Psalm 129:1-8

Israel is no stranger to bullying. Bullying is not an isolated phenomenon; it exists in every society and every age, especially among those void of God. History is filled with stories of the conqueror and the conquered. That is the M.O. of this world’s system. The bully seeks to harm, intimidate, or coerce someone who is perceived as vulnerable. The strong prey on the weak. Mankind is born with a sin nature that is selfish at its core, and without the touch of God, it operates by the law of the jungle—eat or be eaten.

Yet there is this kingdom, not of this world, that seeks to bring light into our darkness. It is a kingdom motivated by love and forgiveness, not greed or hate. It operates quite differently from the one we are accustomed to each and every day, and we are invited to switch camps. Doing so does not mean the problems will go away—in fact, sometimes they get worse—for the other side seeks to beat us into submission through threats and violence. They lose their power when they lose their element of fear and control over us.

When we consider the language of the Bible, we see that Jesus’ mission was a rescue mission. We have been delivered and redeemed; He paid a ransom for us. We were captives of war who were set free through Christ.

The Gospel message is a liberating one, often met with skepticism and reluctance because of our experiences in this world. Yet Scripture states that it is within every man to know there is a God. There is something deep down in our soul—a small measure of faith—that tells us He is true. Yet even in many religious circles, we see this bullying element at play through self righteous and pharisaical behavior that demonstrates everything God isn’t. They portray God as if He is like them—which He is not. Religious wars are often the most vicious and violent because of the absolute hatred expressed toward the opposing side. Yet Scripture states:

“If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.4.20.NLT

No wonder people are confused. Most believe in God but are turned away by those who claim Him yet live diametrically opposed to Him.

Somewhere along the line, I decided to get to know God personally and not just take people’s word for it. I got my nose in the Bible and discovered that God is quite loving—love incarnate. He is full of mercy, grace, and compassion, and waits for us to turn to Him. I found that even in my darkest moments—when I judged myself unworthy and deserving of judgment—I was met with acceptance and found myself in the loving arms of the Father. Forgiveness truly is the path forward in God—asking for it, granting it, and receiving it. This is only possible through Him. We are able to love because He first loved us. Such is our example to follow.