The pastor of a Louisiana church was arrested and charged with second-degree battery after he allegedly assaulted a neighbor who threatened to harm his family.
According to reports, the 20-year-old neighbor had made threatening statements to Pastor Tony Spell and his family while they were in their front yard fixing a church bus.
The pastor, who serves at Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, reportedly took the neighbor to the ground and punched him repeatedly, throwing his phone in the street.
The young man was taken to the hospital and received stitches on his chin.
Pastor Spell was arrested on Tuesday and bonded out, but not before speaking to his congregation about the incident.
He told his congregation that he had "laid hands on the sick," referencing scripture, and said that he had fulfilled the scripture by defending his family.
The pastor's claims of domestic terrorism have not been fully investigated by the police, who have only received one incident report involving Spell's family and the neighbors.
Church members also alleged that the neighbor had bullied and yelled insults at them, including racial slurs.
Pastor Spell's arrest has raised questions about the use of violence in self-defense and the role of faith leaders in addressing community conflicts.
The incident has sparked a heated debate about the limits of self-defense and the responsibilities of faith leaders in maintaining peace in their communities.
