about: showbiz, politics, money-making operations, fake government contracts, and who’s who are involved in rampant corruption, as these are the content in the news today.
He said these talks that people are hearing about never please God, but actually are repugnant to him. He said that what would please God are the talks that matter to Him, as these also benefit people. The importance of talking about God is that it leads us not to be victimized by false beliefs and practices, he said.
Soriano pointed out that major television channels in the Philippines are preventing the more pressing and more significant news from being known by public viewers. There are news from abroad that should be exploited but were never given emphasis by responsible networks. The important of this kind of information is that they are food for social inquiry, and more importantly, for the salvation of souls.
News like Catholic Pope Benedict’s saying that there is no limbo after hundreds of years in this belief is indeed news. The Catholics had imposed this belief to their members, Soriano noted. Accordingly, limbo is a concept arising from the Catholic Church accounting for those dead who cannot clearly be assigned to heaven or hell. Just imagine, how long people with this belief were being fooled, and many continuously are being fooled, he said.
Soriano's programs on television may go down in history as the most suspended by a censor's board, particularly the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) upon the influence of some groups who do not want to listen to him.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Preacher Uncovers December 25th as Christ’s Birthday a Roman Catholic Lie
By Robert Clarita
Roman Catholic teachings and traditions were derived from pagans in Rome and not from Christianity, as what they usually suppose, including Christmas. This was the answer of Preacher Eliseo Soriano, famous for the name Bro. Eli, who holds the long standing program “Ask Bro. Eli” that started as a radio program of the evangelist.
In a live interactive program held recently (9/10/2007, Vigan Ilocos Sur, Philippines) via satellite from the United States, an inquirer asked Soriano if December 25 is Jesus Christ’s birthdate. Bro. Eli then answered consulting the Catholic Encyclopedia since the tradition came from the Roman Catholic belief.
In that Encyclopedia, it is stated that original pagans of Rome celebrated December 25 as the birth of their sun god, Ra. When Catholicism begun, the Catholic officials adopted the pagan tradition as Jesus Christ’s birthdate, due to their lack of understanding about the time from the Bible.
Dr. Samuel Bayo Arowolaju, a history scholar and author of Nigeria World Online, in his statements supported the answer of Soriano. He said, “We have said earlier that the pagan city of Ancient Rome was the first place that Christmas was celebrated and on December 25. This day, historically, was the climax for the celebration of the festival marking the rebirth of the Unconquerable Sun god or what was called "Dies Natalis Solis Invicti" or simply "Solis Invictus.” The festival that usually started on December 22 was later concluded to be celebrated on December 25 instead. Accordingly, it was the celebration of the time or day when the daylight began to be longer than nighttime in winter, the so-called the rebirth of the sun.
Soriano also emphasized that in Bethlehem, during December, the place is covered with snow, making it impossible for any manger to accommodate a baby or give space for Joseph and Mary for delivery that time. A manger is a small place where sheep and other cattle are kept until the end of the winter season.
Soriano informed the viewers that it is impossible for the sheep to lie in fields outside, as the fields are covered with thick snow, or the sheep will surely freeze and die. Around the time of Jesus’ birth too, the Roman government under Caesar Augustus required a census. The Roman government would not be that foolish to be requiring its own people to travel at a most vicious time if December 25 which falls at winter time is Jesus’ birthday, he said. Soriano didn’t cite any exact birth date of Jesus Christ as the bible did not mention any, but he said he is certain that the December 25 belief of the Catholics is a lie.
Soriano even noted before the viewers the dishonest lyrics of a Christmas song, The First Noel, in relation to the topic. The line goes…
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Catholicism is claiming this stand of Christianity as stated in the Catholic Online Encyclopedia: New Advent (2007). Stated is their claim that “the Christianity of which we speak is that which we find realized in the Catholic Church alone.” However, facts and documentary evidences deny this claim.
Of the same topic, Soriano also said that Christmas, the most celebrated tradition in many parts of the globe, is only of commerce. No one can refute this thought. In terms of simple business talk, Christmas season is the time in the whole year round that business establishments are in at high sales. From Christmas decors to the expensive Christmas feast, people are willing to spend even beyond their budget just to trail along with the wrong tradition of which origin they are unaware of. In the poor countries like in the Philippines, crimes like hold up and robbery are in their peak during this season, based on news reports.
Thea Alberto and Alcuin Papa of Philippine Daily Inquirer.Net reported about the recent warning of Chief Superintendent Eric Javier of the National Capital Region Police Office. In the article titled, Brace for rise in crimes during ‘ber’ months, cops warn (16/10/2007), Javier was saying that crime rate rises when Christmas season is approaching. Previous reports also showed that when culprits were asked about their motives, they pointed to the need to catch up with their families with the traditional Noche Buena, which many in the upper social strata enjoy every year.
A tradition then that is founded upon lies and false beliefs results in serious mishaps to society, as well as create a disastrous effect on the character of many. The Christmas the way the Catholic world celebrates it is quite different from the spirit of Christ’s birth, according to Soriano. Supposedly a peaceful one as Christ’s birth was, it is too noisy. “I am sorry,” Soriano said, “I am just telling you the truth. Your pasko is different from the pasko in the Bible.”
