Bullying

If there is a social problem that defines this decade it may be summed up in the word “bullying”.  A few years ago anti-bullying campaigns became a matter of focus for people who worked in adolescent environments, but now, it occupies everyone’s attention. 
Bullying has become a political, social and legal concern, yet when we look at it, it is spiritual as well.  The answer to bullying is found in the an understanding of the principles of Christianity.  Take, for example, these basic spiritual principles:
1.  We should love one another (John 15:12).  Love is often defined as seeking the best for another person.  It is based upon a foundation that inspired God to send His Son as the answer to sin and compelled Jesus to give His life as the perfect sacrifice.  Is there any way that we can fulfill God’s command to love one another (even our enemies) and belittle or harass people at the same time?
2.  We should elevate the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).   Paul drew upon the example of Jesus when he taught that we have a responsibility to “regard one another as more important than yourselves”.  It is impossible to bully someone when we are committed to seeking ways to uplift them. 
3.  We should choose our words carefully (Proverbs 16:24).  Words aren’t just a collection of letters, they convey meaning – both for the one who sends them and to the one who receives them.  Words are the expression of our thoughts and either promote a sweetness that soothes a person’s soul or spreads caustic hatred.  God hears every word we use so there is an accountability for everything that comes out of our mouths (or through our iPhones). 
4.  We should remember Whose we are (Matthew 5:9).  Jesus teaches that we will find contentment by being “peacemakers” not “pot-stirrers”.  Additionally, those who encourage peace display their kinship with the God of peace.  If those who promote peace are called sons of God, what does it mean if we are continually spreading ill-will, hatred, oppression and malice?
5.  We should listen more and talk less (James 1:19-20).  We may have the legal right to say pretty much anything we want, but that should not be confused with a belief that everything we say has value.  The more we talk the less we will be heard.  The louder we talk the less effective we become.  A few well-chosen words with a caring heart shouts volumes in a noisy world.

I think we tend to make things more difficult than they should be. Dealing with bullying isn’t merely done by requiring teachers to report incidences or empowering administrators to discipline.  The most basic answer to bullying is not found in classroom programs or federal legislation, it comes from a simple adherence to God’s will.  We will only stop it when parents and spiritual individuals take the lead in being kind to one another and require that our children do the same.  

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