You may be thinking, "Where in the Bible does it talk about bullying?" Well I am happy to answer that question, but first things first. Have you ever had someone pick on you without remorse? Have you ever had someone that when they had a bad day, they found a way to make yours bad as well? These are just two of the countless characteristics of a bully. The Free Online Dictionary defines a bully as someone that is unusually cruel or overbearing, especially to smaller, weaker people. This kind of behavior is immoral, against every biblical teaching, and just plain wrong. I can tell you specifically where Jesus stood up to bullies. In Matthew 23, he lays out the woes of the Pharisees. A group of religious bullies (the worst kind) that would condemn people for the exact same infractions of the law that they were committing. Furthermore, in Acts 20:35 Paul writes that we are supposed to support those weaker than ourselves, not drive them down in the dirt. I was bullied as a child. I understand what it was like to have to face that every day. There are children that are going through this daily! I actually know quite a few kids of different ages that are having to withstand a certain kind of torture when they go to school. It even goes as far as to extend to social media, text messages, etc. From my own experience as well as those cases that I know of, the schools know about what's going on. Still they refuse to do nothing about it. Even when the bully is known for that kind of behavior. When a kid kills themselves because they see no other escape from the daily torment that they endure, THEN and only then the school wants to be all remorseful. They hire counselors to come and talk to the students to try and help them deal with their grief. What about helping the victim with their grief. Try listening to the child a little bit and watching out for the things that they are describing. There is bullying that goes on in adult workplaces. People that are on the boss' good list look down their crusty nose that those that do nothing but work hard and don't spend all their time with their nose stuck up the boss' behind. I worked with one of those people. It was one of the worst job experiences I have ever had. One time I was working as a janitor and had to show a workplace bully (who was the electrician's helper) how to put an electrical plug together. They don't always know everything. They just know enough to get themselves into a position that can benefit their own egos. For the distasteful icing on the bullying cake: Bullies in Church. These self righteous people that look down on the ones that are new to the faith or that don't know as much as them about Scripture. Those are the ones that make being a leader necessary. If you are a Christian on solid food, feed a baby Christian some milk. You know what it tastes like. Don't look down on them, build them up. Mentor them. Wait for it...: DISCIPLE THEM!!! Its the Great freaking Commission. Its one of the last things that Jesus Christ said before he ascended into heaven. When you disciple people, make sure that they are taught to stand up to bullies as well.
In all aspects of bullying we need to help try and put an end to it. If there is someone that you know that is dealing with a bully, help them out. Go to someone in charge. For students, go to bat with them against a complacent school administration. If its a coworker, go to the boss about it. If the boss is the bully, help the victim find another job. There are things that you can do. Do not stand idly by while someone is driven farther and farther away from God and towards suicide. This goes back to spiritual warfare. We gotta stand up and fight for those weaker than us. We have Almighty God fighting for us when we are standing up for what is right! What other help do you need? Pray for the victim, step in where you can, encourage them to keep seeking God while they are going through their ordeal. Defend the weak. Help make them strong in the Lord.
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