It took six fatal gunshots to silence Marcos Mataro. Yet his death and the loss of other companions cannot suppress the desire to spread the truth.

The hostilities against the Members Church of God International (MCGI) are unjustifiable. No other religious organization in the Philippines gets the same unjust treatment from the government and the combined efforts of influential religious sectors in this country. Despite the goodwill MCGI sends out to all, religious discrimination against the people of “Ang Dating Daan” gets bitter. MCGI expects this to continue as long as it stands.

Indeed, those who decide to follow the way of the Lord, as it is written in the Bible, will endure suffering and persecution. Most are difficult to bear, because the wounds go deep. Still, such are indispensable elements that mold a servant of God to his steadfast form.

Persecution had accompanied the servants of God even in the earlier times. From Moses until the early Christian times, God's servants were eyed with suspicion and malice—abhorred and ill-treated.

At a later historical period, Jerusalem became a Roman district for so many years. During the Christian advent, a number of Biblical personalities gained opposition mostly from the religious sectors of those times—the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The government also had a hand in the maltreatment of God’s prophets and messengers. John the Baptist was a victim—beheaded at the orders of Herod’s wife.

The greatest persecution is the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. With his record— miracles, mass feeding, preaching, healing of the sick, and comforting of the afflicted—none could have spoken ill of him save for the few influential religious leaders whose jealousy had grown much against him. The punishment Jesus suffered was shameful as he had to bear the grudge and sin of many—naked.

Similarly, Paul was also a persecutor of Christians—involved in Stephen’s death when the latter debated with the teachers of the law but cannot be refuted. Yet through God’s mercy, Paul was converted to a zealous worker, was made an apostle who struggled as Christ’s follower. It was a complete turn-around.

Persecution is taking its toll among the brethren of MCGI presided by Bro. Eli Soriano. For more than forty years, Bro. Eli had been under religious crossfire. Since he began evangelizing and exposing Biblical issues through the media, risks would couple the efforts. There were incidents of threats leading to physical harassment and even death.

Just two years ago, ADD programs and its hosts were suspended from broadcasting on TV. This came from so-called religious people who allegedly influenced the censors agency. Add to that the libel cases against the hosts, who merely quoted the Bible on TV and played the voice of the religious leader of the group who is exposed.

Even in the courts, security threats were heavy, and the hosts and their lawyers would be followed by the suspicious men. Wave after wave of death threats ensued.

Bro. Eli alone received a layer of baseless court cases and accusations, which were done to drain all his resources until he is financially bankrupt. Bro. Daniel Razon was pushed off from his post in a big media network, whose management were egged by some purportedly "religious" people, making him chose whether to continue work or continue serving God. He was also denied a post in the government after the elections commission laid off the party-list which he represented during last year’s national elections. The reason? Because the commission believed that the partly-list he represented was a front of a religious organization.

Other brethren experienced the cruelty of fearless people. Several MCGI members were almost beaten to death in front of a fast-food chain in Apalit. They merely were trying to protect some former INC members from an INC mob.

The Philippines is a freedom-loving nation, but what is this? How can the government explain these malicious and degrading charges on people who want to serve others? Where is freedom of religion, and what now freedom of expression has become? Where is justice?

Interestingly, this is what Bro. Eli Soriano and his group is experiencing.

The brethren of MCGI are upset with the justice system in the country. Many of the cases the group files were either ignored or dismissed. The recent murder of Marcos Mataro would have dampened the brethren, had it not been if they were properly instructed to love even those who hate them.

Yet all these things are the signs of the things to come. The people of God shall be subjected to an overwhelming harassment by those who do not acknowledge the truth. Christians will be spoken of disapprovingly, to the extent of being targets of fabricated stories.

The persecution of Christians only highlights the fact that, indeed, they do not harm but are rather harmed because of their faith. A Christian is not a Christian if he does not pass through a test of faith—like a sword that is forged in the fire to make it sharp and pure. Because of these abuses, Christians only get more aggressive—to do what God wants them to do. They may persecute insult, hurt, or even kill us, but we will always spring up like the green grass. Only God can tell them to stop.

(Illustration provided by seenag of Artists' Guild)