Christ's Law Prevails and not the Mosaic Law - Bro. Eli

Bro. Eli Soriano (on the screen) taking his turn to defend his stand, while Pastor Elmer Albuera (in blue polo) waiting for his.

By Jeffrey Eugenio

Which law should be followed now, the Mosaic Law or the Law of Christ? These and other issues including tithing, observation of Sabbath, doctrine about foods and cleansing as well as the covenant of circumcision, church’ name and different kinds of commandments were among those tackled in a debate between Bro. Eli Soriano and Elmer Albuera on June 10, 2011, 4pm PHT.

Bro. Eli is the Presiding Minister to the Members: Church of God International (MCGI) while Albuera is a pastor of Remnant Israel Yahweh’s Assembly in Yeshuah Messiah (RIYAIYM).

The debaters were at distant continents, but the clash was bridged by satellite connections where Bro. Eli was in South America, and Albuera was in 331 Quezon Blvd., Quiapo, Manila, Philippines.

Albuera proposed in the Oregon-type of debate that “the commandments of God, from Old to New Testament, never change”, in which Bro. Eli was on the negative side. Albuera believes that the Law of Moses was never altered, is still in effect even in the Christian dispensation, and can make a man perfect and justified.

“God never changes as well as His commandments. God promised that He will neither break His covenant, nor alter every word gone out of His lips. The commandments from Adam, to our present generation, and unto the heaven are still the same,” said Albuera in Tagalog.

Albuera explained that though Adam was commanded by God to offer lambs, there is consideration to poor people; they are not obliged to offer livestock for they cannot afford it according to him.

“What only happened was that the commandments were remodeled; meaning, from tablets of stones, they were transferred to people’s heart and mind; but the contents are still the same,” added Albuera.

In his turn to refute, Bro. Eli disposed off the sweeping generalization Albuera used. Bro. Eli agreed first that God neither broke His covenant, nor altered every word gone out of His lips, but it is particular only to people whom God had promised. He pointed out that the covenant was effective upon a generation whom it was legislated and that time element should be considered.

“It is true that God never broke His covenant, like for example His covenant of circumcision to Abraham. He never altered it, not until the Christian dispensation,” said Bro. Eli. “When it was Christ’s turn to preach, Christ, through Apostle Paul, abrogated the covenant of circumcision. The proof is Titus, one of his ministers, was not forced to be circumcised.”

Bro. Eli also said that Adam was not commanded to offer lambs and that there would never be circumcision in heaven.

Using the Greek Bible, Bro. Eli explained that God has no transmutation, but it doesn’t follow that God’s commandments were not changed – God is different from His commandments, He is not the commandment.

“He (Albuera), himself, is my witness that there was a change in the commandments – according to him, commandments were remodeled,” said Bro. Eli. “Remodeling is different from restoring.”

In his next turn to explain, Albuera attacked Bro. Eli questioning the latter’s authority to preach. “Will you believe a Filipino preacher? The authority of a preacher must come from Jerusalem, if someone teaches you the Bible but he is a Filipino, do not believe him,” Albuera said. Albuera also inserted his notion that Paul and Jesus Christ do not agree with each other.

Bro. Eli countered Albuera saying Christ and Paul never contradicted each other – they’re in total agreement. Christ told Paul to write His commandments and He was guiding the apostle. Bro. Eli also said that God promised that He will spring righteousness in all countries, including the Philippines, and not in Israel only. He stated that Jerusalem, even during the time of Paul, was corrupted. The Jerusalem where teachings should come from is the Jerusalem in heaven, not the literal Jerusalem, said Bro. Eli.

Bro. Eli ran down examples of commandments proving that the Law of Moses became old and vanished away when the everlasting covenant took place – the Law of Christ. In the Law of Moses, whosoever murders shall be in danger of the judgment; but in the Law of Christ, whosoever is enraged with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment. The same as the commandment prohibiting adultery, in the Law of Christ, looking at a woman with lust is already adultery.

