Mike Todd, pastor of Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has issued a response to the backlash behind his controversial Easter service.
Transformation’s Sunday service included an Easter-themed production titled “Ransom.” The two-hour production included dozens of dances, flashing lights, pyrotechnics, demonic characters, dry ice and covers of Ke$ha, Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé songs with several lyrical changes.
“Transformation Church's Easter show was something else. From Kesha covers songs to women talking about their butts to some lady getting crucified, it's a mood,” Protestia, a discernment website, tweeted.
In a post on Instagram this week, Todd shared a clip of himself explaining to church members about the manner of production before it started.
“Usually Easter is where we come to cheer with the people who are already on the team. That’s called practice,” Todd said. “I want to go after the people who haven’t signed up to play the game yet. I want the person who feels lonely and isolated and like God doesn’t care. I want them to see how amazing Jesus actually is and what God actually did for all of us.
“I said, ‘We’re going to go to the edge on this.’ And they said, pastor, how far on the edge are we going to go?’ and I said, “we’re going to do everything short of sin,'” he added. “We’re going to reach over and grab the people who thought they were nothing, that God hated them, that God won’t forgive them. We’re going to snatch them back.”
Included in the video was a disclaimer that was presented to the congregation, Relevant magazine reports.
“Ransom is the creative expression of the true story of the fall and redemption of man through Jesus Christ, as written in Scripture,” the disclaimer said. “Backstories and some characters or dialogue have been added. However, all biblical and historical contexts along with an artists imagination are designed to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures. This production intends to portray a representation of the Gospel that draws in the lost and reminds the found of the power, love and grace of Jesus Christ. Viewers are encouraged to read the Bible for further context and understanding of the Easter story.”
Photo credit: Unsplash/Matthias Wagner
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
