In a video posted on social media by Bishop Edir Macedo, the founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (YURD), said Bitcoin (BTC) is gradually taking on the faith of many people.
Bishop Macedo noted that people’s faiths are being diverted from God because investing in the world’s largest cryptocurrency has helped them make “easy money.”
According to the video, the Bishop stated that with Bitcoin investors increasing their net worth easily via the asset class, they have become heavily reliant on it.
Bitcoin has been on an impressive run since the beginning of the year, with the cryptocurrency reaching a new all-time high (ATH) in mid-April.
Bitcoin’s massive rally has caused many investors, including retail and institutional investors, to flock to the market as they hope to take advantage of the price increase.
“Bitcoin Is Not a Sin”
The clergy disclosed that the video was made in a bid to provide answers to a question he had received from someone, who wanted to enquire whether investing in Bitcoin is a sin.
While he acknowledged that cryptocurrency investment is not a sin unto God, he expressed his displeasure over people who have become addicted to the asset class to the extent that they have lost their faith.
Earning Shouldn’t Be Easy as Bitcoin Has Made It
Citing the book of Genesis of the bible, Macedo said that right from the early days, men were placed under a curse to always engage in hard work before earning a reward.
“God, out of the sin of Adam and Eve, cut off the facilities [of earning easily]. From then on, man had to work hard with sweat to get the reward out of the earth,” the Bishop said.
However, these days, earnings have become easier as a result of investment in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, prompting the Bishop to state that the “the devil’s ways will always be easy.”
Macedo’s Church Benefited From an Illicit Bitcoin Donation
Despite condemning Bitcoin’s easy earning potential, Bishop Macedo Church has in the past benefitted from the cryptocurrency in the form of donations.
Recall that the Universal Church was among the 27 companies that received donations from the alleged owner of a pyramid scheme, Glaidson Acácio dos Santos also referred to as the “pharaoh of cryptocurrencies,” who was arrested last week.
According to reports, donations made to the church by Santos were approximately R$29 million between 2018 and 2020.
The church later confirmed that it received higher donations from Santos’ company, which totaled about R$72.3 million between May 4, 2020 and July 12, 2021.