Other Catholic Issues Discussed
Salvation in Priesthood?
Someone asked regarding the condition in salvation of his relative who is in a Catholic priesthood. Soriano answered straightforward “I am sad to say that he, as well as those in the same position, is identified in the Bible as false preacher.”
An Issue of Good Relations
An inquirer who happened to be a Catholic mother of one of the member of Bro. Eli’s congregation asked why it is forbidden for the members to go to family affairs like church weddings and child baptisms.
Soriano corrected her that the question might lead to misconceptions about relating to one’s family. He said that in the congregation he is leading, he is imposing and encouraging the members to have good relations with their own families, regardless of their religious beliefs and differences. In order to have good relations with the people around us, good manners are required. Thus this is encouraged and imposed by the TOP preacher among the members in the congregation. However, to acknowledge or to follow the doctrines of other religions is a different thing. Soriano explained, “Ask your son (a member of the congregation) to do some errand’ he should obey you; but ask him to acknowledge false gods, that is forbidden!”
Sinning through idolatries
Another Catholic inquirer asked if what other Catholic folks are saying that people are sinning when they were not going to church for their traditional mass is true. Bro. Eli answered that people are actually sinning when they are attending the mass services of the Catholic Church where idolatry is practiced and known for.
Roman Catholic teachings and traditions were derived from pagans in Rome and not from Christianity, as what they usually suppose, including Christmas. This was the answer of Preacher Eliseo Soriano, famous for the name Bro. Eli, who holds the long standing program “Ask Bro. Eli” that started as a radio program of the evangelist.
In a live interactive program held recently (9/10/2007, Vigan Ilocos Sur, Philippines) via satellite from the United States, an inquirer asked Soriano if December 25 is Jesus Christ’s birthdate. Bro. Eli then answered consulting the Catholic Encyclopedia since the tradition came from the Roman Catholic belief.
In that Encyclopedia, it is stated that original pagans of Rome celebrated December 25 as the birth of their sun god, Ra. When Catholicism begun, the Catholic officials adopted the pagan tradition as Jesus Christ’s birthdate, due to their lack of understanding about the time from the Bible.
Dr. Samuel Bayo Arowolaju, a history scholar and author of Nigeria World Online, in his statements supported the answer of Soriano. He said, “We have said earlier that the pagan city of Ancient Rome was the first place that Christmas was celebrated and on December 25. This day, historically, was the climax for the celebration of the festival marking the rebirth of the Unconquerable Sun god or what was called "Dies Natalis Solis Invicti" or simply "Solis Invictus.” The festival that usually started on December 22 was later concluded to be celebrated on December 25 instead. Accordingly, it was the celebration of the time or day when the daylight began to be longer than nighttime in winter, the so-called the rebirth of the sun.
Soriano also emphasized that in Bethlehem, during December, the place is covered with snow, making it impossible for any manger to accommodate a baby or give space for Joseph and Mary for delivery that time. A manger is a small place where sheep and other cattle are kept until the end of the winter season.
Soriano informed the viewers that it is impossible for the sheep to lie in fields outside, as the fields are covered with thick snow, or the sheep will surely freeze and die. Around the time of Jesus’ birth too, the Roman government under Caesar Augustus required a census. The Roman government would not be that foolish to be requiring its own people to travel at a most vicious time if December 25 which falls at winter time is Jesus’ birthday, he said. Soriano didn’t cite any exact birth date of Jesus Christ as the bible did not mention any, but he said he is certain that the December 25 belief of the Catholics is a lie.
Soriano even noted before the viewers the dishonest lyrics of a Christmas song, The First Noel, in relation to the topic. The line goes…
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Catholicism is claiming this stand of Christianity as stated in the Catholic Online Encyclopedia: New Advent (2007). Stated is their claim that “the Christianity of which we speak is that which we find realized in the Catholic Church alone.” However, facts and documentary evidences deny this claim.
Of the same topic, Soriano also said that Christmas, the most celebrated tradition in many parts of the globe, is only of commerce. No one can refute this thought. In terms of simple business talk, Christmas season is the time in the whole year round that business establishments are in at high sales. From Christmas decors to the expensive Christmas feast, people are willing to spend even beyond their budget just to trail along with the wrong tradition of which origin they are unaware of. In the poor countries like in the Philippines, crimes like hold up and robbery are in their peak during this season, based on news reports.
Thea Alberto and Alcuin Papa of Philippine Daily Inquirer.Net reported about the recent warning of Chief Superintendent Eric Javier of the National Capital Region Police Office. In the article titled, Brace for rise in crimes during ‘ber’ months, cops warn (16/10/2007), Javier was saying that crime rate rises when Christmas season is approaching. Previous reports also showed that when culprits were asked about their motives, they pointed to the need to catch up with their families with the traditional Noche Buena, which many in the upper social strata enjoy every year.
A tradition then that is founded upon lies and false beliefs results in serious mishaps to society, as well as create a disastrous effect on the character of many. The Christmas the way the Catholic world celebrates it is quite different from the spirit of Christ’s birth, according to Soriano. Supposedly a peaceful one as Christ’s birth was, it is too noisy. “I am sorry,” Soriano said, “I am just telling you the truth. Your pasko is different from the pasko in the Bible.”
