In a recent TikTok video, Christian influencer Maygan Bryant called out Pastor Michael “Mike” Todd from Transformation Church, Tulsa, USA, for his unconventional sermon tactics.
Bryant, who has almost 300,000 Tiktok followers, is known for her candid commentary on faith-related matters.
She expressed her frustration with Todd's approach to preaching, particularly his recent stunt involving syrup and whipped cream on the Bible during a sermon titled "Fit To Finish."
During Todd's sermon in January, he attempted to emphasise the importance of caring for one's body, but his message left many shocked when he began throwing Cheetos, eggs, and junk food on the stage.
He was using the demonstration to show how our bodies are temples of the holy spirit and what we put in them, matters.
The climax of the sermon came when Todd poured syrup and whipped cream over the Bible.
“Y’all stop acting like you care about this,” the New York Times bestselling author said as the crowd gasped. “Stop acting like this matters to you.”
Bryant, while understanding the message, criticised Todd's extreme approach, suggesting that it could alienate potential newcomers to the faith.
“Imagine if this was the Sunday that you finally convinced one of your friends or one of your unbelieving family members to come to church and then the pastor pulled out syrup and ready whip.
“It’s like we’re doing everything in church with these Bibles except reading them, except teaching from them
“I get what his analogy was trying to be. But baby, it don’t take all that. That same point that he was trying to convey could have been made without doing any of that".
Bryant said she used to “admire” the faith-leader. However, she now feels that Todd has overstepped boundaries on multiple occasions during his sermons.
She cited his controversial spit sermon in 2022, during which the Transformative Church Pastor spat and applied it to a church attendee’s eye on stage, attempting to recreate a biblical scene where Jesus heals a blind man by spitting in his eyes.
Bryant was similarly displeased with Todd's extravagant Easter play in 2023, which featured rappers and singers performing scripture from the Bible.
In response to Bryant's criticism, TikTok users echoed similar sentiments, with many labeling Todd as more of a performer than a preacher of God. Some even went as far as calling him a "false prophet."
In defense of his sermons, Todd has acknowledged that his approach may be unconventional but aims to use creativity to bring the word of God to life.