Exposé of the Idiocy of a Roman Catholic Apologist in Using the Bible and Why His Arguments Against Ang Dating Daan Are Nonsense

An article written by a Catholic apologist named Atty. Marwin Llasos appeared in www.knowthetruth.ph. There, Atty. Llasos criticizes a Joel Tan whom he assumed as an affiliate of the Members Church of God International or MCGI. He bluntly described Tan as “abysmally ignorant” for publishing a computer search screen shot of Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana and resulting in none.

Anyone who has read that article might have been confused with Llasos’ perspective and intention. It’s uncertain if he attacked Joel Tan or he used the guy as a red herring to slur MCGI Presiding Minister Bro. Eli Soriano whom he also named. In fact, two pictures of Bro. Eli appeared in that write-up. One was a meme fished from an unknown source.

So before Llasos becomes fossilized with his colossal blunders, let’s look into his raison d'être and correct whatever faux pas he had assumed.

Smear #1: “Members Church of God International is more popularly known as Ang Dating Daan because of its TV program.”

Answer: Llasos implies that MCGI and Ang Dating Daan (ADD) are one and the same, which means there is a separate TV program. Let’s go to the facts. Ang Dating Daan is the title of the religious program. MCGI is the official registered name of the Church. MCGI put up the ADD program in order to evangelize. The two are of course related but different, since one is a media program while the other is an institution.

Why is Llasos confusing MCGI for ADD and ADD for MCGI?

Smear #2: “Joel Tan copied the style of his preacher Eliseo Soriano by using a search engine to look for Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana;” and, “The guy’s knowledge of the Spanish language is pitiful. Joel Tan is abysmally ignorant.”

Answer: What’s wrong with that? Doesn’t Llasos know that Tan is imitating the practice of a good man? He is resourceful enough to look for the truth, which this lawyer-apologist is short of.

The mistake that Joel Tan did is misspelling Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana which badly hurt Llasos. Then the lawyer went out lashing Bro. Eli Soriano as if it was the preacher’s mistake. FYI Mr. Llasos: Bro.Eli knows his Spanish and Portuguese. Tan's error is his own doing, not Bro. Eli’s. You don’t mock somebody else for the error of another.

Smear #3: Proof of MCGI’s foolishness: Joel Tan is searching for “Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana” in the Spanish Bible when the correct spelling in Spanish is “Iglesia Catolica Apostolica Romana.” How stupid can he get? (using Eli Soriano’s words)

Answer: This caption of a screen-grab photo Llasos copied is unfair. He is condemning the whole MCGI population for the error of one. Is this small mistake enough to conclude that MCGI is a flock of fools? If this stereotyping is done to the Catholic Church, will Llasos maintain his nerve to defend the faith that has a seriously messed-up reputation for its crimes against humanity?

In mocking the whole organization for a small error, Llasos hauls with him his church’s shame: a history of corruption which hasn’t been acquitted. I find it impossible to believe that the Catholic Church can ever discipline itself and its flock. Llasos will never convert a pinch of me to accept there is saintliness in the church he is defending.

Hasn’t Llasos heard that many of his fellow Catholics are regulars in MCGI Bible Expositions and avid watchers of Ang Dating Daan? If MCGI, Ang Dating Daan, and Bro. Eli are foolishness to him, shouldn’t he be asking himself why his own brethren insist on asking somebody he believes is a fool? Why doesn't his own brethren go and ask their priests about faith? Doesn't this fact upset him?

Smear #4: Jesus Christ never commanded His apostles to use a search engine to look for the name of His Church. That is a newly-invented doctrine of Eliseo Soriano.

Answer: Llasos is insane to imagine that the Lord Jesus Christ will tell His apostles to use a search engine. The Lord will never do that because He is not stupid to mention a term that does not exist in His time. There were no computers back then, Mr. Idiot!

Using a search engine is a newly-invented doctrine of Bro. Eli Soriano? Have you been to an indoctrination session to say that? There is no doctrine as that!

