God’s Ex-Men

In this day and age, the term X-MEN could apply to just about anything. X-MEN are popular as the comic and movie characters that everyone is gobbling up. The term is also used ‘comically” or affectionately for the literal X-Men who have become transgender characters which is a world apart from X-CONs. But today, I find myself thinking of certain government officials and public figures who were or who conveniently present themselves as “Christians,” “spiritual” individuals or “a brother in the faith” or God’s Ex-Men.

In one gathering of several churches, leaders, pastors and believers, one government official actually presented himself as a spiritual person and believer.

I honestly wondered about his claim because lately, he has been more popular for his acerbic tongue and being politically over ambitious which is why he regularly makes the rounds as guest speaker in the hopes of improving his ranking in the surveys for potential senatorial candidates. Sadly when reporters ask him if he wants to or plans to run for Senator he will coyly lie through his teeth and say no. His mistake was admitting to common contacts in Tacloban that he was waiting for his ratings to improve. Perhaps he thinks nothing of it, not even a white lie.  Recently, he was asked to comment on a controversial “kissing scene” and he actually defended the matter as nothing more than a gimmick and that those critical of the kissing scene “are people whose role in life are to criticize.”

For transparency sake, I refer to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and I will not hide my disappointment with how he seems to have been swept by the culture around him. Being a spokesperson leaves you little room to maneuver in, but Harry Roque is no amateur and if he really wanted to stand by the truths and values he  once espoused as a “Bible believing Christian,” he could have simply said: “Next Question please” and not dwelt on the topic. Even if the kissing scene in Korea was actually a “gimmick” and one party was “game” or a “consenting adult,” the fact remains that it was inappropriate or a bad judgment call especially because the woman was married. It is not in your job description to defend such acts, certainly not if you claim to be a “Christian.”

In case “Brother Harry” is wondering; why me? I do so because “we” who are believers are under instruction to be our brothers’ keeper. “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” 1 Cor. 5:12. In a little known chapter from the Old Testament book of Ezekiel (33: 7-9) God tells us that we are watchmen put in place to warn others and there are consequences for obedience and disobedience:

“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from my mouth and warn them for me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I shall require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn away from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul!”

That of course is the Bible verse and let me say that Harry Roque is far from being a “wicked” guy. I simply feel led to warn him or remind him to be true to his calling lest he soon be falling. If God placed you to be a Spokesperson then do so with wisdom seasoned with grace. If God wants you to become Senator so it shall be, if you really want to run for the Senate then say so. Don’t be coy or cunning. That is not how “We” do it.

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Recently, Solicitor General Jose Calida has been in the news regarding what many of his critics call a “conflict of interest” where he holds a high government position while his family services millions of pesos worth of contracts to provide security guards to government offices. After that controversy, the Commission on Audit (COA) called attention to unusually high or large payments or compensation to Calida and associates in his office. There are more allegations about Calida but I won’t go that far.

What I do remember about “Joe” Calida was someone who had a heart for God, a deep sense of Justice and a remarkable humility in how he spoke and went about. Believe it or not, he even embodied a soft-spoken gentleness of character. Nowadays, all I see is “The Solicitor General,” a stranger with bodyguards in a rush and visibly harassed. The few times I’ve seen him on TV, what I saw was a stone-cold, stone-faced lawyer, grimly defending actions and contracts on matters that raise questions about his integrity and morals. It is really ironic and twisted because before his entry in government, he was the one raising such challenges against wrongdoers. Instead of law books and legalese, chances are he would be consulting the Bible and going WWJD (What Would Jesus Do)?

As I reflected on Joe Calida’s situation, the most I can do is to remind him of certain verses applicable to his situation. In 1st Corinthians 10:23 St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and pointed out: “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is edifying.” Yes it may all be legal but in the eyes of God is it righteous?

In the face of all the criticisms, attacks and suspicion, one has to appreciate the warning of St. Luke: “What does it profit a  man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?” – Luke 9:25.  What value comes from being the second most powerful man in the land if it makes you God’s Ex-Men?

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