Other Catholic Issues Discussed
Salvation in Priesthood?
Someone asked regarding the condition in salvation of his relative who is in a Catholic priesthood. Soriano answered straightforward “I am sad to say that he, as well as those in the same position, is identified in the Bible as false preacher.”
An Issue of Good Relations
An inquirer who happened to be a Catholic mother of one of the member of Bro. Eli’s congregation asked why it is forbidden for the members to go to family affairs like church weddings and child baptisms.
Soriano corrected her that the question might lead to misconceptions about relating to one’s family. He said that in the congregation he is leading, he is imposing and encouraging the members to have good relations with their own families, regardless of their religious beliefs and differences. In order to have good relations with the people around us, good manners are required. Thus this is encouraged and imposed by the TOP preacher among the members in the congregation. However, to acknowledge or to follow the doctrines of other religions is a different thing. Soriano explained, “Ask your son (a member of the congregation) to do some errand’ he should obey you; but ask him to acknowledge false gods, that is forbidden!”
Sinning through idolatries
Another Catholic inquirer asked if what other Catholic folks are saying that people are sinning when they were not going to church for their traditional mass is true. Bro. Eli answered that people are actually sinning when they are attending the mass services of the Catholic Church where idolatry is practiced and known for.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Adultery a Multiplication Mode of the Devil
By Robert Clarita
Tarlac, Philippines (10.04.07) - The work of the devil is to multiply the people who will follow their wicked ways through adultery. This is just one of the many intriguing yet logically inclined lines of the Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) host/leader, Eliseo Soriano, popularly known as Bro. Eli.
Soriano pointed out in his equally known religious program Itanong mo kay Soriano (Ask Bro. Eli), held recently that adultery is generally known as an immoral act since the Ten Commandments were given to Moses and implemented among Israelites. The nature of the work came from the devil as it is his desperate mode in multiplying people who will be adherents to his vicious ways.
The evangelist said that by adultery, a person committing it is influencing the partner of the act, thus one act is already an equivalent to two souls in danger. This is not even to mention if the doer is committing adultery with multiple partners - and this is not impossible, considering the degrading state of morality these days, where statistics of broken family, annulment, and divorce cases are very high.
Many of the families nowadays are facing serious marital/domestic-damage through a partner’s infidelity. An online social statistic watcher, Woman Savers, came up with a research finding that “70 percent of married women and 54 percent of married men did not know of their spouses' extramarital activity”.
In the percentage stated, an individual estimation would range from 38 to 53 million unfaithful partners. Applying this to the multiplication mode of the devil means twice of it then. This is not to mention even the number of adultery cases not included in the statistics given,
The Associated Press (2/22/06) also came up with a report on adultery cases. They studied that 22 percent of married men have strayed at least once during their married lives, while 14 percent of married women have had affairs at least once during their married lives. They also stated that younger people are more likely candidates of infidelity in marriage.
To quote Laura Guiles, a marriage counselor of All Experts Online, she said that “when a parent betrays a spouse, he or she is really also betraying the entire family. The child internalizes that distrust and either plays it out by becoming a cheater too or she will not get close to people.”
It is alarming enough to know that that the multiplication mode through adultery doesn’t just stop with the persons committing it but the affected offspring as well. The seed of infidelity could be planted in the minds of the children through internalizing the effect of the affair in the family, and themselves as well are potential adulterer in the future. Thus Soriano’s words were affirmed.
Use of Language. In the Ask Bro. Eli. Program, the topic turned to Soriano’s style of being frank and bold in delivering truth from the Holy Scriptures. Often, he encounters questions such as why he uses ‘foul’ language such as ‘fool’ before the viewers, like in this event.
He explained to the questioner that he is not using foul language if the subject is really a fool. He said he is just using the appropriate words or proper adjectives for false preachers who are evidently using religion for personal profit, or is referring to the ignorance of some boastful atheists about the bible, and the like.
In the end he said, “Even if I am saying ‘fool,’ you will still join in the congregation I am tasked to lead, if you are really searching for the truth.”
Personal Savior. Another inquirer asked Soriano about the biblical basis of the term ‘Personal Savior’ that many Born Again cults are teaching regarding the being of Jesus Christ in their own biblical interpretation. In an easy swipe, Soriano answered the inquirer regarding the usage of the term ‘personal.’
He pointed out that one’s toothbrush, undergarment, and cosmetics are of personal use and shouldn’t be used by others if hygiene is to be considered. The same logic goes that if ‘personal savior’ is to be used, it will be meaning that Christ is only owned by one person and cannot be shared, which is a very irrational and unbiblical belief.
Citing a verse in the bible, Soriano said that Christ is savior of the true church He founded - not by the individual - pointing to the fact that God places his name in the name his church.
Bones. One of the interesting points discussed in Ask Bro. Eli was prompted by the inquiry of a female student. She asked Soriano if scholars who are studying the supposed bones of known holy figures, like the apostles, are sinning before God.
To this question, Bro. Eli answered that “we are actually learning from the bones!” He justified his response in the fact that forensics, or the scientific analysis of evidence relating to crime, is using bones of corpses to discover how they died when needed in a certain investigation.
