Does Bullying Take Place in the Church?

What is bullying?

Bullying is a form of violence where an individual or group intentionally misuses their power over one or more persons. The aggressive behavior is repeated and inflicts physical and/or psychological harm. Bullying can occur in schools, online, at home, or in the workplace. The most common types of bullying, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are:

• Physical Bullying: hitting, kicking, pushing, hazing, harassment
• Verbal Bullying: teasing, name-calling, insulting
• Relationships/social: Spreading of rumors, forcing you into uncomfortable, humiliating situations
• Cyberbullying: sending threats or taunting messages on social media, email, or via text message to hurt you
• Damage to the property of the victim
• Workplace Bullying: repeated verbal or physical mistreatment by one or more employees 

 

 

Who is at risk? 

Youth can be at risk of either being a victim, perpetrator, or witness/bystander to bullying. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied, and 1 in 6 high school students reported being cyberbullied in 2021. There are a few factors that contribute to children who are more likely to bully others. Family factors: The bully experiences violence and bullying at home and projects their emotions at school. There are also peer factors: The child seeks approval from peers or wants to elevate their status in their group, which leads to them seeking out a victim to belittle. Lastly, the school has not provided or addressed bullying properly, leading to repeated violent behaviors.

Bullying is not only limited to youth but can also affect adults in the workplace. According to the 2021 Workplace Bullying Institute U.S. workplace bullying survey, 30% of adult Americans are bullied at work, 76.3 million workers are affected, and 43% of remote workers are bullied. 

 

State anti-bullying laws and policies

There are no federal laws that address bullying directly however, in 2010, the U.S Department of Education created key components for individual state laws to address bullying. The components include the appropriate protocols and procedures for reporting and investigating bullying. To find your state’s anti-bullying policies, please click on the link https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/laws. 

 

What to do if you or someone you know is being bullied?

It should be in everyone’s best interest to learn the protocols to report violent behaviors in school or in the workplace. Whether you are a victim or witness, it is important to speak up and let an adult/ supervisor know what is happening. Do not blame yourself for the mistreatment; you did nothing wrong. Bullying is often a learned behavior and only reflects how the perpetrator feels about themselves. As a parent, educate your child on bullying and what to do if they are being bullied. If your child is a bully, consider seeking a therapist for your child to learn about healthy coping skills. In addition, you can alter/change the home environment or monitor a child’s use of technology. If you or someone you know has been affected by bullying, please visit our mental health resource section. 

 

How to deal with bullying?

God is your defender, and he sees you! Isaiah 54: 4-17. 

Dealing with adversity is not easy. It can leave one feeling worthless, defeated, or depressed. It is important to remember your identity in Christ. You belong to God, who has already defeated the enemy and has given us dominion. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Be proud and confident of who God created you to be and to whom you belong.

 

 

Joshua 1:9 states, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” God is not saying to feel strong but to be strong. This requires you to have faith and trust his word. Psalm 91: 7-10 says, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold. And see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge. Even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee. Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”

 

God is your defender

We can learn how to deal with adversity and the stresses of this world by looking at Jesus’s ministry. Jesus was ridiculed, taunted, and ultimately crucified, and yet he did not repay evil with evil. Instead, Jesus prayed for his enemies. Luke 23:34 reads, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots.” Furthermore, sometimes God puts us in situations to strengthen us and prepare us for our next season. If we are to receive the blessings one must be prepared for what is attached to the blessing. I encourage you to read the book of Jeremiah. When Jeremiah questioned God about why he was under attack and why the wicked prosper, God answered in a way Jeremiah was not prepared to hear. “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)

God is preparing a way, and the battles that we face have a purpose! You are never alone; God is always with you. Jeremiah 1:19 says “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.” 

It is important to find support, learn how to manage stress, and spend time doing what you enjoy! Please visit our mental health resource tab for Bible plan suggestions on bullying and explore other applications. 

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Be sure to check out our other blog posts to learn more about living a mentally healthy life as a Christian.