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Super-Preacher
In our Times
The Old Path Magazine | Vol. 1 No. 3 | 2005 |
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continuation...
Sending a Clear Message
For a clear message, Bro. Eli would look at his
hearers in the eye as he talked. He pronounces words
clearly and with sufficient volume. Speaking at an
unrushed pace, he would pause now and then, dividing
his material into logical chunks. Now and then, he
would speak in English, in the Pampanga dialect, in
other languages of the country and in Spanish.
The teacher in Bro. Eli is clear and direct, but not
simplistic. He doesn’t "talk down" to his listeners
especially when he is doing Bible expositions. There
are people yet babes in Christ, but he would not
"water down” the Bible. He supports what he is
saying with proofs, with the screen in full color,
or with demonstrations by himself. In between
preaching, Bro. Eli takes a breather – like give out
news on current world and national events, or talk
about medicinal food. Then he would go back to his
topic. He doesn’t present material too rapidly or
too slowly as to drone people to sleep. He uses
repetition, paraphrases the verses, explains in more
detail, and provides a written reference (the book,
chapter, and verse) for what he says. Other
preachers would say, don’t ask for verses or you are
of the devil. Also, Bro. Eli would take time to
summarize. He keeps looking for other avenues of
stating information, and that’s why he sings. Now
and then, he would ask if his listeners understood.
Teaching information in the Bible has genuine
importance to Bro. Eli that he makes sure his
listeners understand why. So he makes connections
between day-to-day experiences and truth, and
conveys the importance and usefulness of what he’s
teaching. He would help his learners see rules,
structure and patterns in the Bible with whatever
they are learning. He would emphasize the "whys" and
the "hows" to let them see embedded facts and
details. In fact, most of the time his topics would
begin with “Why” or “How.” He knows well to use the
words of God to edification, and exhortation, and
comfort. (1Cor 14:3).
There is no secret in the Bro. Eli’s being unique,
singular, and distinctive. The Bible gives its’ own
explanation in John 3:34 as him being sent,
therefore speaks the words of God, who gave him
unlimited spirit -
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:
for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Teaching Strategies
To clarify and reinforce concepts, he would use
analogies and personal experiences to promote
understanding. This preacher would capitalize on the
church background of those aspiring to be members -
most of which are what their false preachers do. For
example, the confusing sign of the cross which is
explained in the Catholic books as “pag-adya sa
kaaway” or “precluding the devil,” but then used
over the whole congregation by the priest to mean
“blessing.” Making the sign of the cross is not
taught in the Bible but pointed out in Revelations
13:16 as mark of the anti-Christ - in the right hand
and in the forehead. He could be very funny in
exemplifying, and his listeners would have their
day.
He would sing hymns that he himself or Bro. Nicolas
Perez, his predecessor, composed. These are songs of
praise to God that he uses to magnify what he is
trying to say at the moment. Such songs are
expressive and instructive in nature, they do not
bank so much on rhymes and rhythm. Without a
chalkboard, these would be his educational
technology. He would start the song and the
congregation would join in – a wave of voices warmly
responding in a concentrated pose to blend with his
- surprising every guest that comes to observe. The
reaction is spontaneous, and even this early, the
aspirant to membership would feel esprit de corps,
or the common spirit of the group.
The songs are not only the positives, however. He
sings the “pasyon” and some love songs too. He sings
out in the way that false ministers do, to show
their impertinence. He wants to show what is true
and what is false. With those who seem to have
difficulty learning what he is teaching, he would
intervene early and effectively to check if they are
listening. With those walking and walking around
(the Martha syndrome) while he preaches, and those
tending to sleep, he would be very concerned if they
cared at all about their salvation.
Arguing
In and out of debates, Bro. Eli does a lot of
arguments like a critical thinker should. With an
engineer’s mind, he tries to determine his
parameters first - by the Book - then pegs them
down. From there, he makes his arguments, respecting
the boundaries. His enemies on the other hand do not
bother to tie their edges down, they just roam sans
parameters. And so, when Bro. Eli comes to the fore
to examine their stand, they simply flail by the
winds of their own ignorance. First, they don’t
respect boundaries that they make assumptions.
Second, as a consequence of the first, they cannot
pin down their definitions, flitting from literal to
figurative to literal meanings. Third and most
important, and the cause of their first mistake,
their source of knowledge is from man.
The preacher in Bro. Eli has chosen not to dazzle
viewers with far-out stories in terms of style and
technique. Instructively, he wins plaudits without
losing his strong connection with his audience. With
him teaching and preaching, you could witness the
audience clapping now and then. These would be at
the points of revelation, at the points where
embedded information in the bible verses are
clarified. And then you could hear his audience
chanting his name, “Bro. Eli…, Bro. Eli…, Bro.
Eli….” You would wonder too why clapping is done in
cognitive work where analysis would love silence
more as most natural. From there, you can only guess
that the brilliance he sports - brilliant as
brilliance can be - is not natural but revealed or
supernatural, founded on the strong foundation of
faith.
But he doesn’t bask in those clapping, unassuming as
he is. He returns to his topic with a sober mind
bent on hammering truth until he is through with it.
Should it not sound right (He gets vibes warning
him, being a fearful, careful preacher), he would
evaluate those clapping even days after that. A
godly man that he is, he would say, “Kinabahan ako….pumapalakpak
kayo.” (I had bad vibes…. You were clapping.), and
then he would lay back the matter point after point
perchance the brethren might not have understood
deeply what he wanted emphasized. Sensitive to sin,
he would not allow even a clap to pass if the
audience only appreciated but did not understand the
depth and breadth of the issue.
An "alternative" teacher, Bro. Eli’s clear style
keeps his listeners grounded and connected, that
they can better focus on issues and themes which he
is seeking to dramatize and vivify. He can go beyond
comedy, onward to the level of satire. He is so bent
on pursuing his commission of saving souls that he
is willing to do anything to achieve it – like
hounding deceivers.
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Doctrines of
Christ
