“Faith in Action” is the name of a magazine published by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Having read the 31 May issue, I think that “Selling Salvation by the Pound” might be a more appropriate title.
A number of articles bang on about the “Campaign of Israel” and “sacrificing”. Both of these appear to involve the marks believers donating a large chunk of cash to the UCKG in order to awaken God’s interest in them. It appears that, in the eyes of the UCKG, God is some sort of Third World bureaucrat who requires a bribe before he takes an interest in your case.
First there is tithing. Now a lot of independant churches, lacking the accumulated wealth and state subsidies of the established churches, need contributions from their congregations to function but the UCKG takes the concept a whole lot further. It would appear that God holds out on you unless you tithe. Consider this letter from one Ingrid Jagdeo:-
“In July, 2008, I was working for a Local Authority and got promoted. That same day, I was in a car accident and suffered significant injuries to my back and leg. I was unable to fill that position and, subsequently, lost the promotion to someone else. After recovering in November last year, I started attending the UCKG. I had heard about being faithful to God intithes but I had always struggled with the idea. I thought it was all about the money and not something I felt like doing. I didn’t mind offering when I could, but nothing more than that. Then at the beginning of 2009, I decided to put God to the test and started being faithful in my tithes. A couple of weeks after making that decision He honoured me and I was promoted to the position that I had lost because of the accident. God has showed [sic] me that he doesn’t joke around.”
It does not seem to occur to the writer of this letter, which we obviously must accept as genuine, that when the opportunity for promotion opened up again the Local Authority remembered that she had been considered suitable last time (and perhaps being fearful of being sued under the Disability Discrimination Act) decided to promote her. And just consider the implications of the second and third sentences. Implies that if you don’t pay up, God will break your leg and back. Makes Him sound like Tony Soprano.
Beyond tithing, there is the Campaign of Israel or sacrificing. Bishop Julio explains:-
“If the Lord puts it in your heart to sacrifice an item of value to you, here is a way to make the sacrifice perfect and more pleasing to God: Instead of bringing the item to the church, you should make your physical sacrifice of searching for a place to sell that item and the present the money you sold it for in your envelope on the altar. Doesn’t this require more effort and isn’t it more painful than simply bringing the item itself?
“…now that the Holy Spirit is giving this direction, let us offer the perfect sacrifice always.”
In other words:-
“Listen up proles. Donating your stuff to the church is all very well but it means I’ve got to traipse around selling it and frankly I can’t be arsed. Sell it yourself and just give me the readies.”
In a question and answer article sacrifice is defined as:-
“…the surrender of something prized for the sake of something higher or more valuable. It’s the highest expression of what you believe you will achieve”
In other words, if you want something out of life, God might arrange it for you in consideration of a well stuffed brown envelope. It has obviously occurred to someone that giving wedges to the UCKG is really no guarantee of success because the final Q&A reads:-
“Why is it that some people are blessed in Campaigns of Israel and others aren’t? Because unfortunately some people don’t understand the real meaning of sacrifice and consequently they didn’t sacrifice at all.”
Can’t have the marks faithful getting the idea that slipping readies to the ‘pastor’ does not actually achieve anything, can we? So convince them it’s their own fault and if they give a little lot more, God might change his mind.
UCKG should change its name to “The Church of God the Bent Bureaucrat”.
Tags: christianity, Pentacostals, UCKG, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
June 15, 2009 at 4:25 pm |
Several of my students from the local FE college attend this church.
I’d love someone to do a serious bit of investigative reporting. I think they would spot me coming.
The best story yet – a single mother of about 30, not the brightest spark. She was struggling to complete the course, juggling childcare, college work, crap accomodation, and debt (several hundreds of ££ rent arrears). The church offered to start one of their chains of prayer for her – sounds a bit like a chain letter, where you get added on to a list that will pay you thousands when enough people get the letter. Great, except – first she had to tithe them £500 to start the chain.
I despise them.
