A pastor at the Transformation megachurch in Tulsa, Oklahoma, became the subject of criticism after a video of him rubbing spit on a parishioner’s face went viral online.

Michael Todd, the church’s lead pastor, spat into his hand twice during a sermon.

“Receiving vision from God might get nasty,” the 34-year-old said before turning to the man on the stage, who was identified as Todd’s brother, Brentom Todd, roughly 40 minutes into a two-hour service.

Todd discussed Mark 8:22-25, a Bible passage in which Jesus restores a blind man’s sight in the village of Bethsaida by rubbing spit onto his eyes.

When Todd rubbed his hands onto his brother’s face, the audience let out an audible gasp.

Todd responded: “How you just reacted is how the people in your life will react when God is doing what it takes for the miracle.”

Online critics argued that Todd’s actions were an ill-advised publicity stunt, given the ongoing rise in Covid-19 cases.

“The acts that Pastor Mike Todd committed today during his Sunday service Transformation Church were absolutely disgusting,” one user wrote on the church’s Facebook page.

“I usually am not quick to attack people online but he has got to be held accountable for rubbing his spit in another person’s face. Pastors have to be held to a higher standard.”

Todd posted an apology video on Twitter, saying his actions were “disgusting” and a “distraction.”

“That was a distraction to what I was really trying to do,” he said. “I was really trying to make the word come alive and for people to see the story. But yesterday, it got too live, and I own that.”

Todd went on to say that he had called his brother.

“He was bald before I spit on him,” he said, “and he’s still bald today. So no miracles here … so next time I’ll rethink and do something differently.”

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Oklahoma pastor faces criticism for rubbing spit on parishioner’s face