Bullying. It has to stop

The topic of bullying has seen a great amount of discussion in London and Madison County this week. The news of what happened last week has spread like wildfire through dry sagebrush. Bullying has always been around. It started with Cain and Abel back in the Old Testament, back when the world was still young and fresh. And probably, many of you who are reading this have been bullied yourself. Or, you were the one who did the bullying. In either scenario, it doesn’t play out well.

I remember being bullied in grade school — that’s when it started for me. I’ve always been a “big” kid — you know, “big bones” and all that stuff. Well, the kids in grade school didn’t care about my “big bones,” no — all they cared about was teasing me because I was fat. There … I’ve said it. I was fat. Not “big-boned” or “husky” or “pudgy” or any of the other names we want to give someone who has a weight problem. I was fat and they wanted to make sure I didn’t forget it. It was an almost every day occurrence in my life. And many days I did not want to go to school either.

So, what is different about today? Why does bullying lead to people taking their life? Do you want my opinion? Here it is. You can stop reading right now if you really don’t want to know what I think. O.K. I have given you the “disclaimer” so here’s my opinion. It’s because we have taken God out of our families and out of our schools and out of our society. We are not a Christian nation any longer. And … we are only one generation away from being a heathen nation. Now, I know that won’t “set right” with some of you.

There was a meeting at our church on Wednesday night. And we have taken “first steps” to deal with this bullying problem. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight. We didn’t get to where we are overnight. But, I believe that God has a work to do right here in London, Ohio. And I believe it’s going to start right now. It might even be called “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” (That’s not original but you get the idea.) We’re going to try to bring some sense out of a tragic death. We’re going to try to bring “beauty of out ashes.” We’re going to attempt to honor Hailey Petee so her life will never be forgotten. And … we’re going to try to get God back in our homes, back in our schools and back in our community. We ask for your prayers as we take our “first steps.” (More to come about this next week.)

Pastor Thad Gifford is the founding and lead pastor of the Crossroads Community Church, 62 E. Second St., London. He can be reached at (740) 852-7800, e-mail him at sermon8er@aol.com or at their website www.3c-church.org.