Soriano The Evolutionist

"I am part of the animal kingdom." - E. Soriano personal motto

I believe Soriano is an evolutionist. And I also believe that he will deny this claim vehemently and yet unknowingly validate it at the same time. He will try to bob and weave himself from this claim and direct the discussion elsewhere using his method of picking and choosing words from the Bible and then picking and choosing the meaning of the words that best suits his opinions. He will claim to believe only in the Bible but he will also subscribe to evolution all in the same breath. Which by all means is a hypocrite's stance for a supposed man of God. The following is another proof of how Soriano undermines what is Biblical with his opinions.

Evolutionists have long kept and protected their belief of an old earth that has been around for billions of years. Of which they have not one shred of proof. The best they can come up with are two theories. The big bang and evolution of man. Both theories are just that, theories! For something to be called "a science" like this evolution lie they're shoving down our throats, it has to go through the scientific process of proving. They have to be observable, testable, demonstrable, and repeatable. Evolution and the big bang fail in all of these miserably. Evolution is NOT science. It's a religion that willfully takes God away from the creation picture.

Now why do I say Soriano is an evolutionist? Because he will not accept that the earth is just about 6000 years old like the Bible shows us, and instead he would have people believe as he believes through the handiwork of evolutionists, that the earth is billions of years old. Soriano would deny the Bible's account of Jesus's genealogy which is clearly recorded from generation to generation, from father to son, and from Adam to Joseph (Jesus's adoptive father). Why? Because according to Soriano, not all 12 sons of Israel had their genealogies expressed in the Bible. He says Dan's lineage is missing so the Bible is incomplete, and without Dan's lineage, the Bible could not be a book of genealogy and could not be a good record of the age of the earth. So basing the age of the earth according to the genealogies in the Bible would be a "gross miscalculation".

This is a very poor defense for Soriano. One that any layman can take apart. In fact, I'm going to try and crack it wide open. Dan's genealogy is not in the Bible because it is not essential to trace the lineage of Jesus from Adam. Only the essential characters are mentioned even if only so briefly, to keep account of who begat who. Apart from a few notable women characters, the Bible often negates mentioning the mothers. Just the fathers who begat sons. The Bible is also keen in noting at what age fathers begat their sons. The Biblical record of genealogies is amazing. In fact if you chart out the lineage from Adam, you will find that Noah may have met grandpa Adam!

Soriano would then bring up diamonds as elements that need billions of years to be formed. This appears to be a major basis for him to deny a God that can create everything in six 24 hour days. It's not surprising given the fact that Soriano teaches that God is not omnipotent. Apparently, Soriano is not aware that man has been manufacturing diamonds for decades already. Real science has discovered that the right combination of heat and pressure will produce diamonds similar to how diamonds are formed naturally. This proves that it does not take millions or billions of years to form a diamond. Evolution along with Soriano is debunked by real science.

Soriano is subtly attacking the creation account of the Bible. Futile though, because the Bible is perfect, complete, and absolute. By perfect it means it is inerrant, by complete it means it is not missing anything, and by absolute, it means it is the final word on anything. Belief in evolution means you put death before sin, which is directly opposite to what scripture says. Evolution preaches that through death, everything has evolved into today's fittest creatures. The Bible tells us that through Adam, sin entered into the world and then death followed (Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;).

There is no evolution involved in creation. God would not need millions of years to create. God only needs to speak things into existence!

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Soriano Says, Gay Is Okay

There's no denying that homosexuality thrives with acceptance and there was a time when people would hide their unnatural sexual preference. But as more and more people disobeyed God, more and more people accepted homosexuality as a fact of life. The Bible speaks of homosexuality very clearly. It defines it as a man sleeping with another man, and a woman sleeping with another woman. The Bible also clearly states that homosexuality is detestable to God. It is an abomination in His sight. And that such acts of homosexuality merits a fate reserved for God's fiery finale of this world. Imagine how God feels about homosexuals, that He fast-forwarded judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah. Those homosexuals got the best sneak preview of Hellfire ever!