June 16, 2009 at 10:08 am |
That chain of prayer sounds exactly like a chain letter. Which would make it a pyramid scheme and thus illegal. Is the prayer written down and passed on? If so I’d love to get hold of a copy.
June 16, 2009 at 9:19 pm |
IIRC correctly – this was a few years ago – you don’t get delivered cash. God arranges that. The £500 fee was just a recommended donation to test her faith….
July 18, 2009 at 12:25 am |
What makes me sick is the fact that someone, who don’t even know what the UCKG is doing in the 176 countries where they are, just read a magazine and without going there to verify the information (that he is just assuming) with the reality of what the UCKG is and does.
Please, before publish something, look it from all the angles possible and when you have a solid conclusion you may publish it.
July 18, 2009 at 6:14 pm |
http://jaycueaitch.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/uckg-still-demon-hunting/
I know all too well what the UCKG is doing.
Exploiting people.
July 20, 2009 at 10:14 am |
It is very unfortunate,you misunderstood the uckg.what in life comes for free?even you as a journalist had to pay the prize for you be where you are.or you are there by luck?or because you are hansome?if God had to sacrifice his own son for you,what makes you think you will escape the route of sacrifice?me and you know very well that without sacrifice in anything we do ,there is no success.please stop lying to the people,the uckg is turning around peoples lives.those that we regarded as failures are been taught to put there faith into action and there lives are truely changing.Thanks for the good work you are doing for christ in this world uckg.
July 20, 2009 at 6:04 pm |
Other Churches do not charge for salvation.
I accept that other independant churches tithe but they don’t demand that their followers sell their possessions. Why does the UCKG need so much more money than others? Anything to do with certain senior bishops’ expensive life-styles?
The only liars here are the UCKG who convince people that they are possessed by demons which the UCKG “remove”. In other words they encourage dependancy on the part of their flock. Classic exploitative guru behaviour.
July 22, 2009 at 4:48 am |
Kia Ora – This is not directed @ anyone particular…just a thought for all who have read the comments thus far:
Our brain doesn’t like blank spaces, so when it encounters questions without answers it searches for something to put in the blank spaces. And because we’re driven by our own perceptions, needs and prejudices, we’re not always objective. We’re blind to our blind spots and think we ‘know,’ and the results can be disastrous – “I know what your real intentions are. You think I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours? I can tell by the look on your face exactly what you’re thinking.’ Such words indicate we’ve got the other person ‘pegged,’ and feel no need to consider the situation further because we couldn’t possibly be wrong. Case closed. What about such Scriptures as, ‘He who answers a matter before he hears the facts – it is a folly and shame to him’ (Proverbs 18:13 AMP). Or, ‘… Be quick to hear, slow to speak’ (James 1:19 NAS). Or, ‘Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive’ (Proverbs 17:28 NKJV).
Before you ’sound off,’ consider three things: 1) ‘For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him?’ (1Corinthians 2:11 NIV). You may suspect, guess, even feel strongly, but you don’t know their thoughts or intentions 2) ‘Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant?’ (Romans 14:4). Much of our ‘knowing,’ is merely our own judgemental spin on things. 3) If you think you know and need to deal with the issue, try saying, ‘I have some impressions (concerns, observations, etc.) I’d like to talk about.’ Then discuss your observations, feelings and impressions as your perceptions, not ‘gospel truth,’ leaving judgement to God.
AMEN!!!
July 27, 2009 at 9:23 pm |
When I came to the church, I was a drug addict, I was depressed, I was broke, and did not have hardley anything to give. But I still got hours of councelling, from some of the kindess pastors I have ever met. So you who wrote this article are one of the most ridiculous writers I have ever heard of. You can say what you want about the church, but I know what they preach works. And if you don’t believe that, here’s a tip, DON’T COME.
July 28, 2009 at 7:13 am |
They’ll be dropping hints for money soon enough D. The Church of God the Bent Bureaucrat is keen on money. You might think I am ridiculous but all the quotes in my post are from a UCKG magazine.