Confronting Mean People
Regretfully, everyone has to deal with rude individuals occasionally. A lengthy list of immoral actions is found in Romans 1:28–30. These actions include slander, insolence, cruelty, gossip, and malice. These are all distinct aspects of meanness, and we will inevitably come across individuals in this society who are motivated by meanness. There are many different reasons why people are unkind, and many of them have nothing to do with the target of the meanness. Rather than being a logical response to others around him, cruel behavior is frequently a person’s internal issues coming out. However, it hurts and demoralizes to be the target of nasty behavior. How does the Bible respond to this? What does the Bible teach about responding to those who are cruel to us?
Dealing with mean people – Empathy
Empathy is the initial appropriate response to nasty individuals, particularly if it’s the first offense or altercation. In order to resolve a quarrel, gentle attempts to comprehend and empathize to the hurt that lies behind the meanness work far better than aggressive approaches. The way Jesus responded to people who had crucified Him and cast lots for His garments is one of the most exquisite instances of empathy found in the Bible. This is a vivid example since the treatment Jesus was receiving went much beyond simple cruelty; rather, it was torture and injustice. But even so, He considered their spiritual state rather than His own suffering. Rather of reacting with righteous indignation, He prayed to God for forgiveness of their foolish deeds. Stephen, the first martyr in the church, used such strategy.
Dealing with mean people – Confrontation
It is our duty to respond to others with compassion and empathy at all times. We are expected to be peaceful and to “turn the other cheek”; being rude to someone who is unkind to us simply makes things worse. However, the Bible advises confronting the cruel person if they are a Christian. Of course, everyone sins. Although, as James noted, “we all stumble in many ways,” Matthew 18:15–17 instructs us to address a habit of meanness. When our brothers and sisters transgress against us, we ought to address them in a spirit of reconciliation. In order to remind the offending Christian that his actions do not align with his professed beliefs, we should bring along a few more devout Christians if they refuse to listen. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, the local church is consulted. The relationship has altered, yet he should be treated as an unbeliever if he doesn’t listen to the entire group. No hostility or revenge is necessary.
Dealing with mean people – Humility
Remind yourself that you are the cruel person occasionally. Avoid becoming like the unforgiving servant described in Matthew 18:21–35, a parable spoken by Jesus. A servant’s master owed him a tremendous sum that he would never be able to repay. The loan was entirely erased by the master. But the servant went to another servant who owed him a little money and made him pay! When the debtor was unable to pay, the servant put him in jail! When the master learned about it, he became enraged. The master reinstated the unforgiving servant’s original debt and threw him in jail. We should always try to remember, when people are mean to us, that we owed God a huge debt. He forgave us, and we can forgive others.
📌FOR FURTHER STUDY
📖 What The Bible Says About Dealing With Difficult People