The Power of Christianity is not by Force but by Peace
I received an email from Karen Dickens who (I suppose) is from the United States. Here is what she has to ask:
Name: Karen Dickens
Email: karen42dickens@yahoo.com
At a church… a preacher preached this message. This is a summary of the message. Can you tell me if you would label this the true church or a cult or what from examining this message preached about the authority in the Church? Jesus gave a ministry unto the church to pastor the body, because we can not pastor ourselves. When we get saved, we have to submit ourselves to the ministry. You can not just submit to Christ, and not His Body. Mt 7:29, People in Jesus’ time were used to reasoning about the scriptures, much like a lot of people do today. They like to pick their favorite preacher, one who agrees with their opinion, pets them, and is always kind to them. Actually our favorite preacher should be the one that does not understand us. Jesus taught with authority and he is able to give authority to others. Those chosen people are supposed to teach, preach or sing with authority. If you are not sure what you do or do not know if you are able to, you should just not do it. 1Co 12:28, Jesus gave gifts to the church, a government, where He sets the members. He doesn’t ask you or anybody. He just puts the members, as it pleases Him and we have to be obedient, Mt 22:13; Mt 16:18-19; Mt 18:18 The Lord gave authority to the ministry in the church to bind and to loose things. They’re not just able to put judgment on cigarettes, alcohol or rap music, but they have the authority to tell you in your experience what you really have and what not. (John 20:23) This is a side that is peculiar for the Church of God. The ministers recognize, if someone is out of order and have to put it in order and the church is supposed to support that. They have the key, which is the spirit and the word, and they are not going against the key. Through this power, that God has given them, there’s a lot of security for the church, thank God for this precious place.
Dear Karen,
This kind of preaching comes from a preacher who wants to have a hold on you as a lord to his servants; not giving them the benefit to ask questions. This kind of authoritative leadership is prohibited by the Bible (1 Peter 5:2-3).
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.”
Christians must submit themselves to their leader willingly and not by force (Ephesians 6:6).
“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart…”
Even in contributing to the finances of the Church, Christians must do it without intimidation (2 Corinthians 8:3-5).
“For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”
A Christian authority must not force himself to you. Instead, you must submit yourself to him as this is the essence of the Gospel (Luke 16:16).
“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
We have so many members in the Church of God International, where I am the overall servant; but never did I force anybody to accept my leadership (2 Corinthians 13:7).
“Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.”
Leaders of the First-century Christian church ‘beseeched’; they did not force members to submit themselves to them (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”
The word ‘beseeched’ used in the verse is er-o-tah’-o in Greek, which means, by implication, to request. What they do is to give examples of obedience and not force anybody to obey (1 Peter 2:21).
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps…”
(The Acts 20:35 NLT)
“And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The ministers given by God the authority to bind and to lose are those that have the keys. The keys are symbolic of understanding: understanding the word of God. A key is a device used to open something that is locked. The words of God are shut or locked (Daniel 12:4).
“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
The wise, with their understanding will unlock or understand the words (Daniel 12:9-10).
“And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”
The kind of preacher and his preaching you are telling me implies that he has no understanding of the scriptures. The connotation that “our favorite preacher should be the one that does not understand us” is blatantly wrong and unbiblical. A pastor or a shepherd must fully understand the plight of his flock (Acts 20:28).
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
God Bless.
Brother Eli Soriano
Amen.
ReplyDelete"Not by force but by peace" - thanks be to God! very timely. With all that's happening around us the doctrines of Christianity give hope and peace to every one who will accept and believe.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the greatest blog I've incountered.
ReplyDeletethank u so much Mr. Controversy
Thanks be to GOD for another blog. We must do the will of GOD from the heart we mustn't force anybody. We must be willing to follow.
ReplyDeleteThanks be to GOD and TO GOD BE THE GLORY?
Thanks to God, Mr. Controversy.
ReplyDeleteTnx God for another spiritual food that you fed to your people.
ReplyDeleteAll thanks to God for this wonderful topic.
ReplyDeleteAmen!
ReplyDeleteIt's an obligation to submit once self in your own volition to those who hold the keys.
ReplyDeletei really love reading your blog mr controversy because of the honesty that i always find in it. Thanks be to God
ReplyDeleteAmen. Thanks be to GOD for this article.
ReplyDeleteThe preacher that convey the message of God related to salvation and spiritualities, should not please the believers. You may find him as normal individual and a model.
ReplyDeleteNice blog Bro Eli.To God Be The Glory.
ReplyDeleteThanks God for having a sensible preacher of our time....
ReplyDeleteA pastor or a shepherd must fully understand the plight of his flock
ReplyDeleteDear Karen,I am one of the members in MCGI,a living witness to you that we are not being force to do what we should ought to do or obey.I obey the laws of Jesus Christ because I want to obey it myself and not because i am being force to obey it.I do it willfully because I love God.I pray to God you will be enlightened.May God bless you.
ReplyDeleteTbtGod...
ReplyDeleteThanks be to GOD for another enlightenment thru this blog. May GOD take care of you Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
ReplyDeleteA true preacher of God preaches only all the things written in the Holy Bible, no more no less. A preacher who preaches anything not biblical, is not of God. Thanks be to God!
