“You serve God. You’re not God,” Acho told Ivey. About Ivey’s claim that NBA star Steph Curry isn’t a true Christian, Acho noted, “This isn’t evangelism. This isn’t discipleship. This is dangerous.”
Florida Pastor Jordan Wells called Acho a “soft sellout Christian” who should stop pandering to “white liberals and the rainbow coalition for clout.” Wells cited “the NBA’s glaring double standard on ‘hate speech,’” referencing anti-Trump comments by Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “I stand with Jaden Ivey,” Wells posted. “Truth isn’t bigotry. Faith isn’t fireable. Hypocrisy this blatant needs to be called out.”
At least one of Ivey’s former teammates said he hopes Ivey “gets help.” Some people expressed concern that the athlete’s recent zealotry indicates so-called religious psychosis.
Regarding that possibility, YouTube host Sage Steele posted, “IF it’s true that Jaden Ivey has mental health issues, wouldn’t it be best for @chicagobulls & the league to HELP him vs cut him?”
“Offer him resources?” she continued. “Just like the @nba did for Ben Simmons, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Love & so many others. WHY ARE THE RULES DIFFERENT FOR JADEN?”
Sportswriter Jemele Hill pushed back against the narrative that Ivey is being targeted for his Christian faith.
The people rallying behind Jaden Ivey claiming he’s being persecuted must have forgotten about the Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac, who is anti-BLM, didn’t stand for the national anthem when his teammates took a knee, developed a clothing line that he said was an alternative to “woke” companies like Nike (his words), publicly criticized the White House under Joe Biden for Transgender Visibility Day and even spoke at Charlie Kirk’s [Believer’s] Summit. Still cashing NBA checks.
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Texas Pastor Josh Howerton urged church leaders not to shy away from engaging in culture-war issues. “Every one of your people faces these issues everyday at work, with their families, in their schools…and many of them risk their jobs over them,” he told pastors. “[Congregants] need clear teaching and consistent encouragement.”
