After Sparking Backlash, Lexington Church Defends Viral 'Kill the Devil' VBS Skit
The church says the skit is a long-running lesson on defeating evil, but critics say the simulated shooting was inappropriate for children.
- A viral video from Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, shows men in military-style clothing simulating a tactical raid to "kill the devil" during a Vacation Bible School event, sparking widespread online discussion and at least 1 million views.
- Pastor Dewayne Walker defended the "Commandos for Christ" skit, a 32-year tradition using "gospel guns" to illustrate spiritual warfare and teach children to "hate sin" rather than promote real-world violence.
- Kathi Crowe, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action Kentucky, called the imagery "unbelievably disturbing" and an "appalling abuse," saying simulated tactical raids breach trust in church settings meant for children.
- Amid the viral spread, some online users falsely claimed the skit depicted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents attacking an immigrant, though there is no evidence to support that assertion.
- The incident has triggered a nationwide conversation about the boundaries of religious theatre and how symbolic messages are interpreted amid intense cultural divisions over Christianity's role in public life.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Viral Lexington Church Devil Skit Stirs Outrage as Trump-Era Government & Religion Debate Resurfaces
A dramatic church performance intended to teach children about the battle between good and evil has ignited a nationwide debate over faith, violence and the messages adults pass on to the next generation. A video from a Vacation Bible School event at Mt Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, showing men dressed as commandos apparently shooting a person portraying the devil while children chanted 'Take him out, blow him up', has spread rap…
'Commandos for Christ': Kentucky pastor defends Bible School’s mock firing squad
A Kentucky pastor posted a video on Monday defending teaching a group of children to be “Commandos for Christ” by participating in a firing squad.The young children and adults at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington sat in the pews while individuals dressed as soldiers marched down the center aisle of the church so they could face a character representing the devil on the church’s altar. The children were then encouraged to chant “take him out…
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