Wickedness of men, bitterness of children

As the old year transitioned into the new, an FB post by a well-known influencer caught my eye simply because the content expressed her deep hurt and anger towards a congressman who recently died.

The post may have been meant to release and forgive an injury caused by the dead congressman, but as a whole there was no denying the anger that still bubbled to the surface.

My initial thought was to say, “Forgiving the dead is like repenting when it’s already too late.” The thing about “forgiving” is that it generally requires repentance on the part of the guilty or who caused the offense.

It would be a waste of grace if one is given pardon or forgiveness but is not aware of, does not believe, or does not repent from the injury he or she caused. I do know of people who “repented” from their lifestyle but still paid the consequences of their actions.

An example is that of a person who may repent of their sinful or unhealthy lifestyle, truly change and follow God, but that does not prevent the consequences of diseases such as HIV, financial struggles, poverty even, or irreparably broken marriages.

In the case of those forgiven after death, it sadly makes no difference, because they now have to account on the “other side.”

Technically, forgiveness need not be uttered, spoken or announced except when trying to confront wickedness with grace.

Some have publicly done it to encourage others to do the same, as those who forgave their son’s killer, the drunk driver who killed a parent, but essentially sought forgiveness.

Going back to the dead congressman, I remember when he and his colleagues basically badgered, bullied the influencer, along with several others during a quadcom hearing in Congress.

I commented back then that it was unfortunate for “elders” and leaders to have behaved in such a manner. Thus, the title: Wickedness of men, bitterness of children.

There are actually two books in the Bible that quote Paul the apostle regarding parenting tips that also expand to how “fathers of society” should treat and raise their children. An AI overview of the lesson goes:

“Fathers do not provoke your children to anger” is a biblical instruction from Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21, advising fathers to raise children with love and gentle guidance, not with harshness, unreasonable demands, favoritism or constant criticism that leads to resentment, bitterness or discouragement, but rather in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Both versions say it all, but unfortunately modern-day men and fathers have taken the term “children” to mean only their biological offsprings who are partly treated as “possessions” as a result of all the time, money and investments they made towards raising their children.

As fathers and men, our responsibility extends to other young relatives, community, etc. As elders and leaders, it is our undeniable responsibility to mentor, protect and guide the youth.

Unfortunately, at the time of the quadcom incident, the now deceased congressman lost sight of this role and the fact that he was in Congress and not at home, and he was a legislator and not an investigator.

And so, even in death, he now reaps what he sows: the bitterness, resentment and anger of the younger generation or individuals who may very well be the same age as his own children.

We don’t go out intentionally planning to “sow” seeds of bitterness, resentment and anger, but when we harass, pressure or exasperate (to irritate and frustrate someone intensely), that is what we reap.

Beyond sharing a biblical perspective, I need to call attention to a behavior or act of people that may have serious consequences if we as a society do nothing about it. I refer to the act of calling out the dead, condemning the dead or disregarding the tradition of letting the dead rest in peace.

Some people will surely react but let me point out that the practice of letting the dead rest in peace regardless of their earthly conduct is not to absolve them but rather, so we don’t add to the loss and pain of innocent family members left behind.

It is an act of respect that may not have been earned or deserved, but like the act of forgiveness, we do it as much for our benefit, more than the offender.

Still on the subject of wickedness, I feel obliged to call out some politicians who have been justifying their P2-million Christmas bonus in the midst of irregularities and corruption being linked to members of Congress.

In the same breath, they condemn and persecute the youth in Congress for speaking out, while corrupting others with perks and positions. Clearly things have reached a point where certain elders in Congress have lost propriety or the notion between right and wrong, as well as their role as “father” or mentor to the “children” in Congress.

The prophet Isaiah wrote in Chapter 5 verse 20: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” The word “woe” is not an expression of sadness but a declaration of something bad as a consequence.