Many religions these days are only teaching invented doctrines and
fables which were not taught by the apostles.
This was the opening message by Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano during
the Worldwide Bible Exposition on April 26 this year. Bro. Soriano is the
long-time host of the multi-awarded program, Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) and Presiding Minster to the Members
Church of God International (MCGI).
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Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano seen here preaching in one of the Bible Expositions of MCGI.
(Picture embedded from mcgi.org) |
According to Bro. Soriano, religious organizations nowadays are full of false teachings
geared to extort money from their members. To prove his point, he gave Limbo -
the centuries-old teaching of the Catholic Church - as an example.
Modern Catholic Encyclopedia defined limbo as: “...the abode of souls excluded from the full blessedness of the beatific vision but not suffering any other punishment.” It was also mentioned that the limbo of the infants “...is an article of the Catholic faith that those who die without baptism...cannot enter heaven.”
Because of the teaching that there exists a limbo, Catholic parents are
obliged to submit their infants to baptism. Even if some of them would have to
borrow money just to proceed with the ceremony or even if their child is sick,
the baptism has to commence because of the fear that their child might go to
limbo if they die.
(“Mahabang panahon na po yan, libong taong pinaniwala ang mga katoliko na
ang limbo ay duon pupunta ang mga bata na di mabibinyagan.”)
“It was [for] a very long time, thousands of years that Catholics were
made to believe that unbaptized babies will go to limbo,” said Bro. Eli in the vernacular.
If we analyze the numbers, the Philippines have 2.3 Million live births a year with 80% to 85% of that number coming from Catholic parents. Therefore, around 1.84-1.96 Million babies will be baptized under the
Catholic Church. Say with a P100 fee for every baptism (even though it is more than that), the
Catholic leadership raises an amount not less than P184 Million every year in
the Philippines alone, all because of the doctrine of limbo.
However, in 2006, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he is scrapping limbo
from the Roman Catholic teachings, saying it does not exist.
The report was published in the paper Metro dated October 5, 2006.
Limbo does not exist, says
Pope.
All-new view: The Pope opposes the idea of limbo.
Pope Benedict XVI will
tomorrow announce he is scrapping the centuries old Roman Catholic concept of
limbo. According to church teachings, limbo is home to the souls of children
who die without being baptized. It is a state between Heaven and Hell. But the
Pope will instead say that unbaptized children go to Heaven.
Mainstream media in the country did not cover the news. The
pronouncement was not even heard by Filipinos so they still continue to submit
their infants to baptism in fear of the doctrines of limbo.
To conclude his point, the International Evangelist read the verse in
Ezekiel 18:20 to clarify that sins are not passed on from parents to children,
therefore there is really no need for babies to be baptized.
The soul that
sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the
father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the
righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the
wicked shall be upon him.
Bro. Eli read the same verse in nine languages - including
Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, and some other local languages for
audiences attending the symposium-like activity of the MCGI.
Clearly, the doctrine of limbo has deceived many Catholics all over the
globe. It is one of those beliefs that has no basis in the Bible but has
generated money for the Church that invented it.
After this, the live question and answer portion of the exposition
commenced where attendees were given the chance to ask Bro. Eli any questions
that they have in mind.
Ten guests coming from different parts of the globe were served;
thousands in attendance were also able to monitor the event.
Some of the questions asked were about leadership, knowing the will of
God, and salvation, among others.
Apart from hosting Bible
Expositions, Bro Eliseo Soriano is also a philanthropist. He has been heading
several charitable institutions such as the free college education at La Verdad
Christian College in Apalit Pampanga and Caloocan, Metro Manila. He is also the
proponent of the Transient Home program in Edsa, Quezon City and Apalit Pampanga, and other medical and feeding programs to serve the marginalized
members of society.
The next Worldwide Bible Exposition of MCGI will be on May 24 this year.
Thousands of regular as well as first time attendees from different continents
are expected to grace the event.
Sources:
Ang
Dating Daan Worldwide Bible Exposition, April 26, 2013
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010/148891.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_Philippines
