Dear Trekker,
A few days ago while taking my son to the airport, I turned and said, “You know, Jim, the tragedy of seeing yourself as a victim prohibits you from seeing yourself as God sees you. He sees us, each of us, as a divine original. His stamp is on each of us in a unique way. One can never become who they are meant to be so long as they view themselves as a victim.” This is the meaning of II Corinthians 5:17, one of my first verses to memorize many years ago: “If any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creation. Old things are gone; indeed, all things are new.”
As I reflect on my life, I have been blessed. Breaking my right leg when I was nine years old and having it improperly set, making it one inch shorter than my left, is as close to victimhood as I have ever come. It slowed me down and handicapped virtually all my athletic endeavors the rest of my life. But, I never considered myself a victim; I was a blessed kid. On the other hand, each of my three sons could claim victim status because of the unfolding of life events; yet, not one sees himself as anybody’s victim. They are blessed; they know it; and they are becoming all they can be professionally, personally and in their marriages and homes. Christ is honored, and earthly Dad is blessed by their presence and achievements.
Now trekker, “victim” status has really gotten the press in today’s culture. Everybody is a victim of sin by nature and by choice. “All have sinned and come short of God’s glory.” But victim status today has gone viral, not based on universal sin, but on grievance and its twin, entitlement. “You (and you can be anyone) owe me; you have, and I have not, so you owe me your money, privilege, etc. And therefore I demand “it.” It really is the mantra and foundation of so-called socialist thinking over the last 100 years.
Trekker, I hope you are not a frequent visitor to Victimville, and for goodness sake, not a resident. But Victimville is a real, live place! It is located somewhere between the left and right ear, and is known to shift and spill over into the heart. Its environs bind sound thinking, stifle one’s initiative, appease apathy and foster repeated failure… even to try. I like the old adage, there are two types of people in the world – those who make things happen (creative) and those who watch things happen (spectator), forlornly wondering why they were not given such a “lucky card,” i.e. a victim. Yes, victims have an attitude problem! Let’s be blunt… victims have always been those who make excuses to justify failure, and blame others when good things don’t come their way. Our culture makes it easy to vacate “Creator City” and quickly get on the road to Victimville. It’s epidemic today in our culture.
All this is so sad! And so unnecessary! Few of us set world records: yet few know their potential. We are all common, ordinary people. But particularly so “in Christ.” We “little people” can do extraordinary things. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” the Apostle Paul said. That doesn’t sound as though he saw himself a victim (Read II Corinthians 6:1-10). Brother Paul suffered hardships, but he never identifies himself as a victim. Quite the opposite. Yes, “we are more than conquerors through him who loves us.”
I hope you haven’t visited Victimville ever, but if you have heard and identified with common phrases such as “it’s not my fault” or “it’s not fair,” you’ve drifted into Victimville, consciously or not. Believe it trekker.
Only in Christ (in my judgment), can we avoid the exit lane to Victimville. The Evil One, too, will always seek to whisper in our ear. Only by conscious choice and determined discipline can we resist going there.
So what are a few “high points” we can focus upon to avoid Victimville? First, we need to find significance in the life God has granted us. Each life has potential. What greater honor can there be than to love people in Christ’s stead? What greater challenge than to do “whatever we do, let us do it heartily as unto the Lord.”
Secondly, we’ve got to give it our all, our maximum effort. Living life as an initiator, a creator, making things happen consistent with our values, takes stick-to-it-ism and extraordinary effort. But this is what we do when we do all things “heartily” unto Him.
Thirdly, we’ve got to build positive relationships. We are dependent on others; others are dependent on us. We must achieve interdependence in our lives. We are individuals, but we do not stand alone. Victims often feel alone, and too often they are. All virtue must be lived out relationally or it is not virtue. True faith must have utility. There is a reason the “greatest commandment” is not one, but two… “you must likewise love your neighbor as well as God!”
Fourthly, we’ve got to aim at something. Aim at nothing and you’ll hit it every time. What greater goal than to be well-pleasing to the Father in all we do. What greater good than seeking to “outdo each other” in serving one another. Entitlement is a subdivision in Victimville. When we think of ourselves more highly than we ought, we are stuck in the entitlement subdivision… and the ultimately depressing, bankrupt state of Victimville.
Finally (and these “to do’s” are not in any specific sequence), we must make progress toward our goal a best buddy of prayer. Prayers of praise and thanksgiving direct us away from Victimville. There is power through prayer. Prayer will not change God… but prayer will change us. (By the way, as I write, I am thinking of the new film, War Room. You must see it. You will be blown away.)
Victim or victor… it is always our choice and our quest. What’s between your ears, trekker?
Your friend, Jim Meredith
