Yes, men have reviled you pastor because you deserve to be reviled. What you are of course omitting from those verses is blessed are those who are reviled on my account. This is Jesus speaking of course. You are not being reviled because of anything Jesus has said. You are reviled for things you have said. You are reviled because you knew that you and six other families attended a wedding which became the largest super-spreader event in your state and you still held church anyway. You are reviled because you have proven yourself to be nothing more than a hireling, hiding behind verses you do not understand to achieve political and carnal goals.
You are reviled because of this horrible statement you make in closing. That you think it would be good to spread this virus amongst people trapped in gambling addictions. Yes, sin is wicked but so is being heartless and cruel when you are supposed to tend to the sheep of the Lord. When you consign them to misery, suffering and even death to make an uneducated, moronic political statement, you should be reviled. Your arrogance and indifference are not faith. They are malice wrapped up in the flag with a bow of piety. I take comfort in the fact that you will answer one day for every sheep that was entrusted to you and your canned political talking points will ring hollow and fall to the ground before you. I leave you with the words of Job:
Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him? Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God? Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man? He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality. Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you? Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. - Job 13:7-12 (ESV)
Reverend Anthony Wade - September 3, 2020
