Reason #4, Victimhood
The American social justice movements today are immense diversions leading people away from thinking about Jesus and believing the gospel. One of their diversional tactics is to foster a victimhood mentality and a sense of entitlement. When a person lays claim to victimhood a barrier is erected preventing him from taking responsibility for his sins. Hence, he will never see the need to believe and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, there is no atonement, no redemption, nor the preaching of repentance within social justice scholarship. After all, social justice defines reality in social, economic and political terms; not in biblical terms. Social justice activism claims people are oppressed from realizing the utopia they deserve. It fosters bitterness and victimhood. From heaven’s perspective, there is grave spiritual danger in playing the victim game.
The Victim Card: As Old As Sin
Sinners will frequently cast off responsibility for their own sins by blaming others and assuming a victim mentality. This is the default mindset for all sinners, and many of us can relate. Since the beginning of time, many have succumbed to a victim mindset. For example, in the Garden of Eden, Eve shunned accountability for her own sin, blaming the serpent, while her husband, Adam, blamed God AND the woman for his own transgression.
“’Then the man said, the woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree…’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate,’” (Genesis 3:12-13)
Each laid claim to his or her victim status by proclaiming it was someone else’s fault! The victim will always say, “It’s because of others that I am depressed, discontent and bitter.” “It’s because of others that I am angry and don’t have my wants.” “It’s because of an unloving God that I am suffering.” This describes the default mindset of sinners and herein lies the spiritual danger. It is impossible for a person who has internalized a victim mindset and is accustomed to throwing pity parties, to accept responsibility for his own actions and repent of his sins.
The Victim Mentality in Scripture
The Bible is clear. The godly do not entertain a victimhood mentality, ever. God commands and expects His children to persevere in spite of any circumstance they may find themselves in. God’s children are described as “overcomers by the blood of the lamb” and as those who “do not love their lives to the death,” (Rev. 12:11). The godly person is little in his own eyes and is in service to a greater cause.
Ezekiel, God’s prophet of old, told the captive children of Israel in Babylon to stop playing the victim. Instead He demanded them to humble themselves and overcome through faithful perseverance in a foreign land. But the children were following the poor examples of Adam and Eve and were blaming others for their sins and circumstances. They even craftily created a widely circulated proverb within their community; it was the meme of their time.
“The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” (Ezekiel 18:1; see also Jeremiah 31:29)
This proverb was created as a community rallying cry to victimhood and self-loathing pity. Victimhood became their idol, which is why both Ezekiel and Jeremiah were sent by God to reprove them. The meaning of the proverb among God’s people was this: “Our current circumstances are the result of our father’s actions.” In other words, “Our fathers were rotten to the core, and we, the children, have been victimized as a result. Woe is me!” God’s people believed they inherited the sins of the previous generation. Hence, they had become embittered victims and displeasing to God. The Lord responded to this ungodly mentality as strongly as He could, swearing by Himself and correcting their misguided notion:
“’As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel… The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.’” (Ezekiel 18:2, 20)
God’s rebuke was clear. In spite of the perception they had of their circumstances, the Omnipotent One expected a higher ethic from them. He expected them to settle in, be faithful, and persevere. They were to be anchored to the words of the Almighty who works things out in His own time. Instead, Judah was playing the victim and having a collective pity party. This attitude is a disgrace to any people and a poison to godly living. Today, the collective victim mentality of supposedly oppressed identity groups, as they are defined by social justice scholarship, are hopeless to be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb as long as they continue to embrace victimhood.
What to Expect from Darkness
This does not mean there is a shortage of suffering taking place in this broken world. All men will suffer various forms of malevolence in life. This is expected because spiritual darkness dominates this completely broken world. After all, the wrath of God abides on it (2 Peter 3:10-13). Hence, God’s children should not marvel in jaw dropping awe when they see injustices. The reality is: suffering is the plight of all in this life.
“If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them,” (Ecclesiastes 5:8).
Decision Time
Since all are suffering in various ways on this side of eternity, what sort of burden will you carry and suffer for? Will you bear the burdens and suffer for the causes of the social justice warrior in the fight for economic, political, and social egalitarianism? Friends, this way only leads to anger, discord, depression, and strife. There is a better and more fulfilling way to pursue. While unrepentant and distracted men and women drink of the cup of God’s wrath in this life, you can choose to suffer as a Christian. Through humble submission and appreciation for what God has done on the cross you can have joy and peace even in times of persecution and various trials in life, if need be. You can become strongly convicted and anchored in something eternally enduring in the heavens. Instead of throwing pity parties and adopting a victim mentality, the Christian will have a martyr’s mindset for things eternal, even in times of divine judgement on the earth.
“And the smoke of their [ungodly men] torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever received the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)
The victim mentality is foreign to biblical Christianity and is another reason Christians should not participate in the American social justice movements of today. The Christian will not suffer as an evildoer (1 Peter 4:15). As the saying goes, play the victim and you will always be a victim. But there is hope! You can change your story. You can set down your heavy, heavy burden and pick up the light yoke and the easy burden of Jesus Christ. Be persuaded to the higher calling. Victimhood is yet another reason to refuse participation in social justice activism.
This series is written by Michael (Mike) Hernandez and is endorsed by Five Minute Bible Study. If you have any questions about the subject, you are welcome to contact Mike at michaelhernande@yahoo.com.