Also, Soriano noted that through the discoveries of the bones of the dinosaurs wherein scientists learned through advance technology, these species existed billions of years ago, giving us an idea how old this earth is, refuting some ideologist’s contemptuous thinking of the other way around.
The evangelist said that through bones, non-believers became believers, and it would be favorable for the technical credibility of some biblical figure’s existence if scientists are able to confirm their bones. Perhaps critics of the bible will be enlightened, Soriano said.
Manifestation of Faith. Also in this event, Eli Soriano’s moral concern for society was all the more marked when an inquirer asked him how a person can encourage others to believe in God.
Answering with true sincerity drawn in his face, he said that good manners can influence and entice others to follow one’s own faith. He supported this with a biblical verse stating that one’s manners can really influence others. He cited St. Paul’s words.
According to Soriano, the manifestation of the goodness that one’s own faith can do to a person should be visible in his lifestyle, as this is what other people use as basis of their conformity before believing. Obviously Soriano is doing the very thing he advised as his followers are growing by leaps and bounds, not just in the country but in other nations. Soriano who is now known as the most sensible preacher in our times has his international broadcasts in the TOP channel, various internet broadcasts, including his very recent podcasting program, with the same title, Ask Bro. Eli in Talkshoe.com.
Media Today and Influence. Watching Bro. Eli in his programs is a relief away from the usual programs that major local channels are promoting during the primetime. Fantasy/romance inclined programs and soap operas are the ones being promoted before the viewers regardless of age sensitivity, where serious heavy themes like adultery are depicted as the very conflict of stories in various forms. It is suggested that the devil suggests these kinds of programs to implant the seed of their mode of operation of multiplying.
According to a British social study in Psychology of Communication, media is incredibly powerful in influencing society. Exemplified is Nazism in Germany, or Communism in Soviet Union that would not have been successful had it not been for “massive propaganda machines which kept the public's support for abhorrent régimes.”
This simply affirms the suggestion that media influences the thought of society, as Hovland implied in his treatise on political propaganda and advertising. Accordingly, views regarding morality and perception of certain social issues can be affected through mass media messages.
With media’s manipulation, themes like adultery can be rationalized, and people can become loose without any pangs of guilt. If consummated, it becomes a serious threat to society, leading to the devil’s multiplication mode, according to Soriano.
Tarlac, Philippines (10.04.07) - The work of the devil is to multiply the people who will follow their wicked ways through adultery. This is just one of the many intriguing yet logically inclined lines of the Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) host/leader, Eliseo Soriano, popularly known as Bro. Eli.
Soriano pointed out in his equally known religious program Itanong mo kay Soriano (Ask Bro. Eli), held recently that adultery is generally known as an immoral act since the Ten Commandments were given to Moses and implemented among Israelites. The nature of the work came from the devil as it is his desperate mode in multiplying people who will be adherents to his vicious ways.
The evangelist said that by adultery, a person committing it is influencing the partner of the act, thus one act is already an equivalent to two souls in danger. This is not even to mention if the doer is committing adultery with multiple partners - and this is not impossible, considering the degrading state of morality these days, where statistics of broken family, annulment, and divorce cases are very high.
Many of the families nowadays are facing serious marital/domestic-damage through a partner’s infidelity. An online social statistic watcher, Woman Savers, came up with a research finding that “70 percent of married women and 54 percent of married men did not know of their spouses' extramarital activity”.
In the percentage stated, an individual estimation would range from 38 to 53 million unfaithful partners. Applying this to the multiplication mode of the devil means twice of it then. This is not to mention even the number of adultery cases not included in the statistics given,
The Associated Press (2/22/06) also came up with a report on adultery cases. They studied that 22 percent of married men have strayed at least once during their married lives, while 14 percent of married women have had affairs at least once during their married lives. They also stated that younger people are more likely candidates of infidelity in marriage.
To quote Laura Guiles, a marriage counselor of All Experts Online, she said that “when a parent betrays a spouse, he or she is really also betraying the entire family. The child internalizes that distrust and either plays it out by becoming a cheater too or she will not get close to people.”
It is alarming enough to know that that the multiplication mode through adultery doesn’t just stop with the persons committing it but the affected offspring as well. The seed of infidelity could be planted in the minds of the children through internalizing the effect of the affair in the family, and themselves as well are potential adulterer in the future. Thus Soriano’s words were affirmed.
Use of Language. In the Ask Bro. Eli. Program, the topic turned to Soriano’s style of being frank and bold in delivering truth from the Holy Scriptures. Often, he encounters questions such as why he uses ‘foul’ language such as ‘fool’ before the viewers, like in this event.
He explained to the questioner that he is not using foul language if the subject is really a fool. He said he is just using the appropriate words or proper adjectives for false preachers who are evidently using religion for personal profit, or is referring to the ignorance of some boastful atheists about the bible, and the like.
In the end he said, “Even if I am saying ‘fool,’ you will still join in the congregation I am tasked to lead, if you are really searching for the truth.”
Personal Savior. Another inquirer asked Soriano about the biblical basis of the term ‘Personal Savior’ that many Born Again cults are teaching regarding the being of Jesus Christ in their own biblical interpretation. In an easy swipe, Soriano answered the inquirer regarding the usage of the term ‘personal.’
