You Don't Mock Elders

You Don't Mock Elders

II Kings 2:23-25 NKJV

[23] Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” [24] So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. [25] Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Some days ago, Dr Eneche of Dunamis International Center raised a media storm when a socialite decided to comment on a trending issue in Nigerian church development. Dr Enemche was visibly angry on several grounds but more on the fact that African culture has no room for disrespect to a senior. 

   In March,6,2014, Atane Ofiaja comment about ignorant elders who display ignorance or cruelty.  He says, "...we shouldn’t feel obligated to respect, revere or defer to them simply for being old".  Fidelia Okosodo thinks differently. " Every society is built on certain values. In Africa, respect for elders is among the core cultural values. This respect is expected to flow from the younger person to the elderly, whether they have family ties or not. In many instances, it does not attract reciprocity". The debate could go on. 

   The Bible recommends our respecting elders, beginning with our parents. Ex.20:12, Prov. 23:22. Prov. 20:20 and 30:17 recommends that disrespectful children are worthy of death. So when those children mocked  Elisha, they contravened that law.

   The New Testament recommends for children to honour elders beginning with their parents. 1Tim.5:8. Those children crossed the line, and they experienced God's anger. We may have our opinions, but God wants us to have a deep respect for our elders. Good morning.