Everyone has felt picked on. (I assume that to be a reasonably accurate statement, don’t you?)
Too easily and too often, though, we feel picked on when we shouldn’t.
So, in the interest of clarifying that statement (as well as in the interest of helping you not feel picked on when you shouldn’t), I offer up four measuring sticks to answer this question:
Are “they” picking on you?
- If they are just fault-finding, yes.
- If they are sincerely concerned about you, no.
- If they want to know your view instead of assuming to know it, no.
- If they want you to tell them more about The Issue in order to balance their own views, no
Does that makes sense to you like it does to me?
But what if you truly are being picked on?
What are godly responses to being picked on?
- Pray blessing on them.
- Be open to what might apply to you anyway.
- Forgive them.
- Look for the opportunities to love them.
- Reject anger, bitterness, self-pity, vengefulness, and further fault-finding.
- Don’t gossip or resort to evil speaking of them.
- Remember: Any “lumps” you get actually are less than you deserve.