Megachurch Pastor Uses $4K Massage Chair to Preach Against Comfort as Viewers Question Church Spending

Pastor Michael Todd has raised eyebrows after delivering part of a Sunday sermon while reclining in a luxury massage chair worth almost $4,000 (£3,100), using the expensive piece of equipment to warn Christians against becoming too comfortable in their faith. The unusual demonstration at Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has attracted attention online, with some viewers praising his creative approach while others questioned the spectacle and raised concerns about luxury in megachurch culture.

The 1 November service saw Todd activate the chair's massage functions as he preached about spiritual complacency, telling his congregation they were living for Christ in a 'La-Z-Boy'. However, the contrast between his message about rejecting comfort and the lavish equipment used to deliver it quickly became a talking point.

The £3,100 Sermon Prop

Todd, the lead pastor of Transformation Church, used an Osaki Champ II massage chair during the second week of the church's 'Happy & Hungry' series. The luxury model is listed for approximately $3,999 (£3,100), although some listings put its regular retail price closer to $6,000 (£4,650).

Rather than simply sitting down to continue his message, Todd reclined fully and switched on the massage functions as he addressed the congregation. The unusual setting was part of a deliberate illustration, making the chair a central feature of his lesson rather than an ordinary piece of furniture.

His Message About Comfort

The sermon was titled 'Living for Christ in a Lazy Boy', with Todd using the chair to explain what he described as the difference between 'right standing' and 'right sitting' with God. He suggested that some believers had grown so accustomed to convenience that they only wanted to practise their faith when it required little effort.

'I would tell you that righteousness is right standing with God. But most believers are in what I call right sitting with God,' he told the congregation. He then delivered the line that became the most memorable part of the demonstration: 'You are living for Christ in a La-Z-Boy.'

The Questions Behind It

Todd continued the illustration by explaining that people could become reluctant to do anything that disturbed their comfort. While reclining, he said: 'I'm only doing it if it's comfortable. I'm only doing it if it does not require me to move out of my spot.'

He then challenged the congregation to consider whether someone could effectively defend themselves or help another person while remaining in such a relaxed position. 'How good could I fight from this position? How good could I protect myself? How good could I actually help somebody who was in need right there?' he asked, before explaining that believers should stop allowing their lives of righteousness to remain reclined.

Viewers Question Church Spending

Although the demonstration was intended to challenge spiritual passivity, its expensive setting prompted a separate reaction online. Some commenters questioned the presence of a nearly £3,100 massage chair during a religious service, with one asking why people would donate to a megachurch like this.

Another commenter suggested that donations were being used for personal benefit, while someone else criticised what they perceived as an increasing focus on money rather than faith. However, these were individual reactions, and there is no evidence that the chair was purchased using church donations or that it belonged personally to Todd.

Others Defend the Illustration

Not everyone viewed the demonstration negatively. Some supporters considered it an effective way to communicate a message that might otherwise have been difficult to remember. The chair provided a visual comparison between physical relaxation and the spiritual inactivity Todd wanted his congregation to reconsider.

Others responded with sarcasm, including one commenter who joked that the following week's sermon might warn against the dangers of 'speed reading' the Bible. The remark reflected how unusual the presentation appeared to some viewers, even as others appreciated its humour and creativity.

Todd's Unusual Preaching Style

Todd is no stranger to unconventional sermon props, having previously poured syrup and whipped cream over a Bible, trashed the stage and received a haircut while preaching in tight pink trousers. His energetic style often uses dramatic demonstrations to make biblical messages more memorable, although the latest stunt also prompted questions about the cost of the equipment.

Ultimately, Todd wanted to encourage Christians to put their faith into action rather than remain in their comfort zones. Whether viewers found the demonstration clever or excessive, his nearly £3,100 massage chair ensured the lesson attracted attention far beyond his congregation.