“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13)
According to his official website,
“But Bro. Eddie is beyond his spiritual preoccupations. Apart from being a deeply spiritual man with strong moral convictions and high ethical principles, he is most of all a Filipino who loves his country and his people and a man who is committed to leading the transformation of the Philippines into a prosperous and respectable nation through the Bagong Pilipinas, Bagong Pilipino Movement which he also heads. ” (http://broeddie.ph/theman/)
Eddie Villanueva, the Leader of Jesus Is Lord Church
Perhaps, his desire to “serve the country” is the foremost reason that pushed Eddie Villanueva, the Founder and Spiritual Director of Jesus Is Lord Church, to join the past national elections particularly presidential elections. Though disappointed from his previous candidacies, Mr. Villanueva was totally determined to enter into the political sphere like what has been declared to his vision. But what would be the end of this political ambitions? What are the things that he can do both for God and for the nation? As a man who professed to be a Bishop of the ministry that he propagates, how possible that Eddie Villanueva will serve his two masters at the same time? Or is it possible that he will forsake one for the sake of the other one?
According to the Holy Scriptures,
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13)
The experience of Mr.Eddie Villanueva is the perfect example to prove the truthfulness of what Christ had said. His determination to join within the atmosphere of the politics in the Philippines shows what are the real desire that lies in the heart of the JIL’s head bishop. It shows what really the priority of his service, his ministry or his ambition. According to Apostle Paul;
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)
For a true minister who was called by God into the ministry of His grace, nothing will be prioritized except the reason of his calling, that even his own life is not worthy to give up the ministry that he received. In the experience of Mr. Villanueva as the Bishop of his Church and as the head and representative of the “Bangon Pilipinas Movement”, we never seen the meaning of what Paul had said, but the clear view that a preacher cannot serve two masters at the same time. During the past presidential election, Mr. Villaneva have this statement;
“As I accept the challenge to lead the movement, I make one painful if not agonizing sacrifice,” he said. “To be able to better and effectively execute the leadership role for the movement, I am taking a leave of absence as a pastor of the Jesus is Lord Church.”
He said the Council of Leaders of the Jesus Is Lord Worldwide Movement officially released him from his ecclesiastical duties last Feb. 7 “so that I may concentrate on the transformation of our beloved nation.” (Inquirer.net, Posted March 29,2009)
This message clearly shows that Eddie Villanueva is not in harmony with the views of the true messengers in the Holy Scriptures. He knows what are the effects or the consequences that will possibly happen against his ministry if he endeavor to join the politics in the country, but the bishop boldly accepted the consequences though it affects his own credibility as a preacher of his message. According to Mr. Villanueva, “This world is to poor to buy my convictions on the principles of truth, justice and righteousness.” But what really the meaning of righteousness and truth for him? Is it based upon the principles that had read from the Bible or is it based only on his ambitions to gain a high post in worldly politics? After he confessed in an interview conducted by one of the Philippine’s best newscaster, Mike Enriquez, that he was a true catholic and a cursillista , Mr. Villanueva again made a horrible statement when he visited the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name. Mr. Apollo Quiboloy is one of the many influential religious leaders in the Philippines who says that he is the Son of God. (Click here)
Though it was recorded during the past presidential election campaign in the Philippines, this period should not be a reason for him to destroy those matters concerning the salvation of souls. The previous election became a trap that exposed the real intent of this professed man of God – the intention to use the religion for his personal worldly ambitions. If he denied the truth by commending a false ministry, how much more the nation that he aspired to lead. Servicing the people as well as God at the same time is not a sin or an evil act if we will not compromise the truth and harm the cause of God. The true service that a preacher can do for the people is to bring out the nation from the bondage of deception and lies and not to let them remain within the bonds of false hope that are being spread in the society by those evil preachers of religion like what Eddie Villanueva did when he visited the false messiah’s group.
It is clearly seen in this video that Mr. Villanueva not only lowered his credibility as a man and as a preacher, but he also invited the wrath of God to fall upon him. II Chronicles 19:2 stated;
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
THE WATCHMAN'S CRY 