Bullying

I was sorry to miss the Youth Service today (on account of preaching responsibilities elsewhere). That being said, I had the pleasure of helping our youth practice last week - the "dress rehearsal," of sorts. It was especially powerful to watch them pledge their eyes, ears and hearts to curtailing teenage harassment. They saw themselves as anchors amidst the storms of peer pressure. They felt called to stand up, and speak out, for what they know, deeply, is right.


Much has been made of school bullying in recent months. Lawmakers, policy analysts and concerned citizens have offered a wide array of suggestions for how to curtail provocation and victimization. From closely monitoring a child's online activity to empowering teachers as safe allies, most every "solution" sounds reasonable, and seems welcomed. Heidi Saxton lists nine helpful tips for parents of bullied children.


All the same, I cannot help but wonder: is the ageless phenomenon of bullying as much a spiritual issue as it is a policy issue? Can we ever fully control a bully's actions without ministering to the emotional insecurities that prompt such behavior?


If, indeed, bullying has as much to do with how our children are, as how our children act, then what is our role as people of faith?


Please: continue the conversation.