Titus 2:1-6
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Someone shared a video on Facebook of what appeared to be a “tween-age” boy standing on a covered sidewalk at a middle school or junior high. This boy, who was fairly hefty in size, was approached by another young man – a somewhat scrawny and certainly smaller kid – who began to bully him. In fact, he punched the larger boy in the face as other children looked on and encouraged him. Then the larger boy lifted the bully – almost over his head - and slammed him into the concrete sidewalk. The bully slowly rose and literally limped away – clearly injured…hopefully not permanently.
I have to tell you, I was sorry I clicked on this video. I cannot erase this image from my mind. While I will be the first to say that there is no place for bullying – ever – I cannot agree that this retaliation was acceptable. It does not represent a disciplined life or solid doctrine in my book. What bothers me as much is that this video is being shared and presented in a somewhat “he-had-it-coming” light. I found myself feeling sorry for pint-sized aggressor.
Bullying is never acceptable or appropriate. But I believe that bullies act out of insecurity more than aggression. And this is where I feel that these verses from Titus are appropriate. What are we teaching our children? Are we building them up – or tearing them down – with our own behavior? What sort of example are we setting for each other? How are we relating to one another on a daily basis? Are we operating with dignity, temperance, patience and reverence? Do we strive to be good role models for children? Or do we gossip, cheat, lie, steal, and look down on others? Do we perpetuate the concept of bullying by our talk? Are we quick to criticize, belittle, and taunt others – if only in the privacy of our homes or vehicles?
Do we laugh at videos such as this one, pat each other on the shoulder and say, “That’ll teach him!”? Do others see us as someone who has a kind heart and a healthy respect for each person…or as someone who endorses undisciplined, ungodly behavior? Where exactly do you draw the line?
I believe these are all valid questions. And I believe that God has given us clear instructions on how we are to conduct our lives each day. We need to ask God to fill us with solid doctrine (i.e. a healthy understanding – and practice – of Jesus’ teachings)…and to guide us as we demonstrate this to others in our behavior, our speech, and our personal interactions. People are watching! When they look at you…who – and what – do they see?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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