How should a Christian respond to bullying?

Answer

Although the term “bullying” is not mentioned in the Bible, the term “brutish” is found, which is a synonym for the brutal violence associated with thieves, assassins, and savage beasts (Psalm 49:10;Proverbs 12:1;Isaiah 19:11). The Hebrew and Greek words translated as “brute” or “brutish” mean “stupid, foolish, and irrational, like cattle.” From this, we can infer that those who bully behave like cattle or other irrational beasts. Regrettably, this abhorrent behavior is not uncommon among fallen humanity—even within the church—regardless of gender or age.

While the Bible does not directly address bullies or bullying, it contains numerous principles that are relevant to the matter. It is crucial to comprehend what bullying entails. A simple definition would be “using superior strength or power to intimidate others.” Bullies target individuals they perceive as weaker, threatening them with harm or inflicting harm to achieve their objectives. Clearly, bullying is not in line with godly behavior. Christians are instructed to love others and protect the vulnerable, rather than intimidate or manipulate them (James 1:27;1 John 3:17–18;Galatians 6:9–10). Since it is evident that Christians should not engage in bullying, how should they respond to it?

In general, there are two scenarios in which a Christian may need to address bullying: when they are the target of bullying and when they witness bullying. When facing bullying, an appropriate response may involve turning the other cheek or resorting to self-defense. When Jesus mentioned “turning the other cheek” in Matthew 5:38–42, He taught us to refrain from retaliating to personal slights.

hts. The idea is not to return an insult with an insult. When someone verbally abuses us, we do not respond with insults. When someone tries to assert their power to intimidate or manipulate us, we can resist without being manipulative in return. Bullying a bully is not biblical or useful. It is advisable to report the bully to the proper authorities. It is not wrong for a child in school to inform their teacher about bullies. It is not wrong to report a con artist to the police. Such actions may prevent harm to others. Even if we do not retaliate personally, we can still use social systems of justice.

In some cases, especially if the bullying is physical, self-defense may be appropriate. The Bible does not promote total pacifism. God’s instructions to Israel in Exodus 22 and Jesus’ instruction to His disciples to carry a sword in Luke 22 provide insight. Christians are to be loving and forgiving, but not tolerant of evil.

When a Christian witnesses bullying, it may be suitable to intervene and help prevent the attack on the victim. Each situation is unique, and sometimes intervening may exacerbate the issue, but often one person standing up for a weaker party can halt the bullying and prevent future occurrences. Certainly, a Christian could speak with a bullying victim after the incident and assist them with any needs, including help in reporting the incident.

God’s wisdom is essential in all instances of addressing bullying. Those who follow Christ have the Holy Spirit within them, aiding in understanding God’s Word, guiding, and equipping them to obey God in any situation.

We must also consider our thoughts and attitudes toward bullies. It is simple to vilify bullies and view them as hateful individuals. However, this is not a godly attitude.itude. Every human being is born a sinner, and we all need salvation in Jesus (Romans 3:23;Romans 6:23). At the very least, we should pray that the bully would have a change of heart and know God’s salvation (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Many times, however, bullies act the way they do out of their own hurt. Perhaps they were bullied in the past. Perhaps they feel insecure, and the only way they can feel acceptable to themselves is by belittling others. We can empathize with their hurt and extend God’s compassion, love, and grace to them while also maintaining solid boundaries to address their wrong behavior. Whether bullying is driven by past hurt or simply the sin nature, God is the one who can bring healing, restoration, and change. It is always appropriate to pray for both bullies and their victims. Similarly, when we are the victim of bullying, we can go to God with our hurt and seek His reassurance and healing.

Romans 12:17–21 says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

God has shown us incredible mercy. We should show this to others in the way we behave—by not bullying, by standing up to defend the weak, by being willing to forgive, by preventing bullying as best we can through appropriate social channels, and by praying for those who bully and who are bullied. The love and grace of God are enough to heal every wound.