ReplyDeleteThanks be to God for given the Church Of God the wise and true preachers in our time to open the understanding which is hidden to us. Glory and honor belongs to God and the Lord Jesus Christ for ever
ReplyDeleteTo God be the Glory! 🙂 💝
ReplyDeletethanks be to God
ReplyDeleteYou "HIT IT RIGHT" Bro. Eli Soriano
ReplyDeleteYou always Amaze me by your PERFECT use of words & timing
Of course by using the best tool, The Bible
God Bless you & everyone!
There's a big difference between Christianity by force and Christianity by peace. The true church of GOD can be also be determined by who is ministering it or pastoring it. He must be a leader who holds the key to understanding the Word of GOD. Moreover, he must be persistent in giving examples of obedience to his flock.
ReplyDeleteBack then in 1997 when I heard Bro. Eli Soriano, I knew he was a GOD sent overseer of the flock. Without a doubt I joined the church without anybody forcing me. I said to myself, this is the kind of Christian authority that doesn't force anybody to accept. It takes GOD's guidance, free will, passion to know the truth and obey HIS laws are the factors that lead to discern the true leader of the true Church.
Thanks be to GOD for knowing Bro. Eli Soriano, for being the overall servant of the church. He was able to unlock the doors of my understanding through the Scriptures and because of that, I am now a believer at peace.
Gracias a Dios por existir un predicador como ud hermano Eli.que hace honor a este versiculo hechos 20:28. A Dios sea la gloria.
ReplyDeleteTama po!
ReplyDeleteAMEN...
ReplyDeletethe one fruit of the Spirit is Peace.Galatians 5:22-23
ReplyDelete#WillingFollowersOfChrist
Ang Kapayapaan Ni Kristo Ang Tunay Na Maggagabay Sa Kristiano Sa Pamumuhay Na Malinis At Kasang Ayon Ng Kalooban Ng Dios!!
ReplyDeleteTo our readers following up this blog,controversyextreaordinary please listen to the indoctrination class of Bro. Eli once a month in all ADD coordinating center and one ADD coordinating Center may be seen near your residence or a little bit of a distance and you will be enlightened of the character of a true preacher. See you around.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we don't retaliate. We're letting God's vengeance takes place in the end. This isn't our fight. It's God's fight. We give our faith wholly in this matter that we trusted his words in the Bible. Those who endure shall be saved. Let the peace or The PEACE of GOD keep within us or be with us.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful answer from the Bible. Salamat ng marami sa Dios! God bless you, Karen :)
ReplyDeleteThe true Christian must follow the doctrine of peace. This is the path going to eternal life. It is the way. The Lord Jesus Christ is the realization. No one can contest that it's impossible. He's our hope that anyone of us can do the way. Let us follow Him.
ReplyDeleteThe true power of Christianity is what happened to St. Paul on his way to Damascus like what Bro. Eli is advocating that for man to change is by the will of God and not by man himself or of staying in a false religion. Come to witness a grand thanksgiving for three days at Apalit, Pampanga on June 30, 2017 to July 2, 2017.
ReplyDeleteLet me hold on to my faith Bro. Eli for I believe in the Power of Christianity, the one that you are advocating and biblical. The life everlasting.
ReplyDeleteThe true power of Christianity is in following Jesus Christ. "Maging banal, matuwid at mabuti"
ReplyDeleteSatan have confused man about the power of Christianity but ultimately those who call themselves Christians today but are not true Christians will see one way or the other, now or later that Bro. Eli is the only Evangelist advocating true Christianity,and the basis is, the content of the indoctrination sessions of Bro. Eli. You will be the judge yourself about the truth of being a true Christian by attending indoctrination sessions and this is given freely, once a month in all ADD coordinating Centers. There is one near you place, just look for it.
ReplyDeleteTo Karen, im glad you came across to the blogs of bro eli, continue reading, you also can access live streaming of worldwide bible expositions in you tube.May God bless you. Thanks be to God.
ReplyDeleteTrue Christians submit themselves to their leaders and not by force. Thanks be to God
ReplyDeletePrescribing medicines causing harm to man as advocated by our leader is plain insult like when satan wanted to be as high as his maker.
ReplyDeleteWe the MCGI`s belong to the smaller portion of the population but we hold the power of true Christianity. You are invited to attend the monthly scheduled indoctrination of Bro. Eli and you will know why.For us members, we are also invited to attend to be reminded of what we have already learned.
ReplyDeleteTrue Life is the power of True Christianity...
ReplyDeleteastonishing!
ReplyDeleteThe power of (true) Christianity is not overtly felt here on earth because its power is heavenly.
ReplyDeleteAmen
ReplyDeleteSalamat sa dios sa mga kaloob nya na hindi masayod.
ReplyDeleteThese new doctrines would have seemed attractive to pagans, when there was growing discontent with pagan practices and a general spiritual unrest. open heavens devotional
ReplyDeleteGlory To GOD
ReplyDelete"Christians must submit themselves to their leader willingly and not by force (Ephesians 6:6)."
ReplyDeleteAmen!
You'll know the true leader given by God, he will not force himself to you, what he will force is to teach you wisdom from the Bible.
Thanks be to God to our preacher! We are really blessed! :)
...not by constraint but willingly;
ReplyDeleteThanks be to God!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Extraordinary answers to ordinary belief of all born again or self proclaim Christians
ReplyDelete