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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Charade (08/14/08)
Jakes was angry with his father for being a hypocrite. He did not possess faith like that of Jakes; yet he spoke to Pastor Andrew as though he had great faith and obeyed everything that the Bible said. Jakes was put off by his father’s hypocrisy.


Every morning his father sat with the Bible as though he read it with diligence. He attended church mass without fail. He prayed every day. He always showed himself pious before others. Jakes was not happy with him because he did things that were unspiritual. Watching high rock music and movies that were unfit for a Christian, cracking ugly jokes and drinking with his friends, and gossiping about the brethren and teasing their faith were some of the things that Jakes hated to see in him. In spite of warning his dad to avoid such things, Jakes’ father did not budge. Nobody in Jakes’ circle of friends and acquaintances knew his father’s other side. Even Pastor Andrew believed Jakes’ father was someone spiritual and good.


Jakes was his father’s only child and after having lost his mother five years back, Jakes tried his best to make his dad a good Christian. Even Jakes’ mother took all her life to change her husband, but to no effect. He deceived her by pretending to be good and as if yielding to her advice. Everyone saw him as a kind, humble and sweet man with a gentle voice. But only Jakes knew the truth and it got on his nerves.


Jakes often argued with his father about his faith and his life of not living it. When confronted his father never used to retaliate. He got onto the habit of building a self-pity syndrome amidst people by slandering about Jakes. This made people criticize Jakes for being harsh on his father.


One day Jakes wrote a letter to his father hoping that would change him for good. He at least wanted to show his father his wrong.

“Dad, you know why am upset with you and am not talking to you since last week. What you have been doing and what you did last week was not right. If you do not have faith like mine and don’t want to come to my church that’s fine. But it’s not right that you talk badly a bout my faith or my church to others. I have never forced you to come to my church or attend prayer meetings with me. But you come every week voluntarily.

You even appreciated the pastor for his sermon last time. Tell me frankly pop, do you really appreciate his message and the work he does for the Lord? If so, you wouldn’t be slandering my faith and my church. Dad, be honest with yourself and do what you believe in, rather than deceiving yourself and others.
I don’t know what else to tell you, but I felt that should tell you this. I pray that God should help you to be truthful to Him, self and others.

Yours Son,

Jakes.”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Verna Cole Mitchell 
08/21/08
You've shown how the hypocrisy of a parent is really hurtful to a child. One hopes the letter Jakes wrote would reach his father's heart.
Jan Ackerson
08/23/08
Sometimes children can indeed help their parents to see the error of their ways!

I had a hard time placing Jakes' age--sometimes he seemed like a quite young child, and sometimes considerably older. It might be helpful if you'd establish that for your reader.

Is not speaking to his father for several days the best way of getting his message across? Something to think about.

I like Jakes' bravery and determination.