Members Church of God International

For other uses, see Church of God.

For other organizations with the same name, see Church of God International

Members Church of God International
File:MCGI central.jpg Central Convention Center of Members Church of God International
Classification	Restorationism
Orientation	Nontrinitarianism
Associations	Kawan ng Cordero, KAPI (Kabalikat sa Pamamahayag Internasyonal)
Region	Worldwide, especially the Philippines
Founder	Eliseo Soriano
Origin	March 30, 1977
Separated from	Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan

The Members Church of God International(MCGI) known colloquially as Ang Dating Daan, is a Christian denomination with headquarters in the Philippines. The Church of God International is primarily known through its television program, Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path). The organization is formerly known by many names, such as Iglesia Ni YHWH at ni YHWSA HMSYH and Church of God in Christ, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth(Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia Ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas, Inc) among others ('see Legal Problems below). It is not related to the many Church of God groups that descended from the Barney Creek Meeting House revival of the late 1800s in the United States. While calling itself a Christian denomination, it is considered to be a cult by nearly all mainstream Christian denominations due to their belief that only the leader of their church (Eliseo Soriano) can interpret and understand the Bible, that Jesus Christ, while "a" god is a lesser god than the Father, and that God is not Omniscient or Omnipresent.. The group has tens of church locales in the Philippines, and around 50 international church locales in North America, Europe, South Africa, Asia, and Australia. New locales were recently opened in South America, and a recent bible exposition was done there.

History

Main article: History of the Members Church of God International

Ministers

• Present Presiding Minister: Eliseo Soriano
• Present Vice-Presiding Minister: Daniel S. Razón

Beliefs and Practices

The Members of the Church of God International believe that all teachings and interpretation of doctrines should be based upon the 66 books of the Bible alone, which can only be done through their leader Eliseo Soriano and to the founder of the real church, Jesus Christ and his disciples. They adhere to the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy including scientific and historical accuracy of the Bible. Although they reject the Theory of Evolution and the Big Bang Theory , they hold that the universe and Earth are billions of years old and man is a part of the animal kingdom.

They reject the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity, as well as the doctrines of Oneness, Original Sin, eternal security, personal relationship with Christ, tithing, first-day Sabbatarianism, among others.

Indoctrination classes are required prior to joining the organization. The classes are composed of at least 30 lessons concerning church doctrines prepared by Eliseo Soriano. Indoctrinees must wholeheartedly accept the doctrines taught during the indoctrination, before they will be baptized. A member who commits a serious offense such as adultery or rape are expelled and banned from readmission to the organization.

Members are expected to be modest in dress and grooming. Women are prohibited from wearing short hair, jewelry, and pants, while men are prohibited from wearing long hair. They are prohibited from drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, using drugs and gambling. Members are required to attend church service called Pasalamat, or Thanksgiving every Saturday at church headquarters in Apalit, Pampanga or in selected locales which have satellite access to the thanksgiving (elders and the disabled are excused in going to Apalit and go to the selected locales with satellite access). The service involves singing hymns, hearing sermons, offering prayers, and giving to the church. Kneeling is the posture of prayer observed throughout the service.

Members Church of God International Teachings

Teachings about God

• There's one Almighty God, the Father who is the Creator of the universe. God is not Omnipotent (He cannot do certain things like lying). God is not Omniscient (He doesn't foreknow all future human actions and choices). God is not Omnipresent (He created Hell but he is not there).
• Jesus Christ is the Father’s begotten son. He is the Mighty God but not the Almighty God. He is the co-creator of the universe, the only savior of mankind and the only way to the Kingdom of God in heaven..Though equal to the Father as God, he is a distinct person but is lesser than the Father because He was sent by Him. He is greater than the Holy Spirit because He sent it.
• The Holy Spirit though a distinct entity is part of the Father and the Son and also a Person but not a God. The Holy Spirit is lesser in status than the Father and Jesus.
• There exist many gods because of 1 Cor. 8:5.
• Since God made man according to his image, God also possesses organs like eyes, heart, nose, feet, mouth, buttocks, etc. except a knee because of Philippians 2:10-11 where the Father is excluded from bowing a knee to Jesus Christ.