Even without search engines, there is a command in the Bible to inquire on God’s words. It is written in Isaiah 34:16 – “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fall, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.” The verse commands to “Seek”, a word that means “to search.” Bro. Eli’s purpose of using computer search is to save time, and make the searching faster and more reliable. If somebody asks him for biblical terms or answers, he would not have to manually open the pages of the Bible.

This lawyer does not realize that such technology helps people gain better access to Bible reading. He knows that the computer will not show the terms “rosary”,“purgatory”, “indulgences” and other invented doctrines of the Catholic Church. It’s his religion that is wealthy of inventions, not Bro. Eli nor MCGI.

I’m glad he admitted that the phrase and the context of “Iglesia Catolica Apostolica Romana” is nowhere in the Bible. Not even the Douay Rheims or Latin Vulgate have that.

The true Christian faith did not originate from Rome. It came from Jerusalem. Isn't it Rome that punished Christ to his death? Why will the Lord establish His Church out of a people that find pleasure in slavery and barbarism?

What about the term “Catholic?” Where is it and its essence in the Bible?

Smear #5: You won’t find MCGI in the pages of the Scripture.

Answer: This is his retort to the zero search results for the misspelled “Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana” and even the corrected “Iglesia Catolica Apostolica Romana.” He says that MCGI cannot be found in the Bible. What if he is wrong? What if his foolishness and inanity is blinding his eyes that he cannot see MCGI in the Bible?

This lawyer is saying that the title Members Church of God International verbatim is not in the Bible. But for a person of understanding, finding the words and the context is easy.

First, the term “Members.” The word fits perfectly the literal meaning and contexts of the following verses: Romans 12:4-5; I Corinthians 12:12,18,20,22-23,25-27; and Ephesians 5:30. Next is the phrase “Church of God.” It is found in 14 verses of the New Testament. 

Next is the term “International.” The books of Acts, Corinthians, and Revelations contain several verses about the various locales of the Church, beginning in Judea and spanning territories in Asia and the Mediterranean. Those who became affiliated in the Church of God were not limited to the Hebrews. Gentiles from all nations of the known civilized world were baptized into the Church, and they spoke in various languages and dialects. The sense and context of the word “international” is in the Bible.

But why is the term “international” not in the Bible? It’s because that word was not yet invented. English prefixes did not prevail during that time. New and many English words only started to appear in the age of Shakespeare, and those years are hundreds of years later after the last book of the Bible was written.

In these modern times, being international is even more realized as Bro. Eli Soriano preaches to the West. Aside from Filipinos, MCGI has members from the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, very much like the early church locales established by St. Paul in his time, only with a greater reach. This is simply the realization of what he had talked about salvation in global terms. Remember Matthew 28:19-20 and I Timothy 4:10?

MCGI is undoubtedly in the Bible.

Smear #6: Job 22:15 Has thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? and I am sure ADD is biblical as it is clearly, literally, and categorically in the Bible.

Answer: I will criticize this blogger in his own words: Marwin Llasos is abysmally ignorant. It’s clear he does not know what the verse means. The first thing to consider in examining the verse he uses to criticize Bro. Eli and Ang Dating Daan is to know who is speaking. Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job’s friends, spoke what would have seemed wisdom but in the end earned God’s wrath, as told in Job 42:7. Eliphaz did not speak of God the thing that is right. If not for his repentance and offering of sacrifice, God would have punished him for the folly he had fearlessly spoken.

How does the context of that verse compare with that spoken by prophet Jeremiah? The verse says “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” In this verse, God Himself is speaking, and His instruction was to find the good old path. But Llasos seems not convinced. Perhaps he is one of those mentioned in the end of that verse that says “But they said, We will not walk therein.” A hard-headed fool he is.

ADD is clearly, literally, and categorically in the Bible, but definitely NOT in the context that this Catholic defender is referring to.

