Victim thinking is the mindset of the devil

What is the difference between victimhood and victimization?

Let’s start this with an open heart and mind seeking the truth from God’s word and come together in order to reason like men.

Is there evil in the world? Yes, most certainly.
Do bad things happen to good people? Yes, but that was a trick question, as Jesus said there is no one good except God.
Have some in this room (if not all) have been a victim at some time or another in our life? Yes, without question.

So, how do we or should we respond biblically?

God’s word: The Truth shall set us free

A Victim:
1) Has been: Abused, suffered loss, rejected, mistreated, incarcerated, disapproved of, disappointed, suffered illness, injured and/or mistaken.

2) Feels: Helpless, alone, afraid, trapped, hopeless, vulnerable, angry, depressed, unacceptable, like a failure.
3) Becomes: Self-protective, Insecure, defensive, guarded, low self-esteem, closed minded, controlling, manipulative, self-destructive and/or harmful to others.
4) Needs Pain Relief: Drugs, alcohol, violence, abuse, defies authority, sexual addictions, isolates, blames others (blames God), suicidal and or Murder.
A Victor:
1) Has been: Abused, suffered loss, rejected, mistreated, incarcerated, disapproved of, disappointed, suffered illness, injured and/or mistaken.
2) Will: Ask for help, seek healthy relationships, be teachable, plan ahead, be hopeful, take healthy risks, talk it out, persevere under trial, desires healing, admits their mistakes.
3) Becomes: Able to set healthy boundaries, secure, open to new ideas, willing to learn, able to like themselves, trusting, a friend, employable and repentant.
4) Faces (copes) with Pain: Becomes comfortable with pain, emotions, accepts other’s views, becomes honest, seeks education, is accountable, free from addiction, enjoys other people, accepts responsibility, and finds God (and forgiveness).

What is victim mentality?

If you have a victim mentality, you will see your entire life through a perspective that things constantly happen ‘to’ you. Victimisation is thus a combination of seeing most things in life as negative, beyond your control, and as something you should be given sympathy for experiencing as you ‘deserve’ better. At its heart, a victim mentality is actually a way to avoid taking any responsibility for yourself or your life. By believing you have no power then you don’t have to take action.

What is the distinction between being a victim vs victim mentality?

Before we go any further in this discussion let us make the clear distinction that there is such a thing as an innocent victim: Such a person suffers (exclusively) because of another person’s sin.

Scripture is clear that oppressing innocent victims is condemned by God (Zech 7:9-10; Jesus himself: James 2:6; Is 53:6-7; Lk 23:15-6; Acts 3:14-15; Christians: 1 Peter 2:19). Let us not discard that people can be innocent victims. We can suffer unjust evil at the hands of others.

“The foremost victim of human history never adopted the victim mentality … the New Testament commands Christians to have this same attitude.”

— The Gospel Coalition

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

A Look at Scripture

The Bible doesn’t encourage a victim mentality
First, by the life of Jesus and false accusations and murdering him, even though he was innocent. The foremost victim of human history never adopted the victim mentality.
Some verses: Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 2:21-23; Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 2:21-24 and Luke 23:34
The Victim Mentality distorts our view of reality
We tend to see things through a negative lens
This can lead us to anger and bitterness
This can be a breeding ground for fruit of the sinful nature
3. It Blinds us to our own sin and our need for a Savior
In other words, it can often blind us to our own sin.
So, when we blind ourselves to our own sin, then we are blind to the need for a Savior. We lack the call to be in a vertical mindset and repent daily and be in relationship with the Author of life.
4. It Disempowers us
Let’s be honest, when we adopt victim mentality it removes nearly all the initiative to improve our situation. We lose the ability to positively influence our circumstances and better our lives.
5. It Steals the Joy Out of Our Lives
A victim mentality not only distorts and magnifies our difficulties, it also minimises our blessings. If we only see our difficulties (and are frustrated by them), we won’t look around long enough to notice our blessings.
Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 2:6-7 and Romans 5:3-5. We can rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering achieves for us our ultimate end - to be more Christlike.
6. It Damages Relationships
If we are in relationships with victim mentality persons, then we can see situations where the victim mentality person won’t take responsibility for their actions in the relationship. The mindset goes that they are innocent and the other is guilty.

