R is for - Resembling Raunchy Reprobates, a Rash of Reprehensible, Raging, and Ravenous Renegade Reverends Ridicule Rightness, Resist Reconciliation, Reject Reason, Recklessly Rouse Racism, and Rate no Reverential Respect.

(Title Translation: I said, "Feed My Sheep," Not "Eat My Sheep."  )  

Al Sharpton, Jeremiah Wright, Jessie Jackson, and Louis Farrakhan are all renowned racists, race baiters, and purveyors of hate.  Each of them prefaces his name with the title, “Reverend.”  And they all claim to be Christians.  Yes even Louis Farakhan who also claims to be a Muslim.  How does that happen?  I don’t know.  I once heard of a Baptist Buddhist so I guess anything’s possible. 

{Come to think of it, Barack Obama claims to be a Muslim and a Christian.  He’s just not a “Reverend” although He might think He’s some sort of a messiah.}

rev•er•end     adjective

1.   used as a title of respect applied or prefixed to the name of a member of the clergy or a religious order.

2.   worthy to be revered; entitled to reverence.

As pertaining to Christian members of the clergy, the title, “Reverend,” is generally reserved for those who hold the office of pastor or shepherd (a leader of the flock). 

So let me say first that Christian pastors have a biblical job description.  Anything short of that is illegitimate.  

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul makes this statement to the church at Ephesus, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Eph. 4:11).

From that passage we see that this office of pastor is a gift from God to the Church.  Real pastors are called, equipped, and ordained by God and it is He who places them in their position of leadership. 

The next verse tells us why God has placed him there.  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”  (Eph. 4:12).

He has been placed in the Church by God to put everything in order so that the people are fully equipped to do the work of the ministry so that the body of Christ may be built up and strengthened.  If a pastor is faithful to his calling, his people will be at work in the world proclaiming the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ whereby sinners can be reconciled to Holy God.  

The pastor (shepherd) has two primary responsibilities.  They are to feed and protect his people (sheep). 

• First, a pastor has the responsibility to accurately and truthfully preach and teach the Word of God. 

• Second, the pastor has the responsibility to protect the Church from false teaching.

Church leaders who neglect those responsibilities are false teacher's (ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing).

It’s not my intention here to minimize or oversimplify the office of pastor, however, those two responsibilities are by no means simple and they keep most pastors very busy.  And those who are faithful to that job really don’t have time to traffic in deceipt, make death threats, lead marches, participate in demonstrations, stir up racism,  or incite hatred. 

Out of respect for real Christians, their pastors, and the Most High God, I refuse to attach the title, “Rev” in front of the names of these men and others who profane the title and don’t seem to understand that they should be in the business of reconciliation, not racial division.   Do the job or drop the title.

And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart."  Jeremiah 14:14