Is Victim Mentality Biblical?

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S

SophieT

Guest
#21
#21
the title of this op asks the question
Is Victim Mentality Biblical?

the focus has not actually been on the answer...no it is not 'biblical'

however, that is easy to say for those of us who know what the Bible actually does say regarding our day to day life in Christ

the Bible does not emphasize feelings or even love as many would describe it. this is a broad subject to cover in actuality and when you read things like 'I'm just a sinner saved by grace' in a Christian forum (over and over by different people over the years), it becomes apparent that people do not know, have not studied or been taught, that we are supposed to be overcomers in Christ

focusing on the answer is a better way to go than focusing on the problem. this has been my experience and the experience of other people who begin to focus on Jesus and the answers the Bible provides

people willingly and only too gladly will talk about their problems all day long, how they feel and expect to feel for the foreseeable future

but as Jesus said, 'do you want to be healed?' the healing is in acting on what scripture states and not how we feel about any particular thing

and believe me, I have plenty of empathy for those who are suffering or are caught in circumstances. but again, the answer is always and always will be, in Christ and not in continuing to discuss feelings or whatever it is that brought someone to the low point in their life. and yes I do know what I am talking about
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#22
Sep 17, 2016
8,847
4,503
113
#22
SophieT said:
the title of this op asks the question
Is Victim Mentality Biblical?

the focus has not actually been on the answer...no it is not 'biblical'

however, that is easy to say for those of us who know what the Bible actually does say regarding our day to day life in Christ

the Bible does not emphasize feelings or even love as many would describe it. this is a broad subject to cover in actuality and when you read things like 'I'm just a sinner saved by grace' in a Christian forum (over and over by different people over the years), it becomes apparent that people do not know, have not studied or been taught, that we are supposed to be overcomers in Christ

focusing on the answer is a better way to go than focusing on the problem. this has been my experience and the experience of other people who begin to focus on Jesus and the answers the Bible provides

people willingly and only too gladly will talk about their problems all day long, how they feel and expect to feel for the foreseeable future

but as Jesus said, 'do you want to be healed?' the healing is in acting on what scripture states and not how we feel about any particular thing

and believe me, I have plenty of empathy for those who are suffering or are caught in circumstances. but again, the answer is always and always will be, in Christ and not in continuing to discuss feelings or whatever it is that brought someone to the low point in their life. and yes I do know what I am talking about
Click to expand...
That does seem to be the apparent way of thinking for some Christians to constantly take the sin nature to extreme as in they adopt the mentality I am scum to God, just a lowly sinner, or dirt. But in reality that is not how God sees the Christian. He sees the Christian through the lens of Christ.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#23
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
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#23
I think there is a 'slave' mentality, and when former slaves are freed it can be tough because they are just used to being treated by slaves by other people. And also other people dont know they are not slaves anymore.

and that is really tough to break out of that and peoples perceptions of you.

Its also like how when people find themselves single but they just want to be married again. Seems like they cant really live being single. Then they might find themselves in an even WORSE relationship than their previous.

so there is that.

I dont know why, I guess emancipation might have meant something on paper but if people found themselves still being treated the same ...no access to jobs, not allowed to vote, not allowed to get a higher education, prevented from improving oneself, then well yeah. They still being treated like a slave dont you think?
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#24
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#24
Letter to Philemon addressed this with Onemisus being treated as a brother by his former master. He went BACK to him right. Cos he was urged by Paul to be treated as equal.

At least that is what I remember. Maybe people skip this letter in the Bible?
 
P

peldom10

Banned
#25
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
#25
Foundsheep said:
I am going to point to a story of someone who had a victimhood mentality.


I think it's important to draw a distinction between those who can help themselves, and those who clearly cannot.

