To God Be the Glory Forever and Ever!
This is a reply to a comment made by a certain Mr. Renato Salvador on my article posted last October 24, 2007 entitled “The Origin of Humankind”. His comment is as follows:
In every way normal for a person who is an admirer of a person, it is hard not to share your testimony and sentiments toward someone you believe is worth the praise. And that is me for Bro. Eli Soriano. I don’t know but it may be too much already to speak this way or even dull the readers of my true positive feeling toward you Bro. Eli. Before, I dismiss those comments and praise I was reading here about you because there are marks that I believe are testimonies of members from your organization. Now, I believe, I cannot blame them. If it is really worth the praise then there is no way I should object that. In reading some of your most personal sentiments here like this recent article you’ve written, it was so clearly written, vivid and probing. It gives me a whirlwind of thought how you’ve come up with such amazing simple story about a piece of your life, and turn it into some kind of miracle, that touches inside of me. Yes, while writing this comments, tears are streaming down my face. I could not stop it. And I believe, only a person sincere enough could move me to tears like you do.
Renato Salvador
Dear Brother Renato,
It is never a sin to praise and honor anybody to whom praises and honor is due.
ROMANS 13:7
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Even the inspired writers of the Holy Scriptures like the evangelist Luke used terms in praise to erring man.
LUKE 1:1-3
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Certainly, Theophilus, as the name denotes, is a Gentile, to whom, by Hebrew standards, does not merit any praise or honor at all, but the evangelist called him “most excellent”. The “most excellent” here certainly does not mean most excellent of all human beings, but, maybe among his peers. Respect and honor is due to all men by Christian standards.
1 PETER 2:17
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
In the Old Testament, respect and honor was commanded by God to be given to parents.
DEUTERONOMY 5:16
Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Obviously, this commandment was changed when the Apostle Peter wrote to the Hebrews, observer of the Old Testament laws, to “honor all men”, not only parents.
HEBREWS 8:13
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
HEBREWS 7:12
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
I cannot see any reason why it will be a sin if members of the Church of God International will honor and respect the person of Brother Eli Soriano.
HEBREWS 13:7
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
HEBREWS 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Now, I am obliged by the situation to teach this part of truth in the Christian doctrine! Never in my fifty-three years in the ministry did I teach nor encourage anybody to treat me like somebody; for the fact remains until now, (this is my belief and God is my witness) I am nobody.
EPHESIANS 3:8
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
If the great Apostle Paul believed that he is less than the least of all saints in his times, I believe that I am less than the least of all saints of all times. My conscience is guided by the meekness taught by the Lord Jesus.
LUKE 17:10
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
If after doing ALL, a servant must confess that he is an unprofitable servant, then after having just started doing what I ought to do, I can say that I am even less than an unprofitable servant. Most of the times, I refused to be called ‘sir’ as other religious leaders love to hear from their members. Sir is an old archaic word which means ‘lord’.
sire [sīr]
transitive verb (past and past participle sired, present participle sir·ing, 3rd person present singular sires)
father offspring: to father young, especially animals
noun (plural sires)
1. male parent of four-legged animal: the male parent of a four-legged animal, especially a domesticated animal such as a stallion or bull
2. Sire address to king or lord: a respectful form of address for a king or lord (archaic)
[12th century. Via French < Latin senior]
The whole congregation to whom I speak weekly is the witness to this fact.
When I started writing articles for this blog site, letters with praises keep pouring in, whose writers I do not know personally. I do not even know if they are members (or not) of the Church of God International. I have always wanted to forbid them to neither thank me nor honor me in any manner. I do not feel comfortable being praised or honored by men who look up to me as their leader; but verses in the Scriptures have held my hands to write anything to stop them. For years, I have been practicing to incline my conscience towards the Scriptures.
ACTS 24:16
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.
It is God who said that a Christian must honor all men. I am a man, although ‘nobody’, but the least, still is a man. I do not want (nor ever will want) to have a conscience of offense towards God who permits any man to be honored. God is not a God who grabs all honors. He even knows how to honor and respect men.
PSALMS 138:6
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
But after all things have been said and done, it is our duty as erring humans who know our own infirmities and shortcomings to give back to God all praises, honor, and glory forever. Amen.
1 TIMOTHY 6:16
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.
To my readers, may I advise you once and for all to always thank and honor God for whatever truth or wisdom you may learn in reading the articles of this blog site, after all, this is the conscience of the great “men of faith” from whom I have learned this virtue of regarding myself as nobody!
ACTS 14:14-15
14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
It is vanity to honor and deify mortal men!
Sincerely in Christ,
Brother Eli
Maraming Salamat sa Dios.
ReplyDeleteWe must duly respect, love, and honor other people as we duly respect, love, and honor ourselves. Let us all fear God. Thanks be to God!
ReplyDeleteThanks be to God!!! for all the knowledge and truth that i have learned everytime i read your blog. keep it up Mr. Controversy! honor and praises to our Almighty God the father of the Lord Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteTo God be the glory.
ReplyDeleteWisdom that excels beyond any human made comprehension. Thanks be to God and please do not mistake me for giving merit to your contributions of preaching the Gospel Bro.Eli for you deserve it. Nonetheless, glory, honor and praise be unto God forever indeed.
ReplyDelete#ForeverGloryToGod
ReplyDeleteA very wonderful article.
ReplyDeleteTo God be the Glory !
ReplyDeleteAfter all the knowledge have I learned from this blogger, knowing why I was created, why I should be a responsible person, why I should love people especially the neglected ones and mine enemies, why I should be merciful, why I should be logical, why I should be understanding and why I should be thankful and grateful, To God Be The Glory Forever and Ever.