Teachings about the Church

• The Members Church of God International is the only true church of God in the Philippines and the world. It is the continuation of the Church of God founded by Jesus Christ and the apostles in Jerusalem. The Church of God is the Kingdom of God on earth and is necessary for one's salvation. Those who have heard of the gospel and of the church must join this church in order to be saved..
• A member of the Members Church of God International can lose his salvation if he doesn't persevere until the end.
• The Official name of the true church in the Bible is Church of God in Christ Jesus.
• The laws of Moses, The 10 Commandments including Shabbat and tithing have been abolished and replaced with the Laws of Christ in the New Testament and are therefore no longer applicable to the Members Church of God International.
• Salvation can only be attained by following all the laws of Christ in the New Testament including joining the Members Church of God International.
• A person may be saved even though he has not heard of the Gospel. He will be judged by God according to his conscience.
• The establishment of the Members Church of God International in the Philippines is the fulfillment of Isaiah 24:15 among other prophecies in the bible.
• The Woman in Revelation 12 is being fulfilled in the Members Church of God International because of the persecution being inflicted to Eliseo Soriano and his group by their religious opponents particularly the Iglesia ni Cristo.
• Zechariah 13:7-9 was fulfilled in the Members Church of God International when the Iglesia ng Diyos kay Kristo Hesus Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan, founded by Nicholas Perez, split into three groups: Levita Gugulan's group, Filomeno Hizon's group and Eliseo Soriano's group. Among the three groups, Soriano’s group became known for upholding the original teachings of Nicholas Perez. The other two groups diminished in number and veered away from the teachings of Perez.
• No one can interpret and understand the Bible unless he is the Sugo (sent one) who is none other than Eliseo Soriano. The church claims that Soriano is the fulfillment of Daniel 12:4,9-10 and Ecclesiastes 9:13-16. He is the "wise" who shall understand the bible in the last days. In his disclaimer, Soriano tells members to test him if he the real "wise one".
• Women should not be allowed to lead the church.

Other Teachings

• Noah's Flood is a regional flood.
• The Whore of Babylon in Revelations represents the Roman Catholic Church. The Beast of Revelation is the Papacy because the pope's title Vicarius Filii Dei totals 666. The mark of the beast in the hand or forehead represents the sign of the cross. This is in line with Iglesia ni Cristo's doctrine concerning the Beast of Revelation. The Catholic Church, however declared that Vicarius Filii Dei is a fabrication and has never been an official title of the pope
• The Last Supper is not to be commemorated literally. The bread symbolizes the teachings of Jesus and the cup of wine symbolizes the sufferings that Christians must endure.
• The bible does not condemn naturally born homosexuals but the sodomites. Sodomites are heterosexuals who practice homosexual sex because of their perversion. Homosexuals can be saved but they must remain celibate.
• The soul is a combination of spirit (breath of life) and body including the emotions, memory, faculties. When a person dies, his soul is in the hands of God and will be restored in the resurrection to face judgement.

Legal Problems

• After being excommunicated from his church, the Iglesia ng Dios Kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan, Eli Soriano formed his own in 1997 and called it Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan. Soriano claimed that Suhay was a wrong name for the church. He was sued for having a name too closely resembling his former church, necessitating a name change to Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas, Inc.. By 1993, his church was again renamed to Bayan ng Katotohanan. In 2003, he lost his court battle which forced him again to change the church's name to Iglesia Ni YHWH at ni YHWSA HMSYH (Church of YHWH and YHWSA HMSYH). By 2004, they again changed their name to Members Church of God International.

• In November 2005 Eliseo Soriano was placed on the Philippines Bureau of Immigration watchlist for charges of rape filed by Daniel Veridiano, a former Communications and IT department head of Ang Dating Daan. Macabebe Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel Siyangco issued the warrant of arrest. On May 3, 2006, in a 5-page resolution, Pampanga acting provincial prosecutor Jaime Umpa recommended the filing of rape case against Ang Dating Daan leader Eliseo Soriano and allowed him to post a P400,000 bail bond (P200,000 for each count).