The businessman in Eli Soriano sees yet another income generating potential with the so called "third sex". What God says is "an abomination", Soriano calls "natural". What God says is "detestable", Soriano says "is okay". What could possibly come out of contradicting God so blatantly as this? Money of course. Much needed money that will be generated by Soriano's cult (MCGI) as its membership will swell with the acceptance of homosexuals in their ranks. This of course is "backed up by the Bible" according to Soriano. But as we have learned, when it comes to Soriano doctrines, it would be good to take them with a grain of salt. Make that a sackful for this one.

You would wonder how Soriano weaves his lies into Scripture. Well, wonder no more, for he uses the devil's very own formula. Mixing lies with truths, and delivering it with lots of charisma in order to be convincing. Any person listening to Soriano that is not rooted in the Bible will be easily fooled. He'll sound no less than prophetic with the way he baits listeners. In no time at all he has them hook, line, and sinker.

So how does Soriano convince homosexuals (and the rest of his followers) that heaven awaits men who sleep with men and women who sleep with women? He begins by stating that God can do anything. [ Wait a minute... wasn't Soriano the same heretic who said God cannot do everything?] Soriano cites Romans 9:20 "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?". With this Soriano says that gays are made by God. God made gays, and gays can't do anything about it. Truth that God can do anything is mixed with the lie that God made gays (because He can do anything)... so argues Soriano.

He follows this up quickly with the challenge that gays are not possibly from Satan. God is the one who creates, not Satan. Satan he says, only destroys what God has made. God is the one who made even the handicaps of the deaf and dumb. Exodus 4:11, "And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?" There's another mixture of truth and lie right there. Where does it say that gays are included in the enumeration on that verse? There is none. Yet Soriano uses this verse to reinforce his earlier statement that God made all people, gays included.

Have you noticed that Soriano keeps injecting 'gays' in verses where there is none? He is trying to tell homosexuals that homosexuality is a handicap, not a sin.

Such a liar this guy, huh?

His message of hope for gay people is half-cooked with this teaching. God does not respect persons (Romans 2:11) and that He is not slack in his promise of redemption for ALL (2 Peter 3:9). So whether you are straight, gay, lesbian, or bi, God does not want you to perish. He caps this off with 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

It all sounds good and it should. It all came from the Bible. But I say it is half-cooked because Soriano uses these passages without driving the important point home. That sinners need to repent first! He leaves this vital information hanging in the wind to draw the homosexuals into joining his cult. He knows that acceptance is what gays crave most. And with the millions of gays around, he'd have his coffers full again. Soriano's deceit is masked by his use of Scripture. Hiding in the promise that through his true church (MCGI) salvation is possible. Heaven awaits all, even homosexuals.

Wait another minute, homosexuals are allowed entry, but not women?

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The truth is, it is the Bible that gives hope of salvation to homosexuals, not Soriano. The Bible tells homosexuals to change their ways for their ways are evil. Soriano only tells them the first part to get them lining up for membership. He tells them it is not a sin to be a homosexual because it flows naturally with the person, and they are not sinning at all. Is he exhibiting his infamous ignorance again? How can a homosexual not be sinning? If a man sleeps with another man, he's a homosexual... if he doesn't, he's not homosexual and not sinning. It's that simple isn't it? But this simplicity is also what Soriano uses to be ambiguous with his teaching. And he reels in his catch of homosexuals who think God will let them into heaven just because they are His creation too.

Soriano leaves out the true meaning of redemption in Christ. That Jesus has the power to cleanse sin and change lives. No matter how crookedly homosexual one is, God will turn him back from his sinful life. He does not need to become a member of Soriano's cult for acceptance. God will accept him regardless of anything if he repents his sins and follow God's will. He needs to accept Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior, and invite Jesus to reside in his heart. Change will come from within his being because of Christ. Not because he joined Soriano's cult.

Breeding A Culture Of Hate

Have you ever asked yourself why there are a lot of people who are bent with anger with Soriano and his cult? The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) continuously attacks and dissects his every word on two separate channels  and over a lot of their programs. The Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) and the Jehova's Witness (JW) do the same in radio and print. The Muslims even want Soriano beheaded. And TV reporters from the major stations have very little nice things to say about this self-proclaimed god from the MCGI. The old saying, "respect begets respect, hate begets hate" shines prominently on this.

