Ask Your Preacher - Archives

Ask Your Preacher - Archives

“Bullycide”

Categories: CHILDREN, HEAVEN & HELL, RELATIONSHIPS
There's a lot in the news about bullycide, where a school kid is driven to suicide by cruel bullies.  What if the bullied kid was driven so crazy by bullying that he couldn't control his urge to escape the abuse?  What if he never had the chance to accept Christ as Savior and might end up in hell?  Does God hold the bully responsible for the death?  How can the parents forgive their kid's killer knowing that the bully might have driven their child to hell?  Why should the bully get the chance to be saved that he denied his victim?

Sincerely,
Looking For Justice

Dear Looking For Justice,

There are several things to consider here:

  1. All children go to heaven.  Read “What About The Children” for further information.
  2. If someone is old enough to be considered a ‘young adult’ and responsible for their own choices before God, we can have confidence that God will not let anyone be tempted beyond what they are able (1 Cor 10:13).  There is no such thing as a sin that can’t be escaped.
  3. If the bully is another child, we refer back to point #1.  But ultimately, yes, all bullies and malicious people are held accountable for their choices (Rom 14:12).
  4. Nobody can deny someone else the opportunity to go to heaven.  Jesus died for the sins of all mankind (Jhn 3:16).  We all work out our own salvation (Php 2:12), and no one can take that opportunity away from us.