Eden Church

Key Summary

1. Workplace bullying is a misuse of power that causes real physical and emotional harm.
2. The Christian response combines protection for the vulnerable with calls to servanthood by leaders.
3. Scripture teaches that authority is not domination but humble service (Matthew 20:25-28).
4. Practical steps include clear boundaries, accountability structures, and pastoral care for victims and offenders.
5. The gospel brings both justice and restoration—discipline and healing can coexist under grace.

The Problem We Face: Naming Workplace Bullying

In recent seasons many have become painfully aware that conflict at work is not always a matter of personality or stress, but sometimes a pattern of behavior that uses position to harm another. Workplace bullying is when someone with greater authority or informal power repeatedly causes physical or psychological harm, or creates an intolerable environment. The Christian community cannot be indifferent to this reality. When people speak of forced proximity, coercion, shaming or safety risks arising in places of employment, the call of the church is to listen, to believe victims where warranted, and to bring biblical wisdom to bear. In plain terms, this sin injures the image of God in another human being and corrupts the calling of work as a domain for human flourishing.

• It often involves repeated actions, not a single lapse.
• It exploits power differences — formal title or informal influence.
• It harms the whole community by undermining trust and safety.

👉 Apply: Pay attention to the voices of those who feel unsafe; create a habit of asking, "Are you okay?" and believing answers without defensiveness.

Power and Its Temptations: A Biblical Diagnosis

Scripture repeatedly warns that power can tempt leaders to domineer rather than to serve. The Lord Jesus himself corrected the disciples who vied for prestige, teaching that true greatness is found in humble service. Authority in God’s kingdom is stewardship, not ownership. When authority becomes self-serving, it wounds those entrusted to our care and distorts the mission of the community. Recognizing this is the first step toward correction. We must name patterns: isolation of a person, repeated public humiliation, enforced situations that cause fear, and any behavior that risks physical safety. These are not merely human resources problems; they are moral issues that call for pastoral and communal response.

• Watch for isolation tactics and enforced proximity that remove choice.
• Notice patterns — frequency and severity matter.
• Distinguish personal conflict from abuse of position.

👉 Apply: If you lead, ask: "How might my position pressure others?" Name three concrete ways to reduce that pressure this week.

The Call to Serve: Scripture and Example

“(Matthew 20:25–28, ESV) Jesus called them and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”

That passage sets the standard: leadership is measured by service, not by coercion. The gospel demands that those in authority protect the dignity of those they oversee. This includes ensuring safe working conditions, respecting boundaries, and responding swiftly to complaints. The church models this when leaders submit to accountability and when the community gives pastoral care to those harmed. Pastoral love does not excuse abuse; it calls it to account while offering a path to repentance and restoration.

• Leaders must be accountable to others, not above them.
• The congregation must support victims and hold systems accountable.
• Repentance should be accompanied by concrete repair and safeguards.

👉 Apply: Encourage your workplace or church to adopt transparent grievance channels and an external review when necessary.

Practical Protections: Structures That Reflect Justice

The Christian response must be practical as well as theological. Protection of the vulnerable requires clear policies, trained listeners, and a culture that does not reward power-abuse. This includes: written procedures for complaints, non-retaliation commitments, access to impartial investigators, and pastoral support that keeps confidentiality and safety in balance. Justice and mercy work together: systems provide justice; pastoral care extends mercy without enabling harm. Congregations and Christian workplaces can lead by example, showing that moral courage and administrative wisdom go hand in hand.

• Establish clear reporting routes with independent oversight.
• Train supervisors in healthy boundaries and conflict de-escalation.
• Create a care plan for affected employees that includes safety and counseling.

👉 Apply: Advocate for one change in your workplace or church policy this month — a safeguard that protects a vulnerable person.

Healing, Accountability, and Hope

When harm has occurred, the path forward requires three things: truthful acknowledgment, justice that protects, and a hope-filled plan for restoration. The church must not avoid hard questions: where were safeguards absent? How can leaders be reformed? What restitution is owed? At the same time, the gospel invites transformation: offenders can repent, victims can find care, and communities can rebuild trust. Our faith holds both the demand for accountability and the promise of renewal. The goal is not merely punishment but the restoration of dignity and the prevention of future harm.

• Acknowledge the truth plainly and listen to those hurt.
• Apply just consequences while offering pastoral pathways to repentance.
• Create systems that learn from failure and protect the vulnerable going forward.

👉 Apply: Pray for courage to name injustice, and commit to one concrete act that supports a person harmed by power — a visit, a call, or an advocacy step.

Lord, we bring before you those who feel small and unsafe beneath the weight of another's power. Teach our hearts to protect the vulnerable, to lead by serving, and to hold one another accountable with love. Bring healing where there has been harm, repentance where there has been abuse, and wisdom to build workplaces and churches that reflect your justice and mercy. We ask for courage to act and the grace to forgive when restoration is possible. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.