Smear #7: Photo of Imbestigador with the headline in uppercase letters MIYEMBRO NIREYP SA PUWIT NI BRO. ELI

Answer: This lawyer will get any judge to his nerves! He chances upon evidence printed by a fly-by-night tabloid. Aren’t lawyers supposed to double-check the veracity and integrity of his resources? By referring to a tabloid as Imbestigador, Llasos publicizes his own stupidity because he believes more in gossip. And why would he quote only the headline? Why didn’t he mention even just a short statement from the article and posted it along with the headline if he is that brave to topple Bro. Eli Soriano?

Does he even have the right to comment on an issue he has no knowledge of? What kind of a lawyer is he? I am inclined to believe that this Llasos is a liar.

The author of the blog is a Mariologist. Well, here’s a reason why this lawyer is devoid of biblical knowledge. How can he understand the precepts of the Bible when he is busy studying the life of Mary? I have nothing against Mary. She is truly a blessed woman, having borne the body that carried the spirit of Christ. But there are far greater and deeper things to learn from the Bible and so few about Mary. This lawyer spends more time researching and studying a character who was not given much discussion. The things Catholics know about Mary are conjured illusions of people who have trusted tradition and apparitions more than what the Bible has to say.

If this Catholic lawyer-apologist really has the chutzpah and cunning to defend his faith, he should go straightway and challenge Bro. Eli himself! It’s not enough that he writes. He should speak in defense of Catholicism, in the same way that Bro. Eli goes out in defense of MCGI. Llasos should prove worthy as a lawyer. It’s futile to remain hiding. He should bring his evidence to a debate and let us see if those evidences are really worth the cause.

I therefore challenge you, Atty. Marwin Llasos! Be man enough to face in a public debate the Bro. Eli you are criticizing. If you will not go out and challenge Bro. Eli, I guess you are just like the others – a man without balls! He who has the nerve to say such things before the online community should have more in a live discussion. Prove you herald the truth! Prove that your faith is biblical! For that is the mark of a man of God. A man of God is willing to face anyone in defense of the truth.

May this teach and enlighten lawyers and true-blue academics out there to be more reasonable before they see themselves slammed in public.

And one more thing. Never bother reading the lawyer’s article if you haven’t. You’ll waste your precious time. But if you want to satisfy your curiosity or try your sanity, then at least this article has forewarned you. Be on your guard.

Brother Eli and the Catholic Mass Part I

Brother Eli Soriano, renowned international televangelist, was criticized in Fiat Volvntas Tua (translated Thy Will Be Done), a Catholic-based blog. It was about Brother Eli’s attack on the veracity of the Catholic Mass, which he wrote in esoriano.wordpress.com

For the sake of truth, we offer these answers in defense of Brother Eli. Please note that the issues answered here were directly lifted from the blog, including whatever errors are found.

Issue: Brother Eli Soriano is the founder of the Arian sect called the Church of God International that is primarily located in the Philippines. It is a schismatic sect of the Jehovah Witnesses and has similar teachings adopting the same evil heresies.

Answer: Brother Eli Soriano is not a founder of any sect. The word “founder” means originator or creator. In his 50 years of preaching, Brother Eli never claimed founding any church or religious organization. His present designation in the Members Church of God International or MCGI is Presiding Minister, NOT Founding Minister. Presiding means leading or directing.

MCGI is not an Arian sect. What is an Arian sect? An Arian sect is a religious organization that upholds the teachings of Arius, a presbyter (minister) of Alexandria considered a heretic during his time. Arianism, the religion founded in his name, believes: (1) The Father alone is God, only unbegotten, eternal, wise, good, unchangeable, separated by an infinite gap from man, and cannot communicate His essence. (2) The Son of God is pre-existent, "before time and before the world," and "before all creatures." He is a middle being between God and the world, the perfect image of the Father, the executor of His thoughts, even the Creator of the world. In a secondary or metaphorical sense he may be called "God." But, on the other hand, Christ is himself a "creature," the first creature of God, through whom the Father called other creatures into existence. He is "made," not of "the essence" of the Father, but "out of nothing," by "the will" of the Father, before all conceivable time, yet in time. He is not eternal, and there "was a time when he was not." Arians also assert that (3) the Son does not perfectly know the Father, and therefore cannot perfectly reveal Him. He is essentially different from the Father (heteroousios, in contrast to the Trinitarian orthodox belief, homoousios, "coequal," and the semi-Asian homoiousios, "similar in essence"). Later, the difference was more strongly expressed, calling the Son unlike the Father (anomoios). Some considered him as a human body with an animal soul, not a rational soul.

