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Dear Reader,
A
theological debate has been raging online for the past week. And it’s not about White Christian Nationalism, women pastors, or whether sex offenders should be allowed in the pulpit.
The current debate is about what happened to Jesus between his crucifixion and resurrection. It’s not even Holy Week, so why are we talking about this now?
Well, a Georgia pastor has gone viral for taking a stab at explaining what Jesus experienced after his death. According to Lionheart Church pastor Otha Turnbough, Jesus was tortured in hell— and in some of the worst ways imaginable.
Turnbough is not the first Christian to suggest that Jesus literally went to hell after dying on the cross. But he goes much further, teaching that demons got ahold of Jesus and abused him in all kinds of ways.
It’s easy to dismiss his claims — as much of the internet has — as “heretical.” But, as it turns out, Christians have debated what happened between Jesus’ death and resurrection for more than a millennium. The problem, of course, is that virtually no one has been as graphic as Turnbough in describing what he believes Jesus suffered even after the cross.
If nothing else, this controversy presents another opportunity for believers to pick up a Bible and examine what they believe — and why they believe it.
Stay Faithful,
Nicola
Founder & Managing Editor
Did Demons Torture Jesus in Hell? What This Viral Pastor Said — and What the Bible Doesn’t
A sermon by Otha Turnbough, pastor of Lionheart Church in Austell, Georgia, has spent the past week circulating across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, drawing accusations of heresy from other Christians online. The clip focuses on what Turnbough believes Jesus experienced during the three days between his crucifixion and resurrection — a period the pastor described in graphic terms, including violence at the hands of demons.
READ THE ARTICLENew York ‘Became My Parish’ — A Black Chaplain Remembers 9/11
Suzan Johnson Cook, the NYPD’s first Black woman chaplain, entered Sept. 11 expecting an ordinary Tuesday. By midnight, she was ministering at Ground Zero — beginning months of tending to a traumatized city while carrying wounds of her own.
READ via word in black →
New Black Catholic bishop says racism helps explain why there are so few Black bishops
Bishop Robert Paul Boxie III, one of Pope Leo XIV’s newest U.S. episcopal appointments and the youngest bishop in the country, says racism remains an undercurrent within Catholic life, recounting his own experiences in seminary and calling for greater Black representation not only among bishops but in parish leadership and in the Church’s understanding of holiness itself.
‘I don’t chase the dollar. I never did’: the astonishing hidden life of Mr T
Born Lawrence Tureaud, Mr T grew up on the south side of Chicago, in poverty. His minister father left home when he was five, leaving his mother, Willie, to bring up their 12 children. The family survived on her work scrubbing floors for the wealthy, and welfare.
Church led by child rapist disputes allegation its pastor hid his past from denominational leaders
The
Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International is disputting allegations over what its leaders knew about
Pastor Timothy D. Price III’s 2008 child rape conviction. Price had been slated to become the fellowship’s
Missouri state overseer before abruptly resigning.
The Vote Is Sacred: Trusted Messenger Training (Sept. 15 | 7PM ET)
Interfaith Alliance and the League of Women Voters will train faith leaders and advocates to use Vote411, communicate accurate election information and respond to Christian-nationalist misinformation.
Register →Leveraging Hospitality for the Gospel (Sept. 22 | 1PM ET)
The North American Mission Board is offering a free webinar for women on hospitality as a form of evangelism — using ordinary tables, homes and routines to build relationships and create space for spiritual conversations.
Register →Native Civic Power Series: Sovereignty at the Ballot Box (Sept. 22 | 2PM ET)
Hosted by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), this webinar explores current issues affecting Native civic engagement and efforts to strengthen Native voting rights.
Join the Webinar →Land Back as Property Stewardship Ethic (Sept. 24 | 7PM EST)
Indigenous leaders and ELCA partners will discuss the Land Back movement, the Doctrine of Discovery and church property, including congregations and synods already involved in land return and reconciliation.
Sign Up →Invitation to Global Premiere of Brad Pitt's New Movie
The trailer for Brad Pitt's new movie,
"Heart of the Beast," looks like an emotional rollercoaster — in a good way. Besides the action and heartwarming elements, the movie seems to give insight into how soldiers (both human and canine) deal with trauma long after a war. So we're passing along this invitation to Nashville residents who would like to
attend the free global premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
“We’re drowning in influencers when what we need are pastor-theologians. We’ve got clever sound-bite preachers when what we need are weeping prophets. Entrepreneurs by the dozen, but too few seers and sages. Everybody wants to claim the mantle of prophet. Nobody wants to be John the Baptist, hunted for speaking truth to power.”
— Reverend Dr. Renita J. Weems on "What Kind of Doctor Are You?"
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