An Ohio church is apologizing to the community after an Easter lesson on the crucifixion of Christ led a youth pastor to invite his students to spit on, slap and cut him with a steak knife.
“In no way do we condone that students or anyone else should spit on someone, should slap them or use a weapon to harm anyone or harm themselves,” lead Pastor Justin Ross, of Impact City Church in Pataskala, Ohio, said in a video posted to the church’s Facebook page after the April 15 incident.
The apology came after his youth pastor, Jaddeus Dempsey, used Holy Week to lead a graphic illustration of Christ’s suffering at the crucifixion. In the cell phone videos captured by the students, Demsey invites the teens to spit in his face, promising no repercussions. According to the Washington Post, the footage records a student saying, “Can I do it again?” as he returns to the back of the line, while another student declares, “That’s enough.”
The exercise continues with Demsey upping the ante.
“If there’s anyone here that would like to slap me, you can do so without any repercussions,” he said.
Although some students backed away in apparent disbelief, several students took advantage of the offer, with one student slapping him sharply with an open hand. Other students were yelling “No.” Another teen refused, “I’m not…
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