The Destructive Power of Bitterness

Tragedy struck Samson, Alabama this week when 28-year-old Michael McLendon snapped and went on a shooting rampage that ended the lives of ten people, five of whom were Michael's own family members. At the end Michael turned the gun on himself and became the tenth person to die that day from a mortal gunshot wound. In a small town of roughly 2,000 people, Michael's violent actions left most of the townspeople shocked and in stunned disbelief. Many are openly expressing their wonder at how such a seemingly "quiet" person could go off on such a rampage of terror.

The answer was soon revealed as investigators uncovered Michael's hand-written "hit list"-- spiral notebook pages filled with the names of people who he believed had wronged him in the past. The list included former employers as well as former and present co-workers whom Michael felt had treated him harshly and unfairly. Even though their names did not appear in the written revenge list, it is now apparent that many of Michael's own family members were on the unwritten list being kept in his mind. Now, two-hundred gunshots later and the fallout of the worst killing spree in Alabama history, people are desperate to for answers to the all-consuming "Why?" question.

To me, the answer to the "why" question is unveiled as we consider the destructive power of bitterness.

Without a doubt, as we trace back the root of these tragic slayings-- we arrive at the heart of a man consumed with bitterness and revenge. Like a boiler under intense heat, this intense bitterness toward others continued to build up pressure until it finally exploded from this man's life in heinous acts of violence. When an individual seethes in hidden anger, muses on hurts from others, and quietly nurses private grudges--- Scripture warns that trouble is on the horizon. Hebrews 12:15 makes the vital connection between the "root of bitterness" springing up and the "trouble" that surely follows. In this case from Alabama, it was physical-- but in many cases the damage and the trouble is often spiritual in nature.

Christians and churches are not exempt from this trouble, because examples abound of believers who-- while not resorting to a gun or physical violence--- have assaulted another family member of the Body of Christ with a verbal tirade or an unholy, accusing outburst. I'll never forget the meeting I attended some years ago when two Christian brothers got into a heated discussion--- and going on the attack one of the men pulled out a tattered notebook and began to regurgitate hurtful comments made by the other Christian man from nearly ten years earlier. I remember going home that night stunned at the depth of that Christian's root of bitterness against his brother, and sorrowful at a schism that was still unresolved.

That is why the New Testament is replete with instructions for believers to put away every form of bitterness-- and conquer pains, sins, and hurts inflicted by others with healthy doses of love, patience, longsuffering, and forgiveness. Paul says explicitly in Ephesians 4:31-32: "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Colossians 3:13 says likewise, "...bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."

Bitterness has incredible destructive power, and there's little doubt Satan knows this. He has been using this unstoppable force in the hearts of unbelievers for millennia, and many lives have been left in a wake of death because of it. This week's tragedy in Alabama is just another example of the power of sinful bitterness left unchecked and unrestrained.

Christian, do you have a list of people--- written or unwritten-- that you're harboring bitterness against? Are you nursing some secret grudge? Know the truth that bitterness eventually leads to destruction--- most often your own. Thanks be to God, that through the power of the transforming gospel, we have the ability to put aside bitterness and choose forgiveness instead.

When you consider the end results---- the choice is easy.