Dear Bro. Eli,
I’m one of the million followers of your popular radio and TV program for more than 15 years if I’m not mistaken.
I’m a born again Christian for 19 years on September 29 to be exact; and my wife, too, is a volunteer in the ‘tellering’ ministry; We are workers in one of the churches in Quezon City located in front of SM City North Edsa.
Since 2006, I stopped because of the dirty management and what the workers do inside the church. The head pastor know me very well because I’m one of the pioneers of his church; and even requested me to be a bodyguard every Sunday wherever he goes; But there were times that he couldn’t discipline his workers or co-pastor. Now, I am only a regular attendee every Sunday.
My other concerns:
1. Ephesians 5:21-25 states that: “Wife submit yourself unto your husband; and husband love your wife as yourself.” We love each other even though she couldn’t give me a child. We’ve been married for more than 7 years and that time I’m 31 and she was 36, now she is 45 and now I lost my hope to have a family. Sometimes the devil tries to convince me to find another woman, but I will rebuke immediately because I love my wife and I’m very faithful to her.
(Note: What shall I do if my wife will not submit herself because she has a good job and earn a good income and will have a decision of her own? I gave my life to her since we’ve been married.)
2. We fight sometimes because I asked her to resign in her Ministry because she does not have time for me because she is very busy and over pressured by her job from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, she is very busy counting money — how much her church has earned (laugh). She loves her ministry. I told her that she is serving the wrong God. She loves her ministry because of her friends — they are the same as her not reading a bible. I said that she worships money and the television scandal showbiz every Sunday.
Bro Eli, I’m willing now to become ‘Ang Dating Daan’ (The Old Path) member. I hope that you will answer my question.
Very Truly Yours,
Brother Loy
Dear Brother Loy,
The right to obey God’s Law is in the Church — the True Church.
(Deuteronomy 12:5) But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come…
God’s habitation or ‘house’ is the place He has chosen to put His name unto and also the place or jurisdiction where His commandments must be fulfilled.
(I Timothy 3:15) But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
It is in the house of God or the Church of God that the real Jesus Christ of the Bible reigns.
(Hebrews 10:21) And having a high priest over the house of God…
(Hebrews 3:1) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus…
(Hebrews 3:6) But Christ was faithful as a Son Who is Head of God’s house. We are of God’s house if we keep our trust in the Lord until the end. This is our hope. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION – UK
The power of God’s word and commandments works among the faithful in the house or the Church of God.
(I Thessalonians 2:13-14) "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:"
In fact, it is within the jurisdiction of the House of God that holiness and the Commandments must be observed.
(Psalms 93:5) Thy decrees are very sure; holiness befits thy house, O LORD, for evermore. RSV
(Ezra 7:23) All that belongeth to the rites of the God of heaven, let it be given diligently in the house of the God of heaven: lest his wrath should be enkindled against the realm of the king, and of his sons. DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSION
It is in the house of God or the Church of God that His truth has the power to transform lives.
(I Peter 1:22) "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"
The Spirit instrumental in the purification of souls is in the Church of God.
(Ephesians 4:4) "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;"
(Colossians 1:18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
It is not surprising that although you are reading the Bible and your wife hears verses of the Bible, the power of God’s word does not effectually work within you because you are in the wrong congregation.
The love of money is the root cause of so many misleading teachings of churches that are not of God but are founded by men.
(I Timothy 6:10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. THE AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION
(Romans 10:3) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
I am happy to have read that you are a faithful husband to your wife. I believe that you are a child of God being misled only by false prophets. What you have observed in your church, the mismanagement and wrongdoings of pastors and workers, is a clear indication that the church where you belong to is not of God. Allowing wrongdoings in the church disqualifies your head pastor of his claim that he is of God.
(Romans 1:32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Regarding your desire to have a child, remember that God is the only person that can give you what you want. Old age was not a hindrance for God to give a faithful servant like Abraham a son.
(Genesis 18:10-14) And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
(Hebrews 11:11) Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
If it is not God’s will for you to have a child, so let it be — His will be done. Thank God for He knows best.
(I Thessalonians 5:18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I am personally inviting you and your wife to be workers for the Church of God in the Bible. You are most welcome. God bless you.
Sincerely in Christ,
EFS