Bully for You

I’ve been the new kid, the fat kid, the smart kid and maybe a few other kinds. The one thing they all have in common is that they set you up to be bullied. Some one told me about a song called ‘Don’t Laugh at me, by Mark Wills (from an album called ‘Wish You Were Here’.)  It starts out this way.

I'm a little boy with glasses. The one they call the geek. It goes on to ask the bully to stop laughing and calling names because in God's eyes we're all the same. That is not much comfort when today you are being shoved into a snow bank, pressured into a fight or sexually abused. What to do? What to do?

First of all, know that God knows what bullies are up to.

Nehemiah 9:9b- You knew their bullying arrogance against your people (MSG).

He knows what they are like.

Psalm 73:6- Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, Pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words. They're full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace (MSG).

Samson fought bullies the way they fought him; and it only made things worse.

Judges 15:11b-“Don't you realize that the Philistines already bully and lord it over us? So what's going on with you, making things even worse?” He said, “It was tit for tat. I only did to them what they did to me.” (MSG)

God knows what we ought to do.

Proverbs 3:30- Don't walk around with a chip on your shoulder, always spoiling for a fight. Don't try to be like those who shoulder their way through life. Why be a bully? “Why not?” you say. Because God can't stand twisted souls. It's the straightforward who get his respect. (MSG)

I endured my bullying. I realize now that I should have told and told again until someone believed me and protected me. God cares what happens to us but we have to help ourselves too.

As for the bully? Beware who you bully! They might just grow up to be a writer.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to tell someone and give that someone courage to act on our behalf. In Christ’s Name. Amen.