Malaya, Feb. 6, 2006 Monday, page 5
Brother Eli Soriano, Bible scholar
by Dahli Aspillera
No one in authority suggested that I read the Bible, not at home, not the German nuns at St. Scho Elementary, not the parish church where I went for catechism lessons. Leisure reading was Ernest Hemingway, Goethe, Gertrude Stein, Ezra pound, Shakespeare, Bacon, many European authors; everything, but the Bible. Later, demanding job, family and home to run left no time for leisure reading, least of all the Bible.
Came Rio Diaz, a cousin – but more a friend – got hold of me in Los Angeles, California, where she was living at that time. She sat me down, gave me a crash Bible intro. I had lived almost half a century without a Bible, until Rio gave me one. Have been attending Bible class in whatever country I happen to be at, but got frightening convoluted teachings. The pre-Christianity Old Testament laws conflicted with the post-Christianity replacements laws by Jesus Christ himself, the Bible writes.
My non-cable TV access included the UNTV’s Bible pastor, Brother Eli Soriano. There are good lectures and bad lectures. He is very good. He knows his subject, dispenses no more than what’s in the Bible, and made The Good News good news. Brother Eli is thoroughly knowledgeable. He calls out all the biblical laws that apply to the modern-day Christian. His wide reading ties up his knowledge with his cover to cover familiarity the Bible. He knows exactly where in the Bible to find that which he is discussing.
Brother Eli’s diligent study tells me about the Old Testament laws. Most of those Levitical laws I have been struggling to live by, bring on guilt and fear. Brother Eli tells me that these Levitical laws have been eliminated and replaced by Jesus Christ himself, during his lifetime.
All these in the Bible.
Haven’t heard Brother Eli in person, but I don’t miss a chance to listen to his lectures on TV. I look forward to hearing about another superseded law, lessening my perceived burden of religiosity guilt and fear.
For instance I have relatives whom I can’t deal with , much less love. One is liar. One is a cheat. One is greedy and ruthless to thousands of impoverished employees. But I was taught God’s command to “Love Them All.” I find these people unlovable.
Brother Eli explains: The Bible tells you to stay away from those who do not live in the spirit of the Bible. A liar, a greed, and a cheat (definitions are in the Bible too) are not living the Spirit of the Word. They are outside the Spirit of the Word. The Bible writes that such people “are accursed.” Their character and lifestyle are contrary to what the Bible teaches.
I should therefore not hang around with “the accursed.” The gift of my love is not for them. I should save my love only for those who live in the Spirit of the Word.
Brother Eli’s lectures remove guilt. Through his diligence at research, the Bible spells it out. I don’t have to love those who do not live in the Spirit of the Word. Rio did not have time to point all these out to me. Fortunately, though a little late, I found Brother Eli who says I can pray for those (nothing is impossible to God) but I don’t have to love those.
One more for instance: “Increase and multiply,” Brother Eli tells us, was given by God when there were only very few people existing – specifically to Adam and Eve. The edict was not to “Increase and Multiply Until You Are Packed Like Sardines On Earth.” “Increase and multiply” is not a commandment relevant today. There are already five billion humans on earth. Most are desperately impoverished, underfed, uneducated, angry and hopeless. “Increase and Multiply” – three words that load guilt on all population control practitioners. According to the authorities, they are committing mortal sin with their population control work.
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Dahli_a@yahoo.com
