UC KG: Stop Grubbing

In Finsbury, a place better known for its giant mosques and angry Islamic preachers, there is a large building not far from the station. Above it are the letters UCKG and the phrase ‘Stop Suffering’. The former stands for the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God and is an offshoot of Brazilian Pentecostalism. Although its statement of faith is generally sound, its busy, weekly offering of meetings make clear its priorities:

Sunday: Empowerment (‘tap into the power of prayer to be renewed’)

Monday- Congress of Success: (‘guidance for financial growth and success through the intervention of prayers’)

Tuesday- Health Day

Wednesday- Faith School

Thursday- Love Therapy

Friday- Spiritual Cleansing

The organisation is controversial to say the least (its Wikipedia page is a good place to begin), and naturally offers detailed instructions regarding how one must tithe; even beggars are not excluded from this wise counsel. Here is a ‘church’ which certainly operates a business model, making rich its leaders, as well as promising to enrich and revitalise its members.

Whether the good people of Finsbury are promised riches and miracles in this life, or seventy virgins in the next, man-made religion always promises pleasures galore. Real Christianity promises the bearing of a cross and the need for self-denial. Although the real Christian is not denied all pleasures and mercies in the here-and-now, Biblical Christianity essentially promises nothing but Christ Himself -and He is worth more than all else.