A Better Mindset for Us All:

Entrust your life to God while doing good. The Bible is always right while society say me, me, me.
Austrian Psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl discovered—amid the horrors of Auschwitz, no less—that no matter what our circumstances, we are response-able. As image bearers of a creative God, we have personal agency: the ability to take initiative, to choose our response, and to act wisely no matter what we face.
The Apostle Peter puts it this way, “1 Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” When Peter writes to Christians suffering persecution: let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

We are called to a Royal Priesthood

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. - Isaiah 1:17

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27

We currently offer three classes in the studio to help you experience the joy and community of ceramics.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. - 1 Peter 2:9

The Victim Mentality is Not New

Since the beginning of creation, from the first sin of Adam and Eve, our sinful nature entices us to do what is easy for the flesh, including adopting a victimhood mentality. Going all the way back to Genesis 3, what did Adam and Eve do when confronted with their sin? They played the victim. “Well, Lord, it's this woman. She's the one to blame.” Then the woman said about the serpent, “He’s the one to blame.” Adam blames his wife, Eve blames the serpent, but notice what Adam says in verse 12, “The woman you gave to be with me.” Who is Adam really blaming here? Adam is blaming God.

In our sinful nature, we are quick to think this way.

The Biblical Way To Overcome Victim Mentality And Be A Victor

You can overcome victim mentality through a relationship with Christ and the Word of God. In this article I will discuss what a victim mentality is and show you how you can be free to live as a victor instead of a victim.

Let’s begin with the basics. Changing how you think is an important part of being a Christian. Numerous scriptures challenge us to look into our thinking.

1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us “But we have the mind of Christ.”

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

We are not supposed to just go on in the same way thinking the same old thoughts. We are to change our mindset! Do you have the mindset of a victim or a victor?

Examples of those who were victimized and overcame in Scripture

Jesus Christ - of all the people in the history of the world that can truly declare victimhood, it is Jesus and we see that he clearly rejects that state of mind. But, instead, we see Christ at His lowest moment refusing to let His critics, accusers, and murderers bring Him down. 1 Peter 2:22-23, Peter writes, “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly”
The Apostle Paul - thrown in jail, beaten and so on. Instead this was his response, “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Philippians 1:12-14
Joseph - beaten, left for dead, sold into slavery, falsely accused and imprisoned. In all of this, this was his response rejecting victimhood, Genesis 50:19-21 “But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”
Peter - Matthew 16:23 - When Jesus told Peter to “Get thee behind me, Satan,” what was he telling Peter. Victimhood is demonic. Jesus explains this to Peter by saying you are not mindful of the things of God, rather, you are mindful of the things of man. Jesus is clear that Satan was influencing Peter’s mindset. We need to focus on the mindset of God, not of the evil one. 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In other words, a victorious mindset is from God.

So what is the key to all of this and unlocking us from the prison of unforgiveness and victimhood? Forgiveness

It is not only the way, it is a command of Jesus, forgive as you have been forgiven.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in thinking that forgiveness is just about something you “should do”. But forgiving can in a practical way be extremely beneficial for you. One of the best reasons to forgive can be found in this quote by Catherine Ponder:

“When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.”

As long as you don’t forgive someone you are linked to that person. Your thoughts will return to the person who wronged you and what she or he did over and over again. The emotional link between the two of you is so strong and inflicts much suffering in you and – as a result of your inner turmoil – most often in other people around you too. When you forgive you do not only release the other person.

You set yourself free too from all of that agony.

Sometimes in life you will have to face the pain and deal with it. I am not saying hurts and offenses never come. I want to tell you something you can just about be assured of. You are going to be disappointed and let down somehow and someway in the next five years by someone. And sometimes it is more than just a disappointment, it can be a deep hurt.

But I also want to assure you that when you forgive, you find freedom and healing from those things so by all means forgive.

Hebrews 12:12-15 “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

God has given us so many promises in his word that if we will just take a few and dwell on them, he will supernaturally move us forward. He allows us to go through the valley to strengthen us, but sooner or later we will come through if we continue to trust in him and his word.

I believe that you will overcome the victim mentality by doing those things listed above. Be a victor not a victim.

Let us overcome together