Being a messenger of God carries with it the dignified stature of a being bathed in the Holy Spirit. Take John the Baptist for example. He lived in the wilderness, had ghastly clothes and had dire need of  hygienic attention, yet he's respected because the Spirit of God shines through and about him. Why then is Soriano receiving so much heat if he was sent of God? The answer, is because he is NOT God's messenger, nor was he sent by God.

Sent by the devil maybe, but not God.

God has given the guidelines for those called into God's service. He has made it very clear how a "man of God" is to conduct himself by the way he speaks and converses, the way he acts, the people he keeps company, and even his life as a family man. Enumerating God's qualifications for a preacher of the gospel according to 1 Timothy 3, would be like hitting Soriano continuously with his hands tied behind his back.

Let's start with "blameless". (POW!)
the husband of one wife... (WHACK)
temperate... (WHAM!)
sober-minded, of good behavior... (KRAKOW!)
hospitable (UGH!), able to teach (ENGK!)
not greedy for money (BAM!)
gentle, not quarrelsome (ZOK!),
not covetous... (OOOF!)
Not puffed up with pride... (SOCK!)
He must have a good testimony... (WHEEEEEEE....BOOOOM!)

Soriano fails miserably from start to finish. He has no defense whatsoever. Knockout blows coming from the Bible has left him sprawled on the canvass with no chance of beating the count. And there is no bell that'll save him. He's up against God's design for preachers of the Gospel. This design is exact and does not need another round to be crowned superior to the one Soriano has. If Soriano were a true man of God, and is sent by God, this would have had a different outcome. But all Soriano has going for him is his self-proclaimed designation as "sent".

Who is he kidding? No one. Who has he fooled? Apparently a lot of his members who choose to ignore fact from fiction, embracing a man known by the church as a perverter of the gospel, and a pervert by everyone else. They are blinded by their idolatrous adoration that is no different from the Israelites' worship of a golden idol while the very shadow of God is upon them. Imagine that. The truth is all around them yet they choose to hear and obey only Soriano.

If these people truly follow only the Bible like they say they do, the Bible would have slapped sense back into their heads long ago. They themselves would have seen Soriano's manipulative lies. They themselves would have discovered the deception that has caused them to sin against God. They are unconsciously sinning of wanton idolatry. Now there's an oxymoron if ever there was one to describe Soriano's followers. These people are lost along with the one who leads them, and they are all headed for destruction.

Reaching out to help them is an even bigger challenge given the fact that they are brainwashed by Satan's little helper. Though claiming to love their neighbors, their temperaments have shorter fuses than cheap firecrackers. They easily flip from being brotherly to enemy when shown how their leader's teaching differs from what the Bible says. You can sense an automatic change in their tone and disposition when they realize they need their leader to answer for them.

Having engaged quite a number of Soriano fanatics, I've charted something of a road map they all seem to follow when Soriano's false teaching is challenged. Initially they'll defend the teaching, using the verses Soriano himself supplies. But as we have witnessed time and again, the shallow nature of Soriano's context is easily exposed. This plants doubt in their minds. Sometimes you get a nod from those who do find Soriano's explanation shallow, then explore what the Bible really has to say, praise God for that. While others take to heart their defense of Soriano's opinion. They'll even unashamedly display the same hate their leader has for a television station. Sorry Matthew, Soriano won't teach them to love their enemies.

I can understand being defensive had they been defending the Bible, but no... it's Soriano they're defending, and it's the Bible they're attacking. How could they not see that? Following after their leader, those who oppose Soriano's explanations are labeled "sa demonyo" (of the demon/devil), and they are very vocal about it. There is no hesitation whatsoever in calling people who oppose Soriano as "demons" or any of the Soriano-sanctioned cuss words. He tells them it's okay to call people such because the Bible itself says so. Completely throwing Timothy's instructions out the window. And in turn painting a new picture of what a messenger of God should be... a name-calling bully. Unsurprisingly, this is justified according to Soriano.