• In November 2006, an arrest warrant against Eliseo Soriano was issued by Judge Lucina Dayaon, Macabebe, RTC Branch 54. Eliseo Soriano on June 21, 2008, posted P 240,000 bail for an additional 2 counts of rape, before Judge Silvino Pampilo, Jr., Manila Regional Trial, after surrendering to Police Station 10 jailer Jun Gumaruin, Pandacan, Manila to avoid being apprehended. The indictment or criminal "information" states that: "Soriano took advantage of his moral ascendancy and/or influence to direct his subordinate to come into his room, massage him and have anal intercourse, around 1:30 p.m. of May 17, 2000. The sexual acts were done against the will and consent, and to the damage and prejudice of the complainant, who was also religious."

• In 2007, the Iglesia ni Cristo sued Soriano for libel after Soriano accused them of publishing explicit comic books depicting Soriano having homosexual sex. Soriano filed multiple petition to stop the lawsuit but to no avail.

• On February 22, 2008, Apalit Municipal officials led by Mayor Oscar Tetangco Jr. led the closure of at least four buildings inside the MCGI compound in Barangay Sampaloc, Apalit, Pampanga. The buildings include a chapel, museum and two residential houses, which were constructed without building permits, municipal officials said. The resolution stated that the Municipality of Apalit received numerous reports from insiders, former members and workers of MCGI, that a portion of the property was being utilized for burial purposes without any approved documents from the local government. The church claimed that there were only 2 graves and that they were the bodies of Mr. Soriano's parents. This claim was proven when the city of Apalit made an investigation but still, the Apalit municipal treasurer also stated that MCGI failed to pay its real property taxes for the years 2006 until 2007. This followed a series of lawsuits directed at the church from former members, as well as the church's television programs being taken off the air in 2005.

• In June 2008, Eliseo Soriano and two others where charged with falsification of a public document at the Manila City Prosecutor's Office for allegedly faking a certificate of detention in order to post bail for his rape charges. The presiding minister, Eliseo Soriano, having been indicted for raping a male subordinate, was sued for violation of Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines. Soriano is still a fugitive at large and his whereabouts are unknown.

Propagation and Missionary Works

File:McGi website.jpg

Different logos of the Members Church of God International's programs and services.

MCGI uses radio, television and the World Wide Web in its missionary and propagation labors. Flagship program Ang Dating Daan is now considered the longest running Philippine radio-television program centering on religion and spirituality. This program is hosted by Eliseo Soriano, the Church Presiding Minister. Aside from free channels in the Philippines, MCGI airs English-format programs such as Biblically Speaking, Truth in Focus and Bible Guide through the TOP (The Old Path) Channel, carried by satellite and direct-to-home (DTH) service provider, GlobeCast. TOP Channel is available in the United States and Canada. MCGI sealed an agreement with GlobeCast last October 7, 2004.

Charities and Outreach Missions

• MCGI manages and operates orphanages that houses poor widows, the homeless, and abandoned children. To date, there are more than 20 orphanages maintained by the MGCI from different parts of the Philippines such as in the National Capital Region, Pampanga and in some provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

• On July 22, 2007, MCGI launched a bus transport project for commuters in EDSA, Philippines. This outreach project aims to promote the Church through the giving of rides, coffee, Bible and magazine publications.

• Broadcasts also air in other countries, in some parts of Europe. Several Bible Expositions are being conducted in and outside the Philippines.

Criticism

• The Bereans Apologetics Research Ministry claims that Soriano stages debates to ensure he wins. They further claim that unknown to the opposing party, that majority of the live audiences are from the Ang Dating Daan group, who are encouraged to yell at his opponant while the opposing speaker is debating. They further claim that Soriano, being a skilled heckler, annoys and harasses the opposing party to the point where he either abandons his position, or leaves the debate. Soriano and his followers can then claim victory.

• In 2007, Soriano insulted Muslims by calling them killers. Soriano claimed that that the video was deliberately edited by Iglesia ni Cristo deacons yet the muslims prompted a march and protest by Muslim Filipinos who called for his extradiction and beheading.

See also

• Conflicts between Iglesia ni Cristo and Members Church of God International

External links

Official links

• Official Members Church of God International Website
• The Old Path TV
• The Old Path Bible Resource
• Christian Community Portal
• Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel Foundation Web Site
• UNTV Channel 37
• Eli F. Soriano Official Blogsite

Critical

• Ang Dating Daan: An Old Path Incarnate Again, Ben Douglass
• The Bereans Apologetic Research Ministry