James 2:6 KJV
[6] “But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?”
A bully is someone we expect to face out in the schoolyard or hallway but never in the church. It’s hard to believe that there are bullies in church, but sadly they do exist. James is not going to let the matter rest. There are people in the church who will attempt to buy their way to the top. But, if that doesn’t work, they will use bullying as a way to get where they want to be. They don’t care who they must step on to gain their desired position.
Many churches are hindered by people who feel that they have ownership over a class, a treasury account, or even the man of God. We cannot allow a church member to bully other members just because they have deep pockets or a lofty position in the church. Having family members buried in the church cemetery for the past seventy-five years does not give them the right to run the church. A spiritual saint is marked by humility and submission.
Church bullies hinder the work of God and discourage the people of God. They oppress the saints with their words and with their actions. They pressure those within the church to do as they say or vote the way they feel. Only those who are loyal to them will be accepted. Church bullies must be reprimanded, which is a big task for the man of God, so he needs the support of the congregation.
The desire is to see them repent and change their ways by knowing their place in the body of Christ. The simple truth is that the only way to defeat bullies is to stand up to them. They will either leave or learn a life lesson that will change their character. James was not afraid to deal with the issue, and we must be the same way.