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What have we learned in all this? Cult templates are there for a reason... they're proven. Soriano can deny it all he wants, but his stranglehold on his members is undeniable. He even has them talking the same way he does... a far cry from the godly preacher Timothy describes. With Timothy's descriptions alone, the Bible becomes clear in identifying Soriano as a biblically unqualified individual, one who has no business in pastoral work.

In The Service Of Soriano

Why is it that Soriano does not allow tithes? It's a certainty that he collects offerings, right? If Soriano follows only the Bible like he says he does, why does he keep attacking other churches for tithe giving? I'm sure he's aware of this Biblical concept of returning a portion of blessings to the Lord's house. It is clear as it is specific that God's people are to return a tenth of their earnings so that there will be "meat" in God's house.

During the Old Testament times, meat is literally used by the priests in God's tabernacle for their daily offerings. Two lambs a day were offered and four lambs on Sabbaths. More are needed for other festivals and sin offerings. The tabernacle fires need to be kept burning too. So oil and lumber are also in constant need. How would Levite priests supply these out of their own pockets? They can't. And so tithing was instituted where every Israelite was to give 10 percent of everything they earned and grew for use in the Temple. The materials would be in abundant supply and the priests were also taken care of. This way, they can keep their minds on their duties to God and the people and not be under any temptation to neglect it for the making of necessary provision for their families.

Soriano's argument rests on the fact that tithing was a requirement for the Jews... and we are not Jews.

I was hoping to hear some deeper explanation from "the most sensible preacher" but failed to get one from any of his material (written/videos), nor from his staunch followers in forums and discussion boards. Instead of giving an explanation, biblical or otherwise, they all seem to go the path of the gutter. Insults and disparaging words start shooting off their mouths to derail the discussion and change the topic. If they can't make you see it Soriano's way, you will be ridiculed and heckled.

Nowhere in the New Testament is it commanded nor recommended, that Christians submit to a tithe system similar to the Jews. But in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells us that believers should set aside a portion of their income in order to support the church. "Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him..." (1 Corinthians 16:2). Not that far off from the Old Testament concept right? The tithe is still for the church's use. To keep it running, to make it grow, and to support its priests.

As Christians we are to give as the Lord has prospered us. Moreover, we are to give what is in our hearts to give. In fact, it can be less or more than the conceptual ten percent. We are to give what we have decided in our hearts, not reluctantly or under compulsion. As long as it is given to the Lord with a glad heart, it doesn't matter how much it is. "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

So what does the Bible really tell us? Tithes unto the Lord are Biblical. For Christians and Jews alike, giving tithes is intended for the house of God. However, Christians are to give freely as their hearts desired with no compulsion and no set amount. Giving depends on the ability of the Christian and the needs of the church. The Old testament law is changed for the  saved in Christ but it is not removed. Remember those key words... tithing for Christians was changed, not removed. 

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Why then is this so hard for Soriano so accept?

Apart from his shallow retort against tithe-giving, Soriano does not intend for God's church to grow. Soriano wants his own interests, not God's. So he teaches his flock that God is the richest there is, that God would have no need for their money, and it would be insulting to God to give him money. Instead of giving tithes to God, Soriano would tell people to give money so that his media ministry may continue to reach more people.

And let's not  forget that the poor souls he has in his grasp that he calls a church are all deceived unbelievers. Soriano actually wants more unsaved souls. He wants more unbelievers for his Master in Hell. The offerings these people give do not go to God's work. But end up in Soriano's pockets. So instead of God's church growing, it's Soriano's bank account that's ballooning. Evident in his lavish lifestyle spent in a non-extradition country. Evident in the countless businesses, land, automobiles, and other properties he has in his name. 

