On Bullies and Bullying



Yes, there are bullies everywhere—even in church.  But what are we supposed to do with bullies? Usually most churches do nothing with their resident bullies and they tend to ruin the church in various ways.  I believe the scriptures will help us with three things.  And further—these three things are also a process that I have put in a certain order.





  1. Love covers a multitude of sins: 1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”  This is the first and the greatest step…love!  Love the bullying out of them!  Ask God to heal them.
  2. Use the process outlined in Matthew 18:15-18 (NIV) Dealing With Sin in the Church15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
    1. Go the person one on one —pointing out the sin so that you might win them over!  Here I also think of Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV) 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
    2. Bring another witness, if the bullying doesn’t stop.  
    3. If after those attempts the bully keeps bullying—-tell the church!
  3. Remove the bully!  Titus 3:10-11 (NIV) 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.



Let’s face it—no one likes a bully!  I don’t believe that the Bible is silent on this issue—perhaps we shouldn’t be either!

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