The whole point of the New Testament is mercy for those who are less fortunate.
Click to expand...
Isn't allocating reason for Christ's sacrifice on the cross as mainly for the ones who....... cannot help them selves......severely discriminatory, because while important, that is a very small group in the overall scheme of society?
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#26
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
113
#26
Roughsoul1991 said:
Someone who acts from a place of victimhood claims things that happen to them are the fault of someone or something other than themselves.
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This is a relatively recent American phenomenon. Now the evildoers classify themselves as victims. As a result lawlessness is rampant in American cities. The Ukrainians recently told Biden that Kiev was a lot safer than Los Angeles and other American cities. That is because the criminals are being treated as victims. Smash and grab has become routine while the police stand by. Of course it is not biblical since God holds each person accountable for their words and actions.
 
Gardenias

Gardenias

Well-known member
#27
Oct 27, 2020
2,281
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U.S.A.
#27
People with victim mentality need to have their mind of Christ RENEWED!
We are told what things to think on, for as a man thinketh,so is he! Take EVERY thought captive.

We've met them here, but the power to change comes through 5 sources,the father,the son,the Holy Ghost,the word and themselves!
It is the same for people that have a deceived mentality, there are those here as well.

Jesus paid the bondage of sin's price to bring us freedom,for the word is truth and the truth shall set you free.

But they have to NOT LIKE that attitude to be free from it. God forces no one to change!
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#28
#28
Very interesting post.
The fact of the matter is that victim mentality is with in our very nature. From the very beginning.

And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate

Adam blaming eve for his disobedience. Also cain his son when asked where is your brother what have you done? Later cain says it's more than I can bare and leaves the presence of the Lord.

I've pondered this many times and with what society is doing today is the fruit of it which I call
Willful lawlessness.
The act of doing what is wrong knowing it is wrong morally and lawfully and refusing to suffer any consequence.
In fact I see a bit of this with the Pharisees in jesus day especially when they brought him before piliate to be sentenced.
The Lord asked job a very interesting and important question which sticks in my mind every sense I read it...he asked...would you deny me to make your own self righteous? This is really a selah moment.

Getting back to the trial of Jesus the Jewish leaders said a oath of let his blood be upon our hands and our children's hands.
Not for one moment do I think all that were present that day felt the same way. Nicodemus, joseph of Arimathea, ect may have been present and according to scripture ....their hearts were touched by the Christ. Of course john the apostle would want no part of that. Mary ect.
To stay silent in your convictions brings poison to your soul, rage to your actions, cursing to your words.
This is what is meant by .....the truth shall set you free.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#29
Sep 17, 2016
8,847
4,503
113
#29
Nehemiah6 said:
This is a relatively recent American phenomenon. Now the evildoers classify themselves as victims. As a result lawlessness is rampant in American cities. The Ukrainians recently told Biden that Kiev was a lot safer than Los Angeles and other American cities. That is because the criminals are being treated as victims. Smash and grab has become routine while the police stand by. Of course it is not biblical since God holds each person accountable for their words and actions.
Click to expand...
Agree, this is why I brought this up. My oldest teen we took in, has this mentality partly due to past trauma but also cuddled by the culture.

I just read an article talking about a influx of teens thinking they have rare mental disorders. Why? Because of Tiktok, a Tiktocer shares videos talking about rare disorders.

Being a victim provides them with an image with benefits of sympathy, gifts, special treatment, and loved by the culture. But after the disorder takes hold, they find themselves lonely and depressed. No one wants to be around those type of people who have such a negative spirit and people stop helping those who do not help themselves.

This also gave rise to the 99+ gender pronouns as now it gives them a name, n image, a minority (victim) status, and they demand special treatment.
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#30
Sep 17, 2016
8,847
4,503
113
#30
Gardenias said:
People with victim mentality need to have their mind of Christ RENEWED!
We are told what things to think on, for as a man thinketh,so is he! Take EVERY thought captive.

We've met them here, but the power to change comes through 5 sources,the father,the son,the Holy Ghost,the word and themselves!
It is the same for people that have a deceived mentality, there are those here as well.

Jesus paid the bondage of sin's price to bring us freedom,for the word is truth and the truth shall set you free.

But they have to NOT LIKE that attitude to be free from it. God forces no one to change!
Click to expand...
Very true, we shouldn't let the chains define our existence because our God has broken many chains and set His captives free.
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#31
Sep 17, 2016
8,847
4,503
113
#31
pottersclay said:
Very interesting post.
The fact of the matter is that victim mentality is with in our very nature. From the very beginning.

