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Bullying

Bullying is a subject which affects everyone....

...it doesn’t matter it is at school or in the workplace: bullying was even described in the bible. Even Jesus was bullied. At the time when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, Jesus was led to the high priests after his capture. The leading priests and their advisors tried to catch Jesus out with false witness statements. Here is a short snippet:

Matthew 26, 62- 68: Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." “Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"

That was an early form of bullying. Just because Jesus was uncomfortable for the priests and Pharisee, they tried everything to put Jesus down and push him to one side.

The exact same thing happens today. Just because we look different to others, or act differently than the majority, choose different paths or are simply better in maths than the others we are pushed out, hit, ignored – in short: we are bullied.

Did Jesus bully back? The answer is no!

The one who is being bullying usually stands there alone. Who wants to give an outsider company? But have you thought about how the bullied person feels or why he acts so “differently”? No? Then try to find out!

I hope that you can stand up like Jesus did. Jesus was bullied quite often and he did not "let it get him down“. He looked for companions. At the beginning there weren’t very many but the numbers grew as his life went on. Bullying has almost become a national past time nowadays and I find it awful.

Maybe you think about it next time and not go along with the strong side, but stand up for the person being bullied and ask why he is bullied. God will judge bullies.

Christians should not bully others, loving our neighbours is so much nicer. Give it a go! I hope that you can stand up and be counted like Jesus was.

An entry by Renee B., Pfalzdorf