Evangelist Helen Ukpabio of Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries has stirred controversy by labeling common birthday greetings as "the devil's language." During her 60th anniversary service in Calabar, the controversial preacher instructed followers to replace "Happy Birthday" with "Thanking God at [age]," claiming annual celebrations constitute modern idolatry.
• "Happy Birthday" phrases originate from Satan
• Birthday observances equal "selling your soul to the devil."
• Christians unknowingly practice idolatry through celebratory customs
• Proper acknowledgment should focus solely on thanking God
Public reaction has split sharply, with congregants defending Ukpabio's stance as biblical purity while critics on social media mock the position as extremist.
When spiritual conviction clashes with cultural tradition, who defines proper worship? Ukpabio's radical rejection of birthdays, a near-universal celebration, challenges how faith communities navigate adopted customs. Her rhetoric reflects a growing fundamentalist trend in Nigerian Pentecostalism that scrutinizes seemingly innocuous practices for hidden paganism.
Yet this stance raises deeper questions: If greetings carry spiritual weight, what other everyday phrases might require examination? And how does this theology impact children raised in such strict doctrinal environments?
