A Biblical Perspective to Bullying

Were you ever bullied as a child? You likely were, or perhaps you even were the bully. Bullying, as unlike Christ as it is, is a sin even Christians sometimes find themselves tempted to practice. Bullying should be nowhere welcome. It goes against the biblical command of love and undermines God’s view of humanity. In the Bible, examples of bullies abound, and God’s attitude toward them is ever made plain.

The Bully

Bullying, at its core, is about using the power we have against other people. Bullies threaten those they perceive as weak and, at times, hurt them if they don’t get what they want. They mock others’ looks, behaviors, faith, sexuality, social status, etc. Bullying can be in the form of physical abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, cyber abuse, etc. Bullies mostly thrive on control, hence love power, are self-centered, suffer from insecurity, have poor relational skills, and lack empathy.

A few examples of bullies in the Bible might include:

1. Sarah: Abraham’s wife, Sarah, bullied Hagar, the maidservant, to the point she ran away (Gen 16:6). The Bible notes that she mistreated her since she had power over her, and that is what Sarah regarded as the proper treatment of her if Abraham’s words are to go by.
2. Pharaoh and his Leaders bullied the Israelites while they were enslaved under his rule in Egypt (Exodus 3:7).
3. Peninah considered herself favored and blessed, and she bullied Hannah for not having a child (1 Samuel 1:2-7).
4. Saul bullied David over and over and even attempted to kill him due to jealousy (1 Samuel 19:1).
5. The Babylonian King’s Nobles bullied Daniel and co., who remained faithful to God.

One noted trait about all the bullies is that they had power or leverage over those they bullied.

The Bullied

Anyone who suffers at the hands of a bully ought to realise that remaining silent, perhaps out of fear, only empowers their aggressor to continue torturing their mind and/or body.

1. Speak Out: As Christians, we can choose to ignore, act for, or against the bullies. Doing nothing to stop bullies only empowers them. We can report bullies to relevant authority. If you are a student, you can speak out to your parents, and if bullying persists, you should consider requesting a transfer to another school. We ought never to take part in bullying, as Christians, whether by laughing or taking videos, since such only fuel the sin.
2. Respond Biblically: We must respond to bullies in a godly way. This includes responding to them lovingly and gently, which may change their hearts (Prov. 15:1). We must entrust our lives to God, who judges rightly as Christ did (1 Peter 2:23). Our resistance should never be violent. An unbiblical response only stirs up anger and ultimately worsens the situation. Vengeance belongs to God, and we should trust him to do it in his way and time.
3. Find your Value in God: Do you struggle with low self-esteem, feeling as though you are worthless? Remember that God created you in his image and likeness (Gen 1:26), and that for you Christ Jesus suffered on the cross and died (John 3:16). Surely what God says about you must matter.
4. Social Support System: There is great value in surrounding ourselves with people who affirm us; people we can turn to in difficult times, such as when we face bullying or doubt our abilities: fellow believers, or even relatives, are the foremost to consider.
5. Work on your Self-Esteem. Having low self-esteem can attract bullies against us. When we feel worthless, as though we aren’t good at anything, or we deserve what the bully is doing to us, it enables them to continue hurting us and threatening us. Some causes of low self-esteem include being overly self-critical, focusing on the negatives, minimizing your achievements, fearing failure, and reacting too strongly to others’ criticism. You should change how you view yourself and look at yourself through the lens of Scripture, appreciating both small and big successes in life.

Christian Call Against Bullying

1. Called to Love and Help the Weak: The Bible calls us to show compassion, support justice, and offer practical support to the weak, marginalized, and those who are vulnerable (Psalm 82:3-4; Isaiah 1:17). We must emulate our God in how he dealt with both the bullies and the bullied in Scripture. A notable example is the story of Naboth, King Ahab, and Jezebel, as recounted in 1 Kings 21 and 22. We must confront the bully with the truth and show kindness to those who are bullied.
2. The Call to Consider Others Better than Ourselves: Scripture does not expect us to be bullies ourselves. Instead, we are to be considerate of others (Hebrews 10:24). In our churches, bullying can occur in various groups or ministries, often as a result of some considering themselves superior to others in terms of gifting, education, and so on. Maintaining a Christlike attitude of humility, as seen in Philippians 2:4-11, helps us avoid being bullies.
3. The Role of Prayer: The Bible calls us to pray for those who persecute us so that we may emulate our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:43-48). Bullies often project outward strength while masking insecurities within that God’s divine hand can alone heal. Our prayers for them are essential as God may transform them and heal them.

God is not silent on the matter of bullying. He tends toward the weak and humbles the proud. God assured Hagar of his blessings to her and her offspring (Genesis 16:10-12). God also heard the cries of his people in Egypt and came to their rescue (Exodus 3:7-8). He blessed Hannah with many children, and her son Samuel became a great prophet in Israel, playing a key role in their transition to monarchy. God protected David from King Saul and eventually fulfilled his promise to make him king over his people, Israel. Surely, we can trust God’s care and guidance in our lives. His plans for us are still for good, not evil: to give us hope and a future despite our current circumstances (Jeremiah 29:11). Trust in his providence and vengeance for you in due time.