He pointed out that one’s toothbrush, undergarment, and cosmetics are of personal use and shouldn’t be used by others if hygiene is to be considered. The same logic goes that if ‘personal savior’ is to be used, it will be meaning that Christ is only owned by one person and cannot be shared, which is a very irrational and unbiblical belief.
Citing a verse in the bible, Soriano said that Christ is savior of the true church He founded - not by the individual - pointing to the fact that God places his name in the name his church.
Bones. One of the interesting points discussed in Ask Bro. Eli was prompted by the inquiry of a female student. She asked Soriano if scholars who are studying the supposed bones of known holy figures, like the apostles, are sinning before God.
To this question, Bro. Eli answered that “we are actually learning from the bones!” He justified his response in the fact that forensics, or the scientific analysis of evidence relating to crime, is using bones of corpses to discover how they died when needed in a certain investigation.
Also, Soriano noted that through the discoveries of the bones of the dinosaurs wherein scientists learned through advance technology, these species existed billions of years ago, giving us an idea how old this earth is, refuting some ideologist’s contemptuous thinking of the other way around.
The evangelist said that through bones, non-believers became believers, and it would be favorable for the technical credibility of some biblical figure’s existence if scientists are able to confirm their bones. Perhaps critics of the bible will be enlightened, Soriano said.
Manifestation of Faith. Also in this event, Eli Soriano’s moral concern for society was all the more marked when an inquirer asked him how a person can encourage others to believe in God.
Answering with true sincerity drawn in his face, he said that good manners can influence and entice others to follow one’s own faith. He supported this with a biblical verse stating that one’s manners can really influence others. He cited St. Paul’s words.
According to Soriano, the manifestation of the goodness that one’s own faith can do to a person should be visible in his lifestyle, as this is what other people use as basis of their conformity before believing. Obviously Soriano is doing the very thing he advised as his followers are growing by leaps and bounds, not just in the country but in other nations. Soriano who is now known as the most sensible preacher in our times has his international broadcasts in the TOP channel, various internet broadcasts, including his very recent podcasting program, with the same title, Ask Bro. Eli in Talkshoe.com.
Media Today and Influence. Watching Bro. Eli in his programs is a relief away from the usual programs that major local channels are promoting during the primetime. Fantasy/romance inclined programs and soap operas are the ones being promoted before the viewers regardless of age sensitivity, where serious heavy themes like adultery are depicted as the very conflict of stories in various forms. It is suggested that the devil suggests these kinds of programs to implant the seed of their mode of operation of multiplying.
According to a British social study in Psychology of Communication, media is incredibly powerful in influencing society. Exemplified is Nazism in Germany, or Communism in Soviet Union that would not have been successful had it not been for “massive propaganda machines which kept the public's support for abhorrent régimes.”
This simply affirms the suggestion that media influences the thought of society, as Hovland implied in his treatise on political propaganda and advertising. Accordingly, views regarding morality and perception of certain social issues can be affected through mass media messages.
With media’s manipulation, themes like adultery can be rationalized, and people can become loose without any pangs of guilt. If consummated, it becomes a serious threat to society, leading to the devil’s multiplication mode, according to Soriano.
Friday, August 10, 2007
A Slice of his Day: Bro. Eli Nixes Second Coming
By Jane Abao
The occasion is a weekly thanksgiving given on July 14, 2007 by a bible scholar named Bro. Eli Soriano. He is the Presiding Minister of the Church of God, International. The speaking location is in New York and through live streaming his sermon is flashed to many parts of the world (about 82 church locales). For this analysis, the audience is in the Philippines, mostly Filipinos.
He is seated throughout the presentation. He begins by counting 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 to check if the microphone is okay. He asks the main representative of five people composed of two bible readers, two ministers-in-charge, and one member-guest who occupy a table up front, if everything is ready.
The speaker is in white sweater and a dark coat, quite presentable to the crowd. It is cold from where he is, he said. He maintains enough eye contact with his audience. The camera pans back and forth from speaker to audience. The topic is “Why it is not second coming if Christ comes back to earth.” It is organized through four general questions giving proofs that Christ was on earth even before he was born a human being.
Soriano’s voice is pleasant enough. He is a known broadcaster, debater, and now becoming a phenomenal blogger on biblical issues. In between takes, he makes a report about his mission in the United States, talking about social issues. He specifies the evil effects leading to genetically modified organisms (GMO) by showing on screen a very big rooster 10 times bigger than the man supposed to be in charge with it. The man carries on his hand a long string attached to the giant rooster. He laughs and laughs. The audience laughs with him.
There is clear interaction between him and the audience. He tells a little anecdote. To illustrate that people do not have time for God, he tells about them not sleeping, not even standing up to answer the call of nature, just so one could gamble effectively. For God, however, he says, people think time should be very, very short if possible.
The speech purpose is for the weekly spiritual feeding of God’s people. It is to make them understand that when Christ comes back, it will not be the second time as he had been here before; he was with God the Father even before the world began. Those who are thinking it will be the second time are those looking at Christ as a mere human being, he says.