A consolation would have been the 3,700 seat house of worship worth millions that he kept bragging about years ago; yet not a single nail has been seen so far by his congregation. He bad-mouths other pastors as money-grabbing and tithe-centered thieves who are only concerned about the money members will give. But how many pastors live the life that Eli Soriano lives? Those who are truly called into the Lord's work do so in poverty. They do not have the extravagant lifestyle Soriano has. They live by the grace of God alone, not by monetary cunning that Soriano utilizes. The tithes and offerings go to the Lord's work, not to their bellies, as Soriano accusingly points out. He is actually the person living out the very accusations he speaks of.

The saddest part of all, his followers remain blind to the fact that Soriano is milking them of their hard-earned money to enrich himself. Even worse is the fact that these followers believe they are giving to grow the church. Soriano does not approve of giving tithes to the Lord, rather, he pushes for the following money collection schemes he himself devised to further his own interests:

Abuluyan sa Pagsamba (contibution in worship)
Abuluyan sa Pasalamat (contribution in thanksgiving)
Hain sa Pasalamat ng Buong Kapatiran (offering of thanks by the brotherhood)
Hain sa Pasalamat Mid-year (offering of thanks, mid-year)
Hain sa Pasalamat ng Dibisyon (offering of thanks from the division)
Hain sa Pasalamat ng Distrito (offering of thanks from the district)
Hain sa Pasalamat ng Lokal (offering of thanks from the locale)
Gugol sa Pasalamat ng Kapatiran (allowance of thanks by the brotherhood)
Gugol sa Pasalamat Mid-year (allowance of thanks, mid-year)
Gugol sa Pasalamat ng Dibisyon (allowance of thanks from the division)
Gugol sa Pasalamat ng Distrito (allowance of thanks from the district)
Gugol sa Pasalamat ng Lokal (allowance of thanks from the locale)
Pasalamat ng Indibidwal (gratitude of the individual)
Hain ng Indibidwal (offering of the individual)
Gugol ng Indibidwal (allowance from the individual)
Abuluyan sa mass indoctrination (contribution for mass indoctrination)
Abuluyan sa bautismo (contribution for baptism)

Soriano also collects KAPI or Kabalikat sa Pamamahayag International. A Php1,000.00 per share endeavor for members to be part of. As well as for his "Worldwide Bible Exposition" wherein wealthy members raise at least Php500,000 for this event to come to fruition each time.

Try and wrap your mind around the amount of money Soriano gets from his members. It would have been all well and good, had the funds truly gone into the Lord's service, but no. It went into the service of Soriano.

Soriano Says No Women In Heaven

Yes, you read the title right. Here are more preposterous claims of Eliseo Soriano... "women cannot enter Heaven unless they become men first", and "there are no more women in Heaven". How in the world did he come up with such bizarre teachings? He'll point you to the Bible of course, and he'll tell you to read 1 Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" and Job 38:3 "Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me" as his primary basis for his claim. Soriano says women need to become men according to these verses.

At first I thought, "this guy could not possibly be serious". I mean anybody with enough sense will readily interpret what the Bible meant by "like men" and "like a man". It means, to render one's self as MANLY or BRAVE. NOT to be a coward, or timid, or afraid of enemies. But to be BOLD and BRAVE. Soriano could not be seriously implying "like men" to mean "become men" right? So I gave him the benefit of the doubt and delved into it a little deeper. Because his example of Job being told by God to gird his loins like a man may mean what I just described as being manly. That at least would have been acceptable teaching for women to stand strong and be brave. But sadly, it turned out that Soriano meant what he said.

Because Soriano would then use Philippians 3:20-21, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." With this verse Soriano claims that our bodies will be transformed to become LIKE that of Christ's body. And since Christ was a man, we will all be like Christ (a man) in Heaven. With this he reiterates his claim that there will no longer be a female gender. So there are no women in heaven. Yes folks, you'd better start calling Maria as Mario, if you think Soriano is right.

Listen to him yourself here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN6m70X6C9I

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I wasn't a bit surprised after watching this video. Nor was I surprised when his followers started claiming that the video was either cut, manipulated, or edited when I pointed them to it. Surely they can't deny how definitive Soriano's answer was. That there will only be one (1) gender in heaven. And that the women end up with the short straw. Nor could they deny that the channel is the "official channel" for the videos from Ang Dating Daan.

