When “Happy Birthday” Becomes Controversial: Evangelist Helen Akpabio’s Claim and the Deeper Crisis in Nigerian Christianity.

Evangelist Helen Akpabio

Introduction: A Familiar Greeting Now Under Fire

“Happy birthday”  two words that typically express joy, love, and celebration. But for Evangelist Helen Akpabio, these words are far from innocent. In a now-viral video, Akpabio warns Christians to stop using the phrase, calling it “the language of the devil.” Her declaration has shocked many, reigniting long-standing concerns about spiritual extremism in Nigeria’s religious landscape.

Is it possible that a simple birthday greeting carries hidden spiritual danger? Or are we witnessing the dangers of unchecked religious authority and fear-driven doctrine?

Who is Helen Akpabio?

Evangelist Helen Ukpabio is no stranger to controversy. A self-proclaimed “apostle” and founder of Liberty Gospel Church in Nigeria, Akpabio rose to national and international attention for her controversial teachings on witchcraft, particularly as it pertains to children. She has previously claimed that many children who cry at night or display rebellious behavior are possessed by evil spirits or marked by witchcraft.

Her books and films some showing children being “delivered” from demonic possession have been widely criticized by human rights groups and child protection advocates. In 2014, she was banned from entering the UK over her dangerous rhetoric linking innocent behaviors to witchcraft.

“Happy Birthday” as the Devil’s Language?

In her recent statement, Akpabio insists that repeating birthday wishes year after year is akin to participating in a Satanic ritual a “zombie-like” practice that sells one’s soul unknowingly. According to her, Christians should refrain from using such language and instead focus on spiritual rebirth.

Her position echoes a broader narrative often used by religious fundamentalists: that the mundane and the joyful can be traps set by demonic forces. While her claims are rooted in her theological interpretation, the implications go far beyond doctrine.

The Real Dangers: Fear-Based Theology and Spiritual Manipulation

While some may dismiss Akpabio’s statement as fringe, it reflects a growing trend within some Pentecostal and charismatic movements: a fixation on spiritual warfare that fosters fear, guilt, and control.

Here’s why this matters:

• Weaponizing Faith: When religious leaders assign demonic meaning to common acts like celebrating a birthday they risk creating a climate of fear and psychological dependency within their congregations.

• Erosion of Critical Thinking: Followers are taught to question joy, normalcy, and even love, in the name of spiritual vigilance. This hinders personal freedom and emotional well-being.

• Stigmatizing Culture: Birthday celebrations are often a moment for community and family bonding. Condemning them may isolate individuals, especially children, from experiencing affirmation and belonging.

• Undermining Christianity’s Core Message: At its heart, Christianity celebrates life, grace, and renewal. Turning a message of joy into one of fear contradicts the gospel of hope and abundance.

The Bigger Picture: Nigeria’s Religious Crisis

Akpabio’s statement is symptomatic of a larger crisis in Nigerian Christianity, where sensationalism, demonology, and charismatic power plays have replaced sound doctrine and compassion. The competition among pastors to offer the most “anointed” or radical message has led to theological distortions, with severe consequences:

• Children accused of witchcraft face abuse, abandonment, and even death.

• Families break apart due to fear-based teachings.

• Women are disproportionately targeted for “deliverance,” especially in rural and vulnerable communities.

• Education and science are vilified as “worldly,” leaving congregants ill-prepared for real-world challenges.

What Should Be the Christian Response?

1. Discernment, not demonization: Christians are called to test all things, including the teachings of pastors and evangelists. Blind faith in charisma is not biblical faith.

2. Protect the vulnerable: Children, the mentally ill, and the uneducated often suffer the most under fear-based ministries. Churches must stand up for their dignity.

3. Reclaim joy and celebration: Jesus himself participated in weddings and feasts. Life should be celebrated not feared.

4. Hold leaders accountable: The Nigerian Christian community must create mechanisms for holding religious leaders accountable to basic ethical and theological standards.

Conclusion: When Faith Becomes Fear

Evangelist Helen Akpabio’s warning about “Happy Birthday” being the devil’s language may seem absurd, but it underscores a serious and growing problem in African Christianity one where fear replaces freedom, superstition replaces scripture, and control replaces compassion.

As a nation where religion wields immense influence, Nigeria must now ask: how do we protect faith from fear? And how do we ensure that the gospel remains good news not a psychological prison?