It took me long to notice how questionable some of the G12 teachings were. And when I first did, I kept mum for fear of being shunned. As someone who was a fervent follower of the movement, I didn't want to question the God-given authority of my leaders, so I remained silent. But the critical part of me kept asking questions, questions I directed back to myself. And when I couldn't focus on the white paper any more, I started noticing the spots.

The following are a few of those questionable G12 teachings and practices:

EGR is a 3-day retreat where Delegates, mostly new believers, will experience an encounter with God.

Why three days? This idea is based from Paul's encounter with God, where, while en route to Damascus to persecute Christians, he lost his sight from a blinding light and encountered God. After three days, he gained back his literal vision and received a metaphorical one.

Over the course of three days, lessons are discussed, aiming to prepare the mind and heart of the each delegate in encountering God.

On its last day, delegates are prayed over until a manifestation of an encounter has been established. While this is happening, a mellow worship song is being played in the background to set the transformative mood. As a result, most of the delegates would be in a state of heightened emotions, weeping and wailing, some even convulsing. These reactions shouldn't be mistaken as spiritual encounters, for genuine conversion transcends external and ephemeral manifestations. However, this doesn't mean emotional encounters aren't genuine, but not all genuine encounters are evidenced by high emotions.

The event is a manufactured spiritual encounter, filled with emotionally charged lessons and activities priming delegates on their encounter with God. No one can control God. He works, moves, transforms, encounters people in His own way --as He pleases. And by designing these retreats, believers are led into thinking they can control God through their misguided prayers and spiritual preparations.

In reality, only a few from the delegates will continue in their spiritual journey after EGR. The rest, after the emotional high has worn off, are going to stop attending church. And that says something. If these delegates experienced the encounter Paul did (minus the falling off a horse and being blind), wouldn't there be any fallout? Would the experience be powerful enough to transform even the most violent detractors of Christianity from the inside out? Would all the prayers, encouragements, and other spiritual preparations be enough to move God's heart to encounter these delegates? What I'm trying to say is this: There's a difference between God encountering us and us encountering Him. When God encountered Paul, there wasn't any human orchestration, only divine intervention.

The following is a direct quote from an online G12 preaching by Bishop Oriel Ballano, G12 Philippines' National Coordinator, titled "Everything Starts from Nothing."

"Alam niyo po ba? Hindi problema that when you enter the world, you are poor. The problem is when you are about to exit the world, you are still poor."

If you're critical enough to see through his message, you'd know it's anti-poor. But then he adds, "Ako yung Pastor na naniniwalang walang masama sa mahirap, ang masama, yung matagal." This line, although anti-poor through and through still receives laughs from the crowd.

The problem with this statement, aside from it being outright a prosperity gospel, is that it makes light of the plight of the poor. It is ostensibly aspirational: The poor can work their way out of poverty, if they work hard and have faith. But in our current economic state, where the poor are deprived of opportunities such as free education, free housing, and financial support, it's no wonder why the poor in our country remain poor.

Faith and hard work are not enough. What we need are systemic and structural changes that would not only alleviate the lives of the poverty-stricken, but would provide them with the tools to empower them to resist poverty.

The G12 system's fixation with numerology continues with their vision: To make every believer a leader of leaders. The movement believes every Christian is designed to become a multitude ---a leader of 12 leaders (Jesus had 12 disciples). To achieve this, new believers undergo a series of programs designed to: (1) transform new believers into disciples; (2) train disciples to become leaders; and (3) empower leaders to become leaders of leaders. This may sound streamlined because it is. But the problem, like many other unsound G12 practices, is the unbiblical origin of the movement itself; its overemphasis of the number 12 and the leadership aspect of their vision has been a contentious issue among other Christian communities.

Larry Osbourne, from his book A Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God puts it succinctly, "We're all called to be disciples. But we aren't all called to be reproducing leaders. Leadership is a choice, an optional path for those who are called and gifted to lead..." (Source: outreachmagazine.com)

The G12 vision, in believing all Christians are destined to become leaders, defeats God's unique design for His children. What the system does is forcing believers to fit into these "man-made" molds. At first, it may seem harmless. After all, hardships aren't new in a believer's leadership journey. But over time, because of the unhealthy emphasis on the number 12 and the connection of a believer's identity and worth to their leadership skills---as a result of constant reinforcements through countless cell group meetings, church preachings, conventions, and trainings---many aspiring leaders have experienced burnout and depression. Leaders who can't retain and grow their cell groups question their identity and self-worth, when in fact they are designed for other ministries equally important and fulfilling in advancing God's kingdom and glory.

Leaving you with this Bible verse: