Several weeks ago, I posted an article that spotlighted the negative repercussions of bullying in the workplace. We usually think that bullying is mere child’s play. Unfortunately, in many instances–especially when students and children are involved–bullying can be fatal.
In a moving, personal plea, Fort Worth city councilman Joel Burns encourages students who have been victimized by bullying to be hopeful despite their hardships. Burns does so after noting that bullying in his community led to several teen suicides.
The speech–about 13 minutes long–is worth your time. Please be mindful that it is uncensored and may not be suitable for children.
Even though the speech is not Christian in nature, it should encourage all churches to be ambassadors of reconciliation wherever bullying is present, especially when it makes such an impact on our children and families.
Churches should also be safe places for all people–the BGLT community included–because churches can teach children and youth how to rightly include all people who are in need of God’s love. When bullying means one child telling another, “You’re a faggot and you’re going to hell,” the language invokes a theological message. Whatever church preached this type of message couched in this type of theology has failed both children because such language misses the mark of offering the Gospel–Good news–to those who need it most. And children have to get their theology from somewhere.
Baptist Spirituality 
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