Thaddeus Matthews, AKA The ‘Cussing Pastor,’ Dead At 67
Thaddeus Matthews, the outspoken leader of the Naked Truth Liberation and Empowerment Ministries in Memphis, Tennessee, widely known as the “Cussing Pastor,” has passed away at the age of 67.
According to his estranged wife, Melanie Matthews, he died in a hospital on Monday. She shared the news on Facebook, writing, “No more sickness and no more worries. You said you were tired and wanted to rest. Today at 2:25 p.m., you transitioned peacefully, surrounded by family and friends!” She also expressed gratitude to those who had been praying for them, adding, “We want to thank those of you who have been praying for him and us during these trying times. We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we process our loss. Peace and blessings to all!”
Matthews gained widespread attention through his online messages, which were often laced with profanity. In 2019, he sparked controversy by hosting a twerking contest at his church. Despite criticism from traditional Christians, he remained unapologetic about his approach. In a 2018 interview with The Christian Post, Matthews dismissed concerns over his language, saying, “I find no reason to try to justify that. I’m a fisher of men. I go to people on their level. And you have to get past the cussing to get the message. The cussing has drawn the attention of millions around the country. Apparently, it’s drawn yours because you’re calling me.”
He further clarified, “There is a difference between ‘cussing’ and ‘cursing’, as people say. The words that we use today, like motherf—–, s—, and damn, were not words that were used in biblical times. So I don’t have an issue with the cussing. And the people who listen to me don’t have an issue with the cussing, and I’m not trying to justify it to the traditional churchgoer.”
As he faced health challenges, Melanie Matthews told Fox13 that her husband longed for people to see beyond his provocative persona. “I know that a lot of people thought he was playing with God because of his choice of vocabulary, but I know that he loved God,” she said. She revealed that he had recently chosen to move away from the “Cussing Pastor” identity, seeking to repent and mend relationships. “Repenting and basically saying, ‘You know, I’m tired of this particular lifestyle. I want people to truly know who I am,’” she explained.
Matthews had spent the last five months of his life in a rehabilitation facility, relearning to walk before ultimately succumbing to heart failure. He authored a book in 2021 titled The Cussing Pastor: Bullsht from the Pulpit*, detailing his unconventional approach to ministry.
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Less than a year before his death, he made headlines for a profanity-laden response to comedian D.L. Hughley. Hughley’s social media team had questioned whether Matthews’ use of explicit language in church was appropriate. In his rebuttal, Matthews insisted, “There is no viral or any video of me preaching and cussing. For the last three years, I’ve been doing my Sunday morning right here where I’m sitting — virtually. And those that watch me on Sunday mornings would tell you I don’t cuss on Sunday mornings.”
He doubled down on his stance, saying, “I make a post, but I don’t preach and cuss. Not that I find anything wrong with the words. Words are just words. And simple [expletive], you don’t know the difference between cussing and cursing. When you say that I curse, you are saying that I am dealing in witchcraft. The curse and cussing are different. I don’t apologise for cussing. I’m not putting a spell on anyone.” He even went so far as to claim that Jesus himself was a “cusser,” albeit in different words.
While acknowledging that her husband was a divisive figure, Melanie Matthews emphasised that the private man she knew was vastly different from his public persona. “I got to truly know him as an individual, and Thaddeus as a person was very loving and very thoughtful, and if he said that he was your friend, he was your friend. And he would go to war about those that he loved. And that’s who I fell in love with 10 years ago,” she shared with Fox13.
His daughter, Domonique Matthews, echoed this sentiment, believing that her father had passed away in peace. “I’m not going to say he didn’t have a lot of enemies, but who meant the most? He made sure that he apologised; he repented,” she said. “I heard this out of his own mouth, and I feel he went the way he was supposed to.”
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