The Religious Program that Fights a Crusade Against False Prophets

7 MIN READ

Dear Brother Tim Kurek,

In this dispensation, seldom can I find preachers or religious leaders with the same line of thinking as me. This happened during the time of Paul the Apostle.

(Philippians 2:20-21) For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

Most of the time, almost all preachers disagrees with me.

(2 Timothy 4:16) At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me:I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

But now, I have found a friend in you.

(Mark 9:38-40) And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.

In my country of origin, the Philippines, five famous religious leaders with contradicting teachings and faith once connived to work out my expulsion from a television network where I am airing the religious program “Ang Dating Daan” or the “The Old Path” — the longest running religious television program in the country, exposing religious frauds, in light of the word of God in the Bible. Incidentally, it is also the most awarded religious show in our country – even in the internet. Very recently, it won the “Gawad Amerika Award” in Hollywood, United States of America as the “Most Informative Religious Program”.

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Here are some of the Recognition and Awards the the religious program “Ang Dating Daan” or “The Old Path” have received for the last two decades:

For the fifth consecutive year, the website of “Ang Dating Daan” has won the Most Popular Website of the Philippines given by Philweb; gaining landslide victory over its closest competitors

These pastors and preachers are irritated by my untiring exposition of their unbiblical teachings and misleading doctrines. Others are even influencing government authorities to suspend or get rid of my program. In the Philippines, our group’s religious freedom and freedom of speech and press are essentially being suppressed by some authorities in government. No less than the commission on human rights in the Philippines’ National Capital Region (NCR) found after investigation that our human rights were violated by the Chairman of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), under the office of the President.

Thousands upon thousands of people gathered in front of the Human Rights Commission in the Philippines to show their support to Brother Eli when the latter was indefinitely suspended by the MTRCB to appear in any television program. The Human Rights Commission later ruled in favor of Brother Eli stating that the MTRCB committed a grave abuse of authority against the famous preacher.

We are being prohibited by the MTRCB and the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) to even mention the name and the erroneous doctrines of the Iglesia ni Cristo ni Manalo (Manalo’s Church of Christ), a group very influential to the present administration. I believe this prohibition is against our constitution and the jurisprudence and doctrines being upheld by the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines. (See Reference Below)

The bedrock of freedom of religion is freedom of thought and it is best served by encouraging the marketplace of dueling ideas.When the luxury of time permits, the marketplace of ideas demands that speech should be met by more speech for it is the spark of opposite speech, the heat of colliding ideas that can fan the embers of truth.

http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/1996/jul1996/119673.htm

These groups are very much like the group you are trying to expose in your country.They are advocates of their unbiblical “prosperity gospel”, thinking that religion and holiness is a means of gain.

(1 Timothy 6:5) …and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Their pastors do prosper by their “prosperity gospel” at the expense of their poor members.

(Romans 16:17-18) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

I visited your blogsite and I appreciate your effort in trying to expose also, the deceit being employed by religious leaders in your country. We are one in these crusades of trying to “snatch” people from the hands of these ‘propheteers’, or should I say, profiteers.

(Jude 1:23) …save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. RSV

These are the common denominators among false prophets: money and gain.

(2 Peter 2:1-3) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you…

Nowhere in the books of the Old Testament, neither in the New Testament can anybody find that the meaning of prosperity is material wealth as these pastors of doom preach.

‘Shalom’ in Hebrew means safe, well, happy, etc., while ‘euodoo’ in Greek means success in reaching a goal. These words were translated in the English Bible as prosperity and to prosper respectively. They do not necessarily imply material wealth as these pastors and false prophets claim.

In the first century Christian Church, there were members whom we can consider as the poorest of the poor. They are not materially wealthy, but are active members of the Church.

(1 Corinthians 11:22) What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. RSV

Most members of the primitive Christian Church are poor and hungry.

(1 Corinthians 1:28) God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are…

(Luke 6:20-21) And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

Their reward is reserved in heaven, not an assurance of wealth on earth.

(Luke 6:23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Lazarus died a beggar, but was saved!

(Luke 16:19-22) There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried…

Those that preach that to be a true Christian is to be rich and be blessed materially are worldly preachers and not of Christ.

(Philippians 3:19) Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. RSV

These are people who love to be called pastor, reverend pastor, very reverend pastor, whose glory is in their shame. The word reverend was used only once in the King James Version of the Bible, and was used to define the name of God Almighty.

(Psalms 111:9) He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name.

Incidentally, you called me pastor in your comment on my last article; and while I will appreciate your constant visiting on my blog, I would appreciate it more if you will call me plainly and simply Bro. Eli.Our Pastor or Shepherd worthy of that title is the Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Peter 2:25, 24) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

There are pastors elected in the Church of God in the first century, but nowhere can you find anyone of them used the title “pastor”.

(Ephesians 4:11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers…

They were called brethren by repentant sinners.

(Acts 2:37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Peter called Paul, a beloved brother — not beloved pastor.

(2 Peter 3:15) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you…

The reason is simply because it is the teaching of Christ!

(Matthew 23:8-9) But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Thank you for your concern, beloved brother. I am praying for you, also.

May God Bless You.

Sincerely,