Have you ever been a bully? Have you ever treated someone with disrespect and felt indignant about it, like it was your right to do so? Perhaps you've convinced yourself of the thought that "they deserve it," and you're justified in your actions toward them. Let's be honest. We've all done it. We were all wrong in doing it. And deep down, we all knew we shouldn't be acting like that the whole time.

Geoff Spencer, the male lead in my novel, Pandora's Deed, was a terrible bully in middle and high school. He made fun of appearances, socioeconomic status, and life situations just so he could have a good laugh. But I knew when I wrote the first character sketch that I wanted his adult character to be good, pure, and completely changed. I wanted to show the possibility that someone who was driven by hate and insecurity could learn to walk in love and service, and to show the many blessings that come from embracing true Christianity.

True Christianity. Now that's a thought. It implies first that there are false ideas about Christianity floating out there. Surely that's not true... except Scripture warns us MANY times that false teachers are out there. And sadly, many of us are falling prey to a new brand of them, a group that seems to believe that Christianity and bullying go hand-in-hand.

It makes me think about what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11. He told the Christians in Corinth, "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ." He said, "If someone comes and proclaims another Jesus..." that they "put up with it readily enough."

Paul fought tirelessly, in his words, to "undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do." What he's saying is there are people wearing the name of Christ who say they're doing their works according to Christ's wishes and will, but they aren't. They are false teachers!

Paul says they are "false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of light," and that "no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." He says, "It is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness."

So I ask you, are you testing the people you choose to follow by the actual red-letter words of Jesus? Are their words and actions a mirror of the savior, or are they mirrors of the bullies we've seen involved in greed, intimidation, and despicable actions throughout history? Would you stand by and watch someone be thrown in an arena to be devoured by lions just because you didn't like them as a person? Make no mistake, we are all not far from having that kind of hate in our hearts. We have to consciously be sure to make sure the real, true essence of Christ is in our hearts.

And we do this by making a constant comparison to who Jesus was and making sure our actions emulate them. That's why, when I started developing Geoff Spencer's character, I turned to three of my favorite passages in Scripture

First, Luke 4:18-19. Here, Jesus returns to Nazareth and stood up to read at the synagogue. He chose these words from Isaiah:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has annointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Second, the Beattitudes, Matthew 5:2-12, which offers blessings to the poor in spirit, mourning, meek, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers.

And third, Matthew 25:31-45. "Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

So, I also ask you this, are you engaging in red-letter kindness? Do you follow Christ in proclaiming the good news to the poor? Do you visit the strangers, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and share the gospel to help free the oppressed in the world?

At the beginning of his story, Geoff Spencer couldn't answer that question with a yes. But he changed! And you see the blessings of that change, not just in Pandora's Deed, but throughout all the Humbled Goddess stories as he interacts with the others in his community who are suffering. Every positive interaction opens a door to spread the gospel even further.

In closing, here's a challenge. Jesus spread His message through genuine, kind, and powerful interactions with real people, and you can, too! How about making an effort every day to complete five red-letter acts of true kindness? Toward your spouse and children. Toward your neighbors. Toward the cashier at the grocery store. Toward your boss. Toward the complete stranger standing on the other side of the gas station pump.

Take the time. Make the effort. Change the world.