Christian Beliefs about Peace and Conflict » Christian Attitudes to Bullying

Christians and bullying

In Bullying and Cyberbullying you learned what bullying is, why it happens and how society deals with it. Now we ask a different question: what do Christians say about it? The Bible has no single verse that says "do not bully". Instead Christians use its main teachings about how people should treat each other. They also believe it matters for the whole of society, because they are called to work towards a peaceful society, where people can live without fear or harm.

Key terms:

• Image of God: the Christian belief that every human being is made to reflect God, which gives each person great worth (Genesis 1:27).
• Golden Rule: Jesus' teaching to treat other people as you would want to be treated.
• Neighbour: in Jesus' teaching, anyone who needs help, not only the people who live next door or are like you.
• Outsider: a person who is left out, looked down on or treated as not belonging.

Made in God's image and loved by God

The Bible begins by saying that God made human beings in his own image (Genesis 1:27). Christians believe this means that every person has worth, whatever they look like, wherever they come from and whatever others say about them. Psalm 139:14 says that people are "fearfully and wonderfully made". Christians also believe that God loves every person.

This is the starting point for how Christians think about bullying. If every person is made in God's image and loved by God, then hurting someone with words, fists or messages is treating something precious as if it were worthless. Many Christians would say that this applies to the person being bullied, and also to the bully, who is still loved by God and can change.

The Golden Rule and love your neighbour

The Good Samaritan

A man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbour?" Jesus answered with a parable, a short story with a meaning (Luke 10:25-37). A traveller was beaten and left on the road. A priest and another religious man walked past on the other side. Then a Samaritan stopped, treated his wounds and paid for him to be looked after. In Jesus' time Jews and Samaritans were often enemies, so the story would have shocked its listeners.

Christians learn two things for bullying. First, it is not enough to say "I never hurt anyone", because the men who walked past did nothing. A bystander who ignores bullying has not followed the story. Second, your neighbour is whoever is in need, even if they are not your friend or are different from you.

Jesus and inclusion

Bullying often leaves people out because of who they are. The Gospels show Jesus doing the opposite. He ate with tax collectors, who were disliked by many people (Mark 2:15-17), and he spoke to a Samaritan woman at a well (John 4). He called Zacchaeus, a tax collector others despised, and went to his house (Luke 19:1-10). Paul also wrote that in Christ there is no difference in worth between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female (Galatians 3:28).

Christians use these examples to teach inclusion: welcoming people in and treating them as equals. Churches that teach inclusion say that nobody should be shut out because of their race, disability, appearance or background. This links to working towards a peaceful society: where people are left out and mocked, there is conflict, and where they are welcomed, there is more chance of peace. Jesus said that peacemakers are blessed (Matthew 5:9).

Christian responses and solutions

• Stand up for victims. The Good Samaritan did not walk by. Christians may speak up, stay with the person who is being hurt, and tell a trusted adult.
• Forgiveness with accountability. Christians teach forgiveness (you met it in Christian Peacemaking, Forgiveness and Pax Christi), so a bully who is truly sorry can be forgiven. But forgiving does not mean ignoring what happened. Jesus taught that a wrong should be faced honestly (Matthew 18:15), so the bully should still take responsibility and put things right.
• Church and youth-group action. Many churches and youth groups teach that everyone is welcome, have rules about how members must behave, and have safeguarding policies that protect children and young people. A youth leader can listen to someone who is being bullied and help them to get support.
• Prayer and support. Christians may pray for both the person bullied and the bully, and offer friendship to someone who feels alone.

Cyberbullying

The same teachings apply online. The Golden Rule does not stop at a screen, and a hurtful message is still treating a person made in God's image as worthless. Christians would say that sharing, liking or laughing at a cruel post makes you part of the bullying, and that a good neighbour reports it, supports the person targeted and refuses to join in. Because cyberbullying can follow someone home and be seen by many people, many churches and youth groups also teach young people how to use social media kindly.

Exam-style question

Paper 1, Peace and Conflict.

(a) Identify three types of bullying. [3 marks] (AO1)

(b) Choose one religion. Outline two Christian teachings that could be used to oppose bullying. [4 marks] (AO1)

(c) Explain why Christians believe it is important to include people who are left out. [6 marks] (AO1, AO2)

(d) "Religious teachings are the best way to stop bullying." Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks] (AO1, AO2)

Recap

• Christians believe every person is made in God's image and loved by God, so bullying is wrong.
• The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), loving your neighbour and the Good Samaritan teach kindness and not walking past.
• Jesus' care for outsiders teaches inclusion, which helps build a peaceful society.
• Christian responses include standing up for victims, forgiveness with accountability and church and youth-group action, also against cyberbullying.