Cyberbullying has made the news again. Peers have found new ways to use media to torment others. While the bullying happens online it has real life consequences. In this case Hollywood is speaking out and I feel that the Church must as well. Here’s the truth… what Hollywood is saying to people who are being tormented may appear to offer a bit of relief but it does not give these hurting and searching students lasting hope. Their response does not show those hurting the TRUTH. The only lasting hope and true purpose for one’s life is found in Jesus Christ alone. Any other comfort is superficial and situational.
Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University, committed suicide on Wednesday. Click here to read more about what happened. This young man felt he had no hope. It’s too late for us to reach out to him but there are so many others around us who are hurting, confused, and LOST. We have a responsibility to share the Truth and hope that can be found in Christ alone.
My heart hurts as I think on this… especially when I see that Tyler posted to his facebook what he was going to do. I so wish someone could have responded and stopped him. That someone could have been there in time to tell him, not this pseudo message of hope from Holywood as well meaning as it is, but the true message of life changing and sustaining HOPE. However, we can’t dwell on this or we will become defeated.
What happened is awful and if I were honest, how this happened makes me angry. What his roommate did is inexcusable. In fact, his responses to the consequences of his callus act remind me of Cain’s response to God in Genesis 4:9. “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” My study Bible says this about this verse, “When the Lord confronts Cain with his crime, his coldhearted nature causes him to deny any knowledge about his brother. Cain shows no sign of remorse.” I found myself questioning how someone could be so cruel. There will be consequences for both him and his friend. This cannot be where we camp out when we look at this or we will become bitter and revengeful.
The cruelness of this act can and should call us to action but we must respond with compassion. In a hurting world we must show JESUS and His love. I’m reminded of the lyrics in a Brooke Fraser song called Albertine. “Now that I have seen, I am responsible… Faith without deeds is dead… I will tell the world, I will tell them where I’ve been. I will keep my word… I will tell them Albertine.” We must respond to what is happening. We must give feet to our Faith. We must respond as God would have us respond. We can’t sugar coat Truth nor should we want to keep silent. I think of it like this… If we were in a burning building and found the only way out wouldn’t we want to help as many out as we could? Cyberbullying and the other horrific things happening in our world are burning those around us… creating scars… There is really only one True Way out. The world around us is Lost and without Hope… will you stand up and show them the way to Eternal Life?! John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
I want to close with what I believe our response to this should be. This isn’t just some random collection of my thoughts… this is straight from Scripture (emphasis mine).
Romans 12: 9-21 (NLT): “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.“