In the course of the final cross examination, Bro. Eli cornered Albuera and the latter can’t answer directly. Citing the story of the rich young man, Bro. Eli challenged Albuera asking him to admit error if he could read in the Bible about someone who kept all the Law of Moses but yet wasn’t justified. Albuera avoided the question, and at times answered Bro. Eli saying that the rich young man hadn’t kept all Moses’ Law.

The moderator arbitrated and read the verse under discussion – Matthew 19:16-21 – and said the rich young man kept all the Laws of Moses, yet was not justified.

In his final turn to cross-examine Bro. Eli, Albuera used his remaining minutes to explain his side instead of interpolating. Bro. Eli reminded Albuera the rules in interpolating an opponent. Realizing his lapses, Albuera continued asking Bro. Eli saying, “Are you with the Pharisees or with Christ? The Pharisees said Jesus is not of God and accused Him of not observing the Sabbath.”

In response to Albuera’s contention, Bro. Eli replied, “I’m with Christ who didn’t observe the Sabbath. Saying Christ is not of God is an accusation; but Christ not observing the Sabbath is a fact. Authorities like Apostle John wrote that.”

When Albuera had no more questions to ask, he waved his remaining minute before the time ran out. After the exchange of blows, the moderator concluded that Bro. Eli is the winner for he answered properly and accordingly all the questions posed by Albuera. On the other hand, Albuera evaded most of the questions launched by Bro. Eli.

The debate was showed in real time at major ADD Coordinating Centers where satellite receivers are installed.

Last June 7, Tuesday prior to the debate, Albuera went to a Bible Exposition in Navotas City and questioned what Bro. Eli preaches. Bro. Eli then offered his available time to set a debate with Albuera, which was Friday, four o’clock in the morning in Bro. Eli’s location. Albuera arrived at Quiapo, the venue where Albuera was appointed to hook up to Bro. Eli, at 4:30 o’clock in the afternoon, PHT. The moderator and time-keeper were neutral Catholic volunteers among the audience.

The debate was the second time where Bro. Eli, while abroad, debated with a Filipino pastor in his native country. The first was last 2007 when Bro. Eli debated with Pastor William Saraga of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Lord of Lords with His Children.

Bro. Eli was awarded by Mashable.com as “The Most Educational to Follow” during the Open Web Awards 2009 and his program is aired daily on UNTV channel. Bible Exposition schedules and venues can be found in the church official website http://www.mcgi.org.

MCGI Presiding Minister Gives Biblical Outlook on Natural Disasters

By Cecile Vizcaya

In light of the recent disasters and on-going relief missions in earthquake-struck Japan, Members Church of God International Presiding Minister Bro. Eli Soriano shares enlightening thoughts and biblically-inspired perspectives to what is now seen as a tragic global newsmaker.

While expressing his sympathy and condolences to the Japanese people who were affected by the 8.9 tremor on March 11, Bro. Eli Soriano, Presiding Minister to Members Church of God International also looked at the catastrophe in a different light – one that is biblical in context.

“Natural calamities are sent as God’s reminder, a manifestation of His power and wrath towards those who worship other gods,” he explained during the March-15 Bible Exposition in the Philippines.

Although this seems to have a hostile tone especially for the victims experiencing post-disaster trauma, the Presiding Minister preferred to be frank and biblical in looking at matters concerning natural calamities.

“There really is a reason for God to get angry,’ said Bro. Eli, and added that Japan’s disaster and other disasters before and after it were caused by God’s anger, as stated in Job 9:5-6.

He said, “If we are to examine the religious profiles of the countries which were beaten by these strong earthquakes, like Indonesia in 2004, Haiti in 2010, New Zealand and Japan this year – it all comes to a conclusion: great natural disasters fall upon those who do not acknowledge the God of Israel.” Bro. Soriano connected the religious beliefs and practices of the countries he mentioned to the disasters which came upon them.

As reported by www.guardian.co.uk in December 2004, a destructive 9.0 megathrust earthquake hit the Indonesian coast, triggering tsunamis that crashed onto the coastal regions of Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. The calamity claimed hundred thousands of lives and destroyed properties, coastal villages, and businesses.