ReplyDeleteAll honor and praises to God forever and ever!!! To God Be The Glory!!!
ReplyDeleteHumble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
ReplyDelete1Peter 5:6
#ForeverGloryToGod
to God be the glory forever
ReplyDeleteA million thanks to GOD for Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel that guide us. TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER!!!
ReplyDelete#ForeverGloryToGod
ReplyDeleteToGodBeTheGlory Forever and ever.Amen
ReplyDeleteIt is clear mr.controversyX
Thanks Be to God for all the wisdom that you have shared to us
May GOD bless and guide you always...and keep writing blogs with biblical basis.
Amen. Thanks be to GOD forever.
ReplyDeleteSalamat sa Dios!
ReplyDeleteBro. Eli
May natutunan n nmn po ako
Maraming salamat sa Dios
We give all thanksgiving and honor to God who create and sustain all life and make all things in order until now. Members of the Church of God we are trying our best to do this activity as weekly and quarterly festival thanksgiving worldwide. But to our leaders, we render the kind of fear that God required to Miriam and Aaron and to his faithful servants knowing that understanding and knowledge of the words of God is entrusted to the them. Let us aware.
ReplyDelete#ForeverGloryToGod
ReplyDeleteIt is only GOD who can say whether we are worthy of HIM or not. We are only created from the dust and we are nothing in HIS sight, therefore whatever achievements we've done, the honor and glory still belongs to our CREATOR!
ReplyDeleteThanks be to GOD for a humble and meek preacher!
#ForeverGloryToGod
All The Glory And Power Forever To God Almighty Forever And Ever Amen!!
ReplyDeleteI truly am a witness to the facts you are saying Bro. Eli! Salamat sa Dios!
ReplyDeleteWe must respect all men even the lowly because the Lord respect them even though He is high. To God be glory forever and ever. Amen!
ReplyDeleteTO GOD BE THE GLORY. Thanks God for giving us Bro. Ely Soriano.
ReplyDeleteTo brother Renato i encourage you to read the blogs of bro eli and watch also the ang dating daan programs of channel 37 UNTV. Your faith will change just like me
ReplyDeleteI am a Professional but when I started to read Controversyextraordinary of Bro. Eli, I knew it, To God Be The Glory.
ReplyDeleteTO God be the Glory!!!!
ReplyDeleteTo God be the Glory!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been in MCGI ( Church of God ) since I was 14. I've heard brother Eli preached on radio and TV. It didn't take long for me to realize that he is sent by God to answer our spiritual questions and teach us the way of life. Now I am 33 years old. One thing I've learned, is that when Brother Eli says he does not want to take any credit for anything he has been doing, he means it. Most of the time, he is uncomfortable hearing praises towards him. As he already said in this article, in many occasions, he prohibits people to call him "Sir" which he believes is another word for "Lord". He does not want to be called Lord ( Sir ). I am witness to that. Once in our weekly thanksgiving, he scolded members who sang a song dedicated to praise him. The song was in the tune of the "Home Along the Riles" ( A song about a Philippine SitCom with the same title popular in our country that time ), and the lyrics went like, "Sugong si Brod Eli ang galing" ( English translation: The God-sent / God's messenger who is Brother Eli is good / great ). Before he started the topic for that day, he warned the members that they will be suspended if they will do that again, referring to making and singing songs that is intended to praise him. It's never a false / forced humility.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we are overwhelmed because of the great things we hear from him. But if we want to make Brother Eli happy, there are other ways, we can do it.
3 John 1:4
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth"
We will make Brother Eli happy, and God more importantly, if we walk in the truth. And follow God's commandment. Let's help him do his duty which is to preach about the Loving God of the Bible.
And To Him, our God be all the Glory, forever!
- We love you, Brother Eli! -
Amen! thanks be to God brother
DeleteDon't think highly of yourself but rather think others highly than yourself. This is one of the good doctrines of God in the Bible. It envelopes all good traits one can ever have. This can lead to learning the agape that the words of God say the highest wisdom one will ever learn. Giving honor and respect to men must be rendered within the principle of love among brotherhood in the Church of God. This is acceptable to God. In the end, the servants whom God has chosen never miss to give thanksgiving and honor back to God who said wasn't ten of them that were healed, why was only one that came back?
ReplyDeleteAmen. To God be the Glory Forever!!!
ReplyDeletesalamat sa Dios. tinawag ako at nasa iglesia ako ngayon na hindi ko parin maaniwalaan kung bakit andito ako salamat sa ating Dios talaga.
ReplyDeleteFor Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen.
ReplyDeleteMy conscience really keeps telling me To God Be The Glory!
ReplyDeleteThere is power in humility when we know "TO GOD BE THE GLORY!"
ReplyDeleteIf only all my peers will come to realize the wisdom of TO GOD BE THE GLORY, they will never charge our brethren with professional fee.
ReplyDeleteI am a witness, too, to Bro. Eli's meekness. Countless times did he decline to be called a sir or be given praise. He always says 'sa Dios ang lahat ng kapurihan' (to God be the glory). He does not merely teach us the doctrines, he also leads by example. Salamat sa Dios!!!!
ReplyDeleteA million thanks to God. A very humble preacher sent to us. May God bless and give you long life brother Eli.
ReplyDeleteslamat sa Dios
ReplyDeleteMark 7:7 : Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. TO GOD BE THE GLORY !
ReplyDeleteTo God BE The Glory is my philosophy in life...
ReplyDeleteJust the same yesterday, today and tomorrow To God Be The Glory..
ReplyDeleteThis article is very humbling. It makes me think that if Brother Eli considers himself as nobody, how much less would I be considering myself. Thanks be to God for this blog. To God be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
ReplyDelete