The speaker flashes on screen the false belief of the Iglesia ni Manalo (Church of Christ) that it is the day of judgement when Christ comes back and that the earth will fade away. He uses their publication entitled Pasugo or “Messenger,” then he tries to demolish their argument.
Soriano’s assistants amply supply him with audio visual aids. He uses a wide screen for a very large audience (Estimate: 40,000) scattered about the very large convention center in the Philippines. He uses artefacts in the form of documents, audio clips, still pictures, and video footages. As he exposes a false preacher, the false doctrines of the preacher are flashed on the screen as he does his analysis.
The presentation style is that of a delivery of lecture with interactive part to check understanding, sandwiched throughout the two-and-a- half-hour session. It is not the usual one way sermon. The conversational type of delivery now and then is backed up with biblical verses flashed on the screen. The speaker asks questions which structures his lecture that is intentionally built for clear understanding. He speaks in a normal tone that is clearly heard with the aid of good acoustics.
It is not true that it will be the end of the world when Christ comes, Soriano says. There will still be 1,000 years. The just will rise from the grave, and those are alive who are also just will be caught up in the clouds when Christ comes (Thessalonians 4:16). This is a fulfilment of a prophecy, he says. They will be made priests and will reign for 1,000 years. As presented in Revelations 20:5, some will not resurrect until after 1,000 years. The earth will still be there. It will only be gone after the second death. (John 5:29).
Now and then, the main representative reads the scriptures for the congregation as necessary. The verses are at the same time flashed on the screen. The speaker continues that in John 3:13, Christ tells Nicodemus that only he who came from heaven has ascended to Heaven. This is the second instance then that he came down. Bro. Soriano explains that after two or three years since this, Christ died and then ascended into heaven.
To exemplify the word, “likewise,” he uses parallelism (1 Timothy 2:9: Dressing of women in modest apparel should also be likewise to men). Hebrew 9:28 says “Likewise Jesus was given once to die (first instance) and given to carry the sins of the world.” In the second instance (meaning, “afterward”), he is shown to be separate from sin for the salvation of men. So “second instance” does not mean “second coming,” he says, as wrongly supposed by some church groups.
The screen then shows the meaning of “second coming” in Greek. It does not mean coming but afterward. As adverb, it is not to come, but means afterward, he explains. The screen again shows another meaning which also means “afterward”
The minister explains that the first instance of Jesus Christ was that he died for the sins of many. Nobody wanted to see his totally bruised and broken face. Moreover, in this condition, he was also stripped naked, and made shameful to behold. He was carrying the sins of many. The second instance, Soriano says, was that Christ was showing he is separate from sin. But he rose glorious.
As the minister talks, the screen flashes audience reaction. The camera zooms in to a woman showing a look of anguish. The camera pans now and then at the audience in the Convention Center so that those monitoring in the different 82 locales all over the world can see what is going on.
He asks a question: When Christ was sacrificed, it is more applicable that the sins he carried before were the ones already made. Those who were existing were only they; and people now were not yet included. Do you agree?
He asks the five people on the ministerial table if they agreed. He then asks, “What do you understand by covenant or testament?”
One minister-in-charge (MIC) mentions about the requirements to be fulfilled and the penalties if not carried out. There is an agreement with God. One after another, the five at the table answer in this way.
Soriano comes on again and says, “The five forgot about the benefits of following God.” There is a promise, he says, for those who follow God. But, isn’t a testament not effective if the one who made it is not dead? (Hebrews 9:16). Isn’t a covenant between man and God? They agree.
1 Timothy 6:16 says God will reign forever (The God the father). Since he cannot die, the covenant can not be effective. Therefore, the one who makes a covenant must be one who can die. And that is Christ, he says. The audience are in awe.
Do you now have an idea who made a covenant with Israel?, he continues.
Hebrews 10:12 says that Christ’s death has that retrogressive and progressive effect. He died for the sins of many before. When he was sacrificed, the old covenant was fulfilled; and then the new covenant took over. Because of this, the effect of his death applies now to the sins of many afterwards, the minister explains. The audience is pleased and some clap.
He then checks the understanding of the five (representative of the understanding of the audience) by asking them to explain what they understood. He evaluates them as “very good.”
At the time of Moises, people were offering the blood of animals but these were only shadows of the real thing that was to come (Hebrews 10:1). It was the sacrifice of death that Christ made, that then and only then was the old covenant fulfilled, he sums up things.
If that was understood, well then let us go to our topic, Soriano says.
So that was only an introduction? The main representative asks – after more than a two-hour lecture and interaction.
Christ was only a scapegoat, Bro. Soriano explains. Christ entered the holy of holies not made with hands before the Father (Hebrews 9:21).
Will you ask the congregation if they understood Christ’s presenting his blood to the Father? The blood of the Son is precious, especially that he has labored much for it. Won’t the Father appreciate it? Even for the Israelites before, his flesh and his blood, he offered.
The picture of the lamb being slain every year is Christ, the speaker continues. But when Christ made his offering with his flesh and blood, it was made only once (Hebrews 9:25).
While Hebrews 9:15 was being read, Soriano interrupts in a singsong voice. Read it again he says of Verse 16: “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
Who made the first covenant with Israel?
Christ.
