Bridling the Bullies

Life can be tough and people can be troublesome, but the apostle Paul gives us some perspective on how we can stand strong, even when we face challenges.  Here's what 2nd Corinthians 6 says:
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

I really like the way that Paul shows us how to view our troubles - he actually lists some of the adversity he had encountered, and then begins to list the characteristics of Christ, recognizing that His great attributes, expressed through us, can enable us to possess and overcoming attitude even in the midst of negative circumstances, or people.  We can implement these spiritual tools when we are up against the wall - and we can stand with others who are going through tough times, as well, providing a community of support for those who are in the midst of desperation.

Romans 12 reminds us how God's strength can be activated when we choose to rely on Him, even when we are facing people that treat us in a cruel way.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."  21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month.   And, there is a great story of a 16-year-old girl from Michigan who stood strong in the midst of an especially cruel prank.   Maybe you've heard the story of Whitney Kropp, a high school sophomore who was delighted to be named to her school's homecoming court - until she discovered that she was the target of a joke.  According to Focus on the Family's Jim Daly:

Some classmates thought it would be funny to embarrass her by doing this, especially given her quiet and reserved nature.

Whitney’s mom, Bernice, recently told the press her daughter was being lampooned in and around school after the vote was tallied and the results were announced.

Mrs. Kropp said her daughter is a gentle and friendly girl who doesn’t have enemies. Yet, that didn’t stop some kids from being mean.

“She was getting ridiculed in school and on Facebook," Mrs. Kropp said.

Fortunately, that’s not the end of the story.

When word began to spread, several people came to the young girl’s defense. A grassroots effort of sorts was launched via social media venues. A “Support Whitney Kropp” Facebook page is closing in on 100,000 “likes.” (UPDATE: over 136,000)  Businesses in and around the farming community are going to cover her expenses for this Saturday’s dance, from the cost of the dress to the cost of doing her hair.

The hair, by the way, courtesy of Whitney Shoemaker, the owner of "Whit's End Hair Salon", and yes, inspired by the venerable character from Adventures in Odyssey. 

This past weekend was homecoming, and Whitney stood proudly as part of the court - she attended the dance and had a wonderful time.  According to Jim Daly, in a follow-up:

Miss Kropp attended, she said, because it’s important to “not let them (the bullies) bring you down.” She went on to say, "Stand up for what you believe in and go with your heart and go with your gut. That's what I did, and look at me now. I'm just as happy as can be!"

 Jim wrote in his original column at his blog:

It’s important that we encourage our children to see every classmate as a person of inestimable worth, and to reach out to those on the margins.

Victims of bullying often suffer in silence, whether out of embarrassment or fear.

So keep the conversation going with your kids. Get them talking. Get to know their friends, too. Try and make your house the hub of the party, and that way you’ll be more naturally aware of the ongoing social dynamics around school.

I do believe that Christians, and especially Christians in our schools, should be the leading voices against bullying.   As believers, we should not take part in mean speech or practical jokes that are designed to demean.  Bullying can be verbal, it can be physical, and can be especially inflammatory as it is transmitted over the Internet.   If we see someone who is being victimized, we should provide a strong support system, a safe community where a person can turn when he or she is facing the cruelty of others.  

And, when you are facing the taunts of other people, when you encounter those who do not follow the path of the love of Christ, God can give you His strength - out of His abundant resources, He will instill within you a quiet confidence and even a love for your enemies that can reverse the mean-spiritedness.