Brother Eli is not a disciple of Arianism. He says that the persons of the Father and the Son are distinct. But unlike the Arians, Brother Eli teaches through the Bible that Christ is God and has the same nature as the Father, knows the Father, and he is the only begotten of the Father, existing before the creation of the world but not a created being. Watch these videos of Brother Eli discussing the divinity of Christ, his relationship with the Father, and the trinity.

The words Arian or Arianism are not in the Bible. A quick computer search will reveal the truth.

Brother Eli teaches only the sayings of the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles, and the prophets that are applicable to the present. In so doing, he uses the Bible to argue with the teachings of others. An example of this is during Bible Expositions. Brother Eli answers questions of people from all walks of life and faith. They ask, he answers through the Bible in real time. Everybody is welcome, even agnostics, skeptics, or atheists.

Majority of the questions in the Bible Exposition are on differences of the doctrines of MCGI from those of this church or that church. Brother Eli is used to responding to questions like those. If someone asks him about the difference of MCGI’s teachings with, say, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Brother Eli answers, a proof that he follows what I Peter 3:15 says: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

MCGI is not a schismatic sect of the Jehovah’s Witnesses or JW. This claim has no historical or doctrinal proof. MCGI must have retained much of JW’s religious identity if it was a splinter group. Here are some of the many differences of MCGI and JW:

1. MCGI acknowledges the government. It was registered in the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines in 2004. Why? Biblically, Christians were taught to obey the ordinances of men, and this was written in Romans 13:1, Peter 2:13, and Titus 3:1. Under Philippine Law, every corporation or organization is required to be registered to the Securities On the other hand, the JW’s do not recognize human governments. Their argument is that human governments are evil. They now claim that they have changed this teaching since 1966, but they only did so because they have encountered problems, particularly with the US Federal Government. Their founder, Charles Taze Russell, was involved in a series of lawsuits regarding his violation of US state laws.

2. MCGI allows blood donation and transfusion. A proof is the regular blood donation it conducts with the Philippine National Red Cross and other Red Cross families abroad. What does the Bible say? Watch this video of Brother Eli explaining the biblical basis of blood transfusion. In contrast, JW’s do not allow it. Know why the JW does not approve of blood donation or transfusion. Judge for yourself if what the JW's say is biblically acceptable.

3. MCGI believes in a new heaven and a new earth. It is written in Revelation 21:1 – “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” JW’s say that this earth shall be inherited by those who will be saved, as written in Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” But Brother Eli believes it is a misinterpretation, as he does in this video.

The Jehovah's Witnesses made seven predictions
of the world's end, published in their official gazette,
The Watch Tower. Unfortunately, none of those
predictions came true, even if all forecasts were
computed using biblical and historical dates and figures.

4. MCGI never made any end-of-the-world prophecies. Since 1934 in the time of the late Brother Nicolas Perez until today that Brother Eli leads MCGI, the Church believes that the exact day and time of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the world’s end is not specified in the Bible. Only the signs were given, indicated in Matthew 24:4-51; Matthew 25:1-13; Mark 13:32; Luke 12:40-56; and Revelation 3:3. On the other hand, JW’s had made several doomsday predictions, all fallen to failure.

5. MCGI does not share any historical link with the JW’s. A quick look into the histories of both groups will lay waste to a claim that MCGI was a part of the JW's before. There is not truth to it.

There are many other differences between MCGI and JW’s. What have been mentioned are just a few.

This is only the beginning of the answers to criticisms by some who, for lack of respect towards research and reading of facts, have abandoned logical reasoning and biblical viewpoint. God willing, there will be more replies on the next article.

Dear readers, remember that it pays good rewards to be attentive of the truth and not philosophical talk. Save yourselves from the ignorance advertised by pretentious religious teachers.