bits from bob....
bits from bob....
Have you ever known a bully? The person who would rather fight than talk. Fight makes right! Control the world by threats. The picture is not limited to the immature adolescent who seeks to control his world by threatening others. Bullying happens in the political world, the social world, among governments. Unfortunately, it also happens in the religious world. We speak of the "bully pulpit." We could equally well describe bully letters, bully e-mails, and bully publications.
I simply do not understand why anyone would seek to be adversarial on purpose! Perhaps I am too much of a pacifist, but Jesus did say, did he not, "Blessed are the peacemakers"? Some people upset with the conditions around them seek change by fighting. It's not hard to justify such. After all, didn't Jesus drive the moneychangers out of the temple?
Recently I felt the barbs of bullying. An e-mail questioning my integrity was forwarded to me. Perhaps that I was not included on the original recipient list was an oversight! No reason was given as to why my integrity might be called in question. No support for the insinuation that I might say one thing and do another.
Those who know me know that I do not write these words for me. My heart aches that the church is failing to sound a viable voice in our lost and dying world. Today, I want to do something that matters eternally. Will you join me in that pursuit?
