† Hazing †

Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ’Matthew 20:10–12 ESV

The first day that I entered Conway High School as a freshman, I learned about the time-honored tradition of hazing. The upperclassmen would take the freshman and mutilate their hair with scissors or knives, beat them up, spit on them and just basically humiliate and degrade them. The teachers just looked the other way. Hurt people will hurt other people and each year the cycle gets passed to the next generation and begins again. I thought it was some sort of sick emotional rape and refused to be a part of it as I moved up in grades. Sadly enough, this type of behavior happens in the church. In Acts 15:19some of the believers wanted the Gentiles who were coming to Jesus, like the household of Cornelius, to be circumcised like they were in order to be saved. "We need to make them pay the price like we did!" The apostles had a meeting and decided to “not make it difficult” for those who are turning to God, instead of intentionally making it difficult. I should not even have to write this, but don’t make it difficult for those turning to the Lord. For God’s sake, be nice and don’t be judgmental when people ask for prayer. Don’t let your past church abuse cause you to abuse others. Don’t let your vast knowledge humiliate and belittle the newcomers as you once were. Build them up, encourage them, restore them, help them up when they fall. If you love one another, you will be known as a disciple of Jesus (John 13:35). Take no part in hazing.