It's quite predictable that Soriano's followers will come to defend their leader no matter what slip up he may commit. For them, Soriano, being a god, would not make such obvious misinterpretations. They will recite (as if reading from a prompter) that I am the one misinterpreting Soriano, and that I am of the devil, and that I being of the devil cannot understand Scripture. Only Soriano, being "the SENT" of God can interpret Scripture correctly. So unless I was Soriano himself, they would not listen. Yet another display of idolatry really.

So what does scripture really mean? What it means is when we get to heaven, we will all be given glorified bodies *like* that of our Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture does not say that we will all become men like Christ nor did Scripture say that the women will become men. Only Soriano insinuated that *dumb notion* (pardon my French). He did not even give a passage that supports his bizarre claim. He merely used ambiguous verses then inserted the idea that all will become what he says women will become. Soriano exhibited his woeful ignorance yet again with this teaching. So much so that the Pastors he arrogantly challenges for debates should give way to English teachers (preferably women). I doubt he'll come out acting like the boor he is once the teachers are through with him.

The sad part is, at the end of the day, there are still those who value Soriano's words. Not knowing they are words of heresy. And they in turn share false teachings like these to their friends and loved ones. Unaware of the fact that they are leading souls into destruction themselves because they are blinded by their adoration for this worker of evil. They raise him up on their shoulders and proclaim salvation through their sent leader. Soriano's double whammy of ignorance and deceit guarantees a disastrous fall. Making it so easy for him to trick those who don't know any better themselves.

But his victims are still our brothers and sisters. They do not see Soriano for what he truly is . A wolf in sheep's clothing let loose inside a henhouse. Spewing lie after lie with cunning deception and charisma. Leading them to their own destruction.

They need our help.

Salvation In Two Flavors

Heresy in Soriano's doctrines reach it's peak with the false teaching that Jesus brings two kinds of salvation.

The first of the two is derived from Matthew 1:21, which says, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Here Soriano claims that Jesus came and died for Israel alone.

The second of the two salvations is for the faithful Gentiles. This lot will only have their chance at redemption at the time of Jesus' return. In a twisted perversion of scripture, this means that Christ's death should mean little to the Gentiles since it was not meant for them. Would Jesus have to die all over again for the Gentiles? Because it is written in scripture that the punishment for sin is death (Romans 3:23) and the atonement for it is the blood of the innocent. The answer is no of course. Soriano's teaching is heretical to the last letter. He would have Christ doing a sequel to His last stint on earth.

Soriano teaches that on Christ's return, the Gentiles, will be saved if they remain faithful, and belong to God's "legitimate church"... which just so happens to be his church, Members Church of God International (MCGI).

With this false doctrine, Soriano injects yet another betrayal of scripture. Scripture declares in plain and simple words... there is nothing man can do to merit salvation. Joining a cult like Soriano's could not bring man any further from being saved.

Soriano continually pushes for "works-based salvation". A clear departure form Ephesians 2:8-9 which clearly teaches that there is only one plan for salvation, and that nothing man can do will be acceptable unto the Lord (Isaiah 64:6). He uses a perverse misinterpretation of 1 Timothy 3:15, "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." Claiming that God has NAMED His church as "Church Of The Living God, The Pillar And Ground Of The Truth". People only need to JOIN to be saved, because God has established it, and it's there already, nothing else is needed but JOIN. This is a lie Soriano says through his teeth.

The funny thing is, Soriano even pursued having his church renamed with the lengthy chopped portion of scripture to make his church sound legit. But the Securities and Exchange Commission would not allow it, on account of an entity already existing with the very same name. He settles for the present MCGI yet claims this is the TRUE CHURCH that Jesus established before ascending into heaven.

Soriano teaches the heresy that a sinner must FIRST join the church (his church) before he or she can receive Christ as Savior. The Bible teaches the exact opposite. Because the very moment you trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you become a member of the Body of Christ (The Church).