Yes. He was also the one who made the second covenant. There is no more required offerings for sin (where the blood of animals were used) but thanksgiving and offerings of praise in worship service and prayer meetings. For the keeping the covenant, there is a promise, and this is everlasting life. This will be our next topic for the next thanksgiving, God willing, he says.
Who needs everlasting life? This will be our next topic.
As the minister says this, audience interest is once again stirred.
He recaps: We are just beginning to learn the bible.
The congregation is surprised.
Movement with this speaker is not just physical. He asks penetrating questions to the audience, but first to a panel of five from whom he checks audience understanding before he proceeds. The chair he uses easily rotates as he gestures, which are quite natural, in that he uses his hands now and then as he speaks. He clearly is a seasoned lecturer and his presentation is analytical.
Now and then, he draws out long breaths that are audible – an expression of being pleased with the turn out of this topic. He is truly inspired. These long breaths are heard by the audience but they do not seem to mind; he is family to them. At age 60, he does not stand before specific audiences anymore. He lectures from one place sitting down and it is flashed through live streaming to many parts of the globe.
The speaker shows expertise in his knowledge. He knows the scriptures well and he appears to have memorized every nook and cranny of the Bible. Biblical understanding is not given to the evil, he says, and he seems to have proven his claim. He accomplishes his purpose effectively, knowing when to give examples and how. Truly, stories help to emphasize one’s point. He is well-prepared, relaxed, and uses natural humor.
Although it took him more than two hours, the topic was clearly limited to the time frame given to allow clear understanding. The success of his presentation was chiefly aided by his expertise of the topic, his ready use of audio-visuals, and his use of questions that keep his audience thinking. However, there must be more. In fact, he is fast being called phenomenal preacher.
The occasion is a weekly thanksgiving given on July 14, 2007 by a bible scholar named Bro. Eli Soriano. He is the Presiding Minister of the Church of God, International. The speaking location is in New York and through live streaming his sermon is flashed to many parts of the world (about 82 church locales). For this analysis, the audience is in the Philippines, mostly Filipinos.
He is seated throughout the presentation. He begins by counting 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 to check if the microphone is okay. He asks the main representative of five people composed of two bible readers, two ministers-in-charge, and one member-guest who occupy a table up front, if everything is ready.
The speaker is in white sweater and a dark coat, quite presentable to the crowd. It is cold from where he is, he said. He maintains enough eye contact with his audience. The camera pans back and forth from speaker to audience. The topic is “Why it is not second coming if Christ comes back to earth.” It is organized through four general questions giving proofs that Christ was on earth even before he was born a human being.
Soriano’s voice is pleasant enough. He is a known broadcaster, debater, and now becoming a phenomenal blogger on biblical issues. In between takes, he makes a report about his mission in the United States, talking about social issues. He specifies the evil effects leading to genetically modified organisms (GMO) by showing on screen a very big rooster 10 times bigger than the man supposed to be in charge with it. The man carries on his hand a long string attached to the giant rooster. He laughs and laughs. The audience laughs with him.
There is clear interaction between him and the audience. He tells a little anecdote. To illustrate that people do not have time for God, he tells about them not sleeping, not even standing up to answer the call of nature, just so one could gamble effectively. For God, however, he says, people think time should be very, very short if possible.
The speech purpose is for the weekly spiritual feeding of God’s people. It is to make them understand that when Christ comes back, it will not be the second time as he had been here before; he was with God the Father even before the world began. Those who are thinking it will be the second time are those looking at Christ as a mere human being, he says.
The speaker flashes on screen the false belief of the Iglesia ni Manalo (Church of Christ) that it is the day of judgement when Christ comes back and that the earth will fade away. He uses their publication entitled Pasugo or “Messenger,” then he tries to demolish their argument.
Soriano’s assistants amply supply him with audio visual aids. He uses a wide screen for a very large audience (Estimate: 40,000) scattered about the very large convention center in the Philippines. He uses artefacts in the form of documents, audio clips, still pictures, and video footages. As he exposes a false preacher, the false doctrines of the preacher are flashed on the screen as he does his analysis.
The presentation style is that of a delivery of lecture with interactive part to check understanding, sandwiched throughout the two-and-a- half-hour session. It is not the usual one way sermon. The conversational type of delivery now and then is backed up with biblical verses flashed on the screen. The speaker asks questions which structures his lecture that is intentionally built for clear understanding. He speaks in a normal tone that is clearly heard with the aid of good acoustics.
It is not true that it will be the end of the world when Christ comes, Soriano says. There will still be 1,000 years. The just will rise from the grave, and those are alive who are also just will be caught up in the clouds when Christ comes (Thessalonians 4:16). This is a fulfilment of a prophecy, he says. They will be made priests and will reign for 1,000 years. As presented in Revelations 20:5, some will not resurrect until after 1,000 years. The earth will still be there. It will only be gone after the second death. (John 5:29).
Now and then, the main representative reads the scriptures for the congregation as necessary. The verses are at the same time flashed on the screen. The speaker continues that in John 3:13, Christ tells Nicodemus that only he who came from heaven has ascended to Heaven. This is the second instance then that he came down. Bro. Soriano explains that after two or three years since this, Christ died and then ascended into heaven.
