Bullies and Bulls

 

 

Having recently photographed rutting bison fighting for dominance during their mating season, I've got a question. "Why are we surprised when kids bully other kids?"  

The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America was adopted in Congress on July 4th, 1776 with the words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,"

But in recent years we've demanded our schools eliminate references to the "Creator" who endowed us with "certain unalienable rights," that include "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."  

Forbidding instruction on "Intelligent Design" (as such lessons would require the admission of the existence of a "Supreme and Intelligent Designer") we've insisted every child in our schools learn a dumbed-down summation of evolutionary theory. Ask a kid to explain evolution and you'll get the same "sound-bite" answer: "Survival of the fittest. The strong eat the weak."

Kids who've never been taught to recognize the existence of their Creator have been carefully taught that the strong prey on the weak. They don't know their Creator, but they know a "pecking order" is observed throughout the Animal Kingdom.  They may not be unanimous in their convictions that their Creator endowed everyone with certain inalienable rights, but most kids have accepted their teacher's assurances regarding the ever-evolving-human-condition; "only the strong survive."

So when bullies brutalize and mean-girls gossip, when the "strong" taunt the "weak" and the "haves" care nothing for the "have-nots," should we be surprised?

What did we expect?

Our children aren't learning compassion, kindness and mercy from the mongrelized Darwinism we've force-fed American kids for decades. They won't know to "turn the other cheek," or "bear one another's burdens," or "love one another," or "deny themselves" if they don't know their Creator. They won't know the value of hard work or delayed gratification if they don't know their Creator. And without their Creator's instruction they'll live like the animals they've been told they are. Unaware of their Creator, they behave as if they're nothing more than rutting bison during mating season.

We've placed a higher value on teaching the next generation "only the strong survive," than on training people to live with a deep awareness that the "Creator" has stamped everyone with sacred worth, and endowed them with "certain unalienable rights," and "among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Jesus didn't say, "The strong should eat the weak."  His instruction was quite different and Paul mentioned Jesus' guidance when he said, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) 

I'm not saying things don't change; I'm saying we've not taught our children that no matter how much things change, their Creator has endowed everyone "with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." In this - our tragic failing - we've denied them knowledge of the soulish nature of their humanity, knowledge of the divine image they were given at their Creator's touch and awareness of the sacred worth of of every person they meet.

We're seeing the consequences of our failure played out in American society every single day. So, my question remains: "Why are we surprised when kids bully other kids?"  

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2 Thessalonians 3:8-10  -  We worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

Comments

[Charlie McGee]

Your post regarding bulls and bullies is right on target. Thank you for a cogent summation of the challenges we have and will continue to face.

[Amber Cox]

Well said!

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AMEN:

This is right on and Well written. Our creator does not get enough credit anymore and that is sad. I want to do more to bless and honor him. I have also shared this with dome other friends I think it needs to be shared.

RW

[bkv]

My pastor is the greatest thought processor-to word expressionist in the world!

[LW]

I read your blog and others from GCC with such admiration for your engagement with the culture and for spreading the compassion of Jesus. That is why I am always so sad to see you delve into the quagmire of so called intelligent "Design" and other issues on the right, and often far right, of the political spectrum. Linking teaching children about Jesus and his compassion with your opinion about teaching evolution is what drives people away from Christianity. Surely you can see that. What is sad is that others may not be able to. There are so many ways to teach children about compassion, even in public schools which can acknowledge the role of religion. Leave the design screeds to others.

At GCC you have a captive audience, albeit self-selected. I hope you will continue to advance the cause of compassion and hunt other game.
Blessings