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The truth is, there is nothing we can do by works to earn salvation. There is no step that requires joining a church, and then this, and then that. It is true that Christians should be baptized, publicly confess Christ as Savior, turn from sin, and commit their lives to obeying God. But, these are not steps to salvation. They are RESULTS of salvation. Because of our sin, we cannot earn salvation by any means. There is no manual with 10 steps or 1000 steps to follow. That is why Jesus had to die in our place. We are totally incapable of paying our sin debt to God or cleanse ourselves from sin. Only God could accomplish our salvation. God Himself completed the necessary “steps” and thereby freely offers salvation to anyone who will receive it from Him.

We don't have to join any visible church organization to be saved. Jesus' love and sacrifice was sufficient for all, Jews and Gentiles alike. The word 'all' includes those who came before and after His death on the cross. There is no second type of salvation as Soriano teaches. Faith ALONE (Ephesians 2:8-9), in Jesus ALONE (Romans 10:13) is all that's needed to be saved. For Jesus is the ONLY WAY, He is the TRUTH, and He is the LIFE. No man cometh unto the Father, but through Jesus (John 14:6).

The Graven Image Of Soriano

Often when you engage in discussion with members of Soriano's CGI (Church of God International), they reveal (consciously and unconsciously) unbiblical doctrines like the ones presented in this blog. When you delve deeper, they are not shy in presenting Biblical reference which more often than not, do not have relevance to the doctrine they preach. It just so happens that a word or two can be found in such verses, that they use it to try and substantiate their claims. It's not hard to recognize the shallow nature in which they interpret scripture. This is mainly because their fundamentals are shaky, so everything built upon it is easily toppled.

When you refute their falsehood, be prepared to receive all manner of degrading words, cussing, and ridicule. They will no longer see you as a potential new member, but a threat. Of the numerous encounters I've had with Soriano's followers (I say Soriano's followers because they don't follow what the Bible says, just what Soriano says) I've been called everything from 'stupid' to 'demon', but that's okay. Words don't hurt anyway. It only emboldens me to try and pierce through the armor of lies Soriano has clad on them. The members' eyes are obviously blinded from the fact that they don't even bother investigating obvious flaws in Soriano's argument simply because they consider him above everyone else.

"Soriano is sent", is what you'd often hear as retort. "Soriano is the only sensible teacher", and "Only the sent should interpret scripture". If that is not a spiritual death wish, I don't know what is. The followers are brainwashed of the Biblical fact that reading and studying scripture is not exclusive to the leader of the group. Nowhere in the Bible is it said that reading scripture is for those sent alone. On the contrary, the Bible is very clear that we should all read and study God's words to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

- God's word is our spiritual food, because we cannot live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4);

- We can use it to answer ANY QUESTION we have about life, and we are guaranteed that the answers within are without error (2 Timothy 3:16);

- We can depend on it simply because God does not change. What holds true then is true now, and will still be true in the future no matter how advanced we get (Ecclesiastes 1:9, Malachi 3:6);

- God's word helps us identify false teachings. There so many of these damnable heresies that the word of God helps us identify them. We learn to discern between the good and evil, the true and false;

- Further, the word of God equips us to do battle for the faith. To uphold what is true, God-breathed, and holy (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).

With the Bible openly talking like this, why is it that Soriano's followers not recognize the truth that study of scripture is for all?

There is no other answer other than "Because Soriano says so". Here lies the danger of idolatry. We know that idolatry is not limited to the worship of graven images. It comes in different forms that without the discernment scripture provides, we cannot readily identify them. In a nutshell though, idolatry happens when we replace God as the center of our lives. Anything that has a greater pull at our hearts than God has is idolatry. And there is none other than Soriano who has the greatest pull in these people's hearts. He has them catering to his every whim. So why not make them attend his concert? Or why not make them boycott a TV station? They'll follow him, so WHY NOT?  

Submission to Soriano's opinion is a form of idolatry. How they raise his words with authority is scary. The "what he says is so" attitude replaces the authority of God's word. The cultic control Soriano has over his subjects is not something to be taken lightly. They see it as defiance to go against what Soriano has said. They blindly follow Soriano to their destruction. They are convinced that they have NO RIGHT to interpret scripture because they are not "sent". That is a blatant lie of Soriano! They content themselves with what Soriano feeds them. Picking up the Bible and reading from it merely becomes lip service. They don't chew and digest God's words, they let Soriano do all the chewing! This is why they remain spiritually hungry.