To exemplify the word, “likewise,” he uses parallelism (1 Timothy 2:9: Dressing of women in modest apparel should also be likewise to men). Hebrew 9:28 says “Likewise Jesus was given once to die (first instance) and given to carry the sins of the world.” In the second instance (meaning, “afterward”), he is shown to be separate from sin for the salvation of men. So “second instance” does not mean “second coming,” he says, as wrongly supposed by some church groups.
The screen then shows the meaning of “second coming” in Greek. It does not mean coming but afterward. As adverb, it is not to come, but means afterward, he explains. The screen again shows another meaning which also means “afterward”
The minister explains that the first instance of Jesus Christ was that he died for the sins of many. Nobody wanted to see his totally bruised and broken face. Moreover, in this condition, he was also stripped naked, and made shameful to behold. He was carrying the sins of many. The second instance, Soriano says, was that Christ was showing he is separate from sin. But he rose glorious.
As the minister talks, the screen flashes audience reaction. The camera zooms in to a woman showing a look of anguish. The camera pans now and then at the audience in the Convention Center so that those monitoring in the different 82 locales all over the world can see what is going on.
He asks a question: When Christ was sacrificed, it is more applicable that the sins he carried before were the ones already made. Those who were existing were only they; and people now were not yet included. Do you agree?
He asks the five people on the ministerial table if they agreed. He then asks, “What do you understand by covenant or testament?”
One minister-in-charge (MIC) mentions about the requirements to be fulfilled and the penalties if not carried out. There is an agreement with God. One after another, the five at the table answer in this way.
Soriano comes on again and says, “The five forgot about the benefits of following God.” There is a promise, he says, for those who follow God. But, isn’t a testament not effective if the one who made it is not dead? (Hebrews 9:16). Isn’t a covenant between man and God? They agree.
1 Timothy 6:16 says God will reign forever (The God the father). Since he cannot die, the covenant can not be effective. Therefore, the one who makes a covenant must be one who can die. And that is Christ, he says. The audience are in awe.
Do you now have an idea who made a covenant with Israel?, he continues.
Hebrews 10:12 says that Christ’s death has that retrogressive and progressive effect. He died for the sins of many before. When he was sacrificed, the old covenant was fulfilled; and then the new covenant took over. Because of this, the effect of his death applies now to the sins of many afterwards, the minister explains. The audience is pleased and some clap.
He then checks the understanding of the five (representative of the understanding of the audience) by asking them to explain what they understood. He evaluates them as “very good.”
At the time of Moises, people were offering the blood of animals but these were only shadows of the real thing that was to come (Hebrews 10:1). It was the sacrifice of death that Christ made, that then and only then was the old covenant fulfilled, he sums up things.
If that was understood, well then let us go to our topic, Soriano says.
So that was only an introduction? The main representative asks – after more than a two-hour lecture and interaction.
Christ was only a scapegoat, Bro. Soriano explains. Christ entered the holy of holies not made with hands before the Father (Hebrews 9:21).
Will you ask the congregation if they understood Christ’s presenting his blood to the Father? The blood of the Son is precious, especially that he has labored much for it. Won’t the Father appreciate it? Even for the Israelites before, his flesh and his blood, he offered.
The picture of the lamb being slain every year is Christ, the speaker continues. But when Christ made his offering with his flesh and blood, it was made only once (Hebrews 9:25).
While Hebrews 9:15 was being read, Soriano interrupts in a singsong voice. Read it again he says of Verse 16: “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
Who made the first covenant with Israel?
Christ.
Yes. He was also the one who made the second covenant. There is no more required offerings for sin (where the blood of animals were used) but thanksgiving and offerings of praise in worship service and prayer meetings. For the keeping the covenant, there is a promise, and this is everlasting life. This will be our next topic for the next thanksgiving, God willing, he says.
Who needs everlasting life? This will be our next topic.
As the minister says this, audience interest is once again stirred.
He recaps: We are just beginning to learn the bible.
The congregation is surprised.
Movement with this speaker is not just physical. He asks penetrating questions to the audience, but first to a panel of five from whom he checks audience understanding before he proceeds. The chair he uses easily rotates as he gestures, which are quite natural, in that he uses his hands now and then as he speaks. He clearly is a seasoned lecturer and his presentation is analytical.
Now and then, he draws out long breaths that are audible – an expression of being pleased with the turn out of this topic. He is truly inspired. These long breaths are heard by the audience but they do not seem to mind; he is family to them. At age 60, he does not stand before specific audiences anymore. He lectures from one place sitting down and it is flashed through live streaming to many parts of the globe.
The speaker shows expertise in his knowledge. He knows the scriptures well and he appears to have memorized every nook and cranny of the Bible. Biblical understanding is not given to the evil, he says, and he seems to have proven his claim. He accomplishes his purpose effectively, knowing when to give examples and how. Truly, stories help to emphasize one’s point. He is well-prepared, relaxed, and uses natural humor.
Although it took him more than two hours, the topic was clearly limited to the time frame given to allow clear understanding. The success of his presentation was chiefly aided by his expertise of the topic, his ready use of audio-visuals, and his use of questions that keep his audience thinking. However, there must be more. In fact, he is fast being called phenomenal preacher.
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