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Featured How to respond to bullies in the Church & Online?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by evangelist6589, Aug 30, 2013.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    How does one deal with bullies in the church online or offline? The best solution is to love them, however sometimes one needs to defend themselves from the lies and deceptions the bullies will advocate. How would you respond? Jesus remained calm when falsely accused, but that was with unbelievers. Would he had done the same with the church?

    Often a bully will make a false accusation and then when you want to defend yourself he/she will not give any details and will duck out of any further chats and label you "argumentative, divisive, unloving", etc.. Like for example some years ago a IFB pastor spread some lies about me, and falsely accused me. When I wanted to talk about it more he went dead silent, and others whom tried to confront him he also went dead silent. My mistake was that I did not get other churches around the area involved and to hold that liar accountable as no question his lies hurt my reputation around some in IFB circles. I have had unbelievers falsely accuse me or pass out flyers about me on the streets but I never defend myself or retaliate because they are lost and are headed to Hell so I expect that from them.

    Likewise on FB and this board there are bullies that falsely accuse and do not wish to get into details. On FB they will unfriend you when you defend yourself, here they cant do that so they just attack you. How do you respond? We are not dealing with unbelievers but with church going people and perhaps our response should be different. What say you?
     
    #1 evangelist6589, Aug 30, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 30, 2013
  2. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    What did Jesus do? Speak the truth and walk away. Do not engage.
     
  3. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    To equate what a bigger kid or group of kids do to a smaller kid who is unable to defend themselves and what happens here, is pretty silly. You're able to defend yourself. And who cares if they unfriend you on facebook?

    When someone makes a false accusation against you, what does the Bible say you should do?
    Matthew 5:10-12 - “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
     
  4. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Very well said my friend. This is not easy and those in the flesh will have a hard time with this advice as I do often but it is Biblical. Yes sometimes we place too much of an emphasis on Facebook and online environments.
     
  5. Zaac

    Zaac Well-Known Member

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    I will disagree. That's why the legal instances of cases of online bullying are on the rise I believe. I would venture that there is no difference betwen the helplessness that some may feel online when someone verbally attacks them and then a lot of others join in on it, than there is when a big kid physically attacks a smaller kid.

    Bullying is about power and power is about control. All bullies want to exert their power over another. Physical bullies use that power to, for example, take a kids lunch money. Online bullies use that power to, for example, to make someone quit posting certain things because of a difference of opinion.

    I don't think we should be so quick to dismiss the online bullying and it's effect.

    I've been in situations where it's been just me and Jesus standing against an entire board. And I just kept preaching the GOSPEL of love and truth. Some folks just aren't ready to deal with the attacks and they end up like

    Unfortunately, that type of bullying exists all over the place online, evenon what's supposed to be a Christian board filled with a display of our love one for another.
     
  6. salzer mtn

    salzer mtn Well-Known Member

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    ................
     
    #6 salzer mtn, Aug 30, 2013
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  7. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    My parents were "bullies", and I thank God for it.

    My teachers were "bullies", and I thank God for each of them.

    My pastors were "bullies", and I am grateful to God for it.

    My true friends are "bullies", and I praise God for them.

    Today the word "bully" is mis-defined and applied to any situation in which someone tries to tell someone how they should do something, that they should not do something, or that something they did is wrong.

    Certainly there is some true bullying going on.

    But to tell someone who comes on a public forum asking for advice something that they don't want to hear, is not bullying.
     
  8. salzer mtn

    salzer mtn Well-Known Member

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    As President Theodore Roosevelt would say, " Bully "
     
  9. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    I can only come to one conclusion -- they are yet in rebellion against holy God.
     
  10. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Every question and answer has a context. The question was posed by an adult, not a child. So the answer is in that context.

    I am certainly not downplaying childhood bullying.

    But if you're an adult and you think you're being bullied by people who respond online on a bulletin board or on facebook, you really ought to man up.
     
  11. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Galatians 5:22-23

    New International Version (NIV)

    22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
     
  12. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Very well said.
     
  13. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    What would Calvin do? Take them out and burn them at the stake.
     
  14. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    ^^^ That, right there! ^^^
     
  15. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    Actually, Calvin would recommend a sword, and that was for blasphemy against Christ.

    Geneva is who burned Servetus. Not saying he didn't deserve it.
     
    #15 Aaron, Aug 31, 2013
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  16. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    You are correct. Bullying only has the power the person receiving it gives them. Lets get real. Boo hoo hoo, I was called a name. Boo hoo, I am so offended. Lots of people need to get a life.
     
  17. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    When you tell some folks things they do not want to hear, they claim you are picking on them and bullying them.

    You don't want to be a crybaby like this guy;

    [​IMG]
     
  18. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    Amen! Well said!!! :thumbsup:
     
  19. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    Well well, we DO have some men around here!!!

    Very well said!

    The thing of finger pointing and calling out others as 'bullies' is simply a person shining a light on their own behavior as if it is superior. Said need to take a look at their own heart AND lose the PC attitude they've adopted and employed via the world system of thought. :wavey:
     
  20. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    And Jesus manifested those fruits when he called the Pharisees vipers, when he overturned tables in the temple, and when he became angry at unrighteousness.

    I exercise self-control almost every time I post. You do not want to see the first drafts of some of my posts.
     
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