Global news reports, statistics, and video uploads over the Web reveal a high level of religious intolerance and conflicts in Indonesia. Ruthless killings and violence are day-to-day affairs, especially in the Poso District where scythes, guns, and other forms of ammunition are commonplace.

Also, religious diversity and odd forms of worship are a usual sight in the four countries that were tsunami-hit. “They embrace mostly Buddhism and Hinduism. In India, cow and elephant worship are tolerated. The Bible clearly states that idol worship is an abomination unto God,” Bro. Eli emphasized.

“Why should you worship animals, idols, and graven images? asked Bro. Eli to his audience from different parts of the globe connected via the Internet. He explained that idol worship is the reason why God gets as He expressed to His people, the Israelites, thousands of years ago in Deuteronomy 5:8.

“By worshipping Buddha and revering animals, Buddhists and Hinduists are earning for themselves God’s curse,” he added, stressing also that “what is written in Acts 17:29 and Romans 1:25 are being fulfilled in them.”

Like Indonesia, impoverished Haiti was devastated by a magnitude 7 temblor in January 2010, one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the nation in the last two centuries, according to geologists. Many people died because buildings collapsed on them. Investigations by engineers further revealed the crumbled edifices to be defective, used substandard building materials, and did not follow customary building codes.

Haitians practice idol worship, Baha’i Faith, and 50% of the current population practice Vodou (variation voodoo), an old but complex form of heathenism which believes in the existence of primordial spirits and deities, and in some of its offshoots, perform the dark magic arts. Again here, Bro. Eli stressed that idol worship is a big no in the Bible.

In previous Bible Expositions, Bro. Eli explained that those who perform magic arts and consult the dead are abominable to God. This teaching is in the Book of Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

Finally, the latest disasters to have quaked New Zealand and Japan suggest a similar connection between religious convictions and natural disasters. New Zealand, aside from it rests on an active seismic plate, hosts a medley of religions. In a national periodical released in 2008, a study indicated that from 1996-2006 there was a steep rise in the number of people who are either practicing their ethnic religions, such as the Maori sect and its offshoots, or do not practice religion at all.

On February 22, a 7.0 tremor shocked the country, putting New Zealand on the map for humanitarian action. To this, Bro. Daniel Razon, Vice Presiding Minister to MCGI, commented that “He shakes the earth because of his anger, a way of saying we need to remember, ignore not His might, His power and counsel.”


The world is quite familiar with the earthquake-prone location of Japan, as it lies, like New Zealand, on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Earthquakes are frequent visitors, but most tremors are ignored until the one which thumped Japan on March 11. Linking its religious systems, research data tells of Japan as the second in 20 states in the world having the largest number of atheists and agnostics. Figures account for 2/3 of the population or roughly 82 million Japanese who do not believe or doubt the existence of God. Bro. Eli Soriano furthermore observed that the “Japanese are more inclined to material gain; they do not have interest for spiritual matters. Those who profess they worship God do not worship Him at all. They believe in Shinto and worship graven images as well.”

The disaster on March 11 which caused a string of other blows such as the tsunami and the damage inflicted on the four nuclear reactors in Fukushima prefecture is an evidence of God’s anger, he said.

During a related Bible Exposition, Bro. Eli Soriano answered an inquiry about disasters, citing the verses Job 9:5-6 and Psalms 104:32, describing God as the “earth shaker and mountain mover.” The tsunami is recorded in Amos 9:6, although differently worded. On the other hand, similar disasters such as typhoons, tropical storms, and cyclones are described in Jeremiah 25:32.

Just as he was about to end his sermon in MCGI’s weekly Thanksgiving service on March 19, Bro. Eli received news from the coordinating center in Tokyo that an earthquake had just occurred, and that the brethren inside the worship house had to step out for a while for safety.

The Presiding Minister also cautioned all to prepare for and remember that natural disasters are acts of God and are an evidence of His wrath. He said, “In all these disasters occurring, I rest my trust and faith in the Almighty Who will save and spare His servants.”