They are also convinced that Soriano is sent of God, where in fact, no church ever sent him, not even his old church. He had to break away and create his own church. THEN install himself as "sent". How could he be sent then? Can you see the similarities with Satan's ambitions? And lastly, which could be the most bizarre of all, is that they are convinced Soriano himself is a god. They acknowledge Soriano introducing himself as a god. And as followers, who are they to defy a god?

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Please include them in your prayers. May God open their eyes to the truth that is before them. That they may see and understand that they are committing idolatry, and that the folly of following someone who is no more saved than they are will lead them to fall.

Eli Soriano And Satan Use The Same Words

In the Garden of Eden, man fell from grace and was separated from God after disobeying the only prohibition ever given in paradise. That he was not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He can eat of any tree except from this particular tree. We all know the story of how the serpent beguiled (tricked) Eve into eating the fruit from the said tree, and then made her husband Adam do the same.

It can be said that the fruit itself did not contain any knowledge, and that it was placed in the Garden to test man. Moreover, Adam came pre-programmed straight from the highest intelligence there is. There was nothing in the fruit that would have improved his already stellar intellect. I think Adam may have had an IQ of 1000 or more. Can you name anybody who can walk, talk, and get married all in one day? I'm just trying to paint a picture of Adam and Eve that will make you agree to the fact that they were perfect, they were in paradise, and they were with God.

What is it then that could have trumped their dreamy situation? How about, becoming like God themselves? That would have certainly had their minds picturing things far better than what they already possessed. Enter the serpent (Satan), the father of lies. He whispered THAT very notion into Eve's ear. First by making her doubt God "hath God said...?", then by denying God's very words. "ye shall not surely die", and the rest is Biblical history. Adam and Eve ate of the fruit because they listened to their desires of becoming like God. One bite, and they lost their innocence, they lost paradise, and most of all their communion with God. Sin entered into the world, and by sin came death (separation from God). Satan's words messed up everything for man.

Guess who is using the same words nowadays. Yes, Eli Soriano in his program, Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path). He's telling listeners the same thing Satan told Eve back in the Garden of Eden. "Ye shall be as gods". He cites verses from the Bible that in a very shallow way, supports his perverse doctrine. He argues that in John 10:34-35 where Jesus himself referred to men as "gods". We know that Jesus meant "men of higher stature" but for Eli Soriano, the word 'god' is 'God'. Then he'll point you to Webster's definition for confirmation of the word. A secular dictionary, imagine that! Doesn't Soriano have access to any concordance?Another passage he cites is Psalms 82:1, "God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods." Here David refers to the same people Jesus meant. Men of high stature such as priests, prophets, kings, and rulers. But as with the first, 'god' is 'God' in Soriano's interpretation.

He further builds on these passages and even starts introducing himself as a god. Moreover, he goes on to convince his followers that they can attain godship themselves by citing yet another verse Ephesians 5:17 "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]", interpreting it as God wishes for them TO BECOME like God. This goes back to his principal doctrine that there are MANY gods, and NOT just one God. An example of which he says is Exodus 7:1 "And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh..." without taking into account that God was using an analogy of Himself and Moses, as Moses and Aaron.

How shallow can Soriano get? He actually doesn't need to go any deeper because he's catering to people who don't know better. People who cannot tell between right and wrong interpretations. People who are innocent. It's Adam and Eve all over again! I would give anything to have been in the Garden of Eden to stop the serpent from whispering in Eve's ear. I would have dashed in, took the serpent by the tail, spun all subtilness from his head, and flung him to a bunch of cacti. What's done is done and we can't do anything about it. But we can help prevent it from happening again. We can help save people from Hellfire by exposing Soriano's heresies. Let's not keep to ourselves and do nothing. By doing nothing, we are helping evil triumph. Let's shut this serpent up.