And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate

Adam blaming eve for his disobedience. Also cain his son when asked where is your brother what have you done? Later cain says it's more than I can bare and leaves the presence of the Lord.

I've pondered this many times and with what society is doing today is the fruit of it which I call
Willful lawlessness.
The act of doing what is wrong knowing it is wrong morally and lawfully and refusing to suffer any consequence.
In fact I see a bit of this with the Pharisees in jesus day especially when they brought him before piliate to be sentenced.
The Lord asked job a very interesting and important question which sticks in my mind every sense I read it...he asked...would you deny me to make your own self righteous? This is really a selah moment.

Getting back to the trial of Jesus the Jewish leaders said a oath of let his blood be upon our hands and our children's hands.
Not for one moment do I think all that were present that day felt the same way. Nicodemus, joseph of Arimathea, ect may have been present and according to scripture ....their hearts were touched by the Christ. Of course john the apostle would want no part of that. Mary ect.
To stay silent in your convictions brings poison to your soul, rage to your actions, cursing to your words.
This is what is meant by .....the truth shall set you free.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Click to expand...
Oh it is definitely part of the human nature as to why it is so attractive to unbelievers and the secular culture.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#32
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#32
I think you should be wary of diagnosing or labelling people with a disorder as if they cannot recover from it.

You might SUFFER from a disorder (its actually an affliction) but that person is NOT the disorder, and should not be labelled or labelled with the term (such as I am anorexic, bulimic, schizophrenic, homosexual, a slave, alcoholic etc)

I was reading a story about the Elephant Man, called John Merrick, and how people labelled him a mutant or monster when he was actually suffering from a rare disorder called neurofribromatosis, and something else, but it didnt MAKE him a monster.

People ought to be treated as God treats us, i,e with love that Jesus showed us. He died for us. He set us free from whatver sin entangles us. We just need to know this and GET UP AND WALK and not look back. Everyone can be redeemed if they believe, and we must all believe this, If that person suffering still doesnt believe, its their loss, truly.
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#33
Sep 17, 2016
8,847
4,503
113
#33
Lanolin said:
I think you should be wary of diagnosing or labelling people with a disorder as if they cannot recover from it.

You might SUFFER from a disorder (its actually an affliction) but that person is NOT the disorder, and should not be labelled or labelled with the term (such as I am anorexic, bulimic, schizophrenic, homosexual, a slave, alcoholic etc)

I was reading a story about the Elephant Man, called John Merrick, and how people labelled him a mutant or monster when he was actually suffering from a rare disorder called neurofribromatosis, and something else, but it didnt MAKE him a monster.

People ought to be treated as God treats us, i,e with love that Jesus showed us. He died for us. He set us free from whatver sin entangles us. We just need to know this and GET UP AND WALK and not look back. Everyone can be redeemed if they believe, and we must all believe this, If that person suffering still doesnt believe, its their loss, truly.
Click to expand...
I think you should be wary of diagnosing or labelling people with a disorder as if they cannot recover from it.
Click to expand...
The post was to help people recover or learn about such a disorder. I never said they can or recover from it.

Just like anxiety or depression the symptom are quite evident for those who live in a victim mentality. This is one disorder that is quite easy to spot unlike rare disorders.
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#34
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#34
pottersclay said:
The fact of the matter is that victim mentality is with in our very nature. From the very beginning.
Click to expand...
Correct. The "blame game" began in Eden, and ever since almost no one takes TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY for their words and action.

Not a single politician or public health official has honestly and frankly admitted: "I was totally mistaken. I messed up badly. I apologize sincerely, and I will do everything in my power to fix THE PROBLEM WHICH I CREATED. No one else is to blame for my stupidity, arrogance, and total lack of empathy".
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#35
#35
Nehemiah6 said:
Correct. The "blame game" began in Eden, and ever since almost no one takes TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY for their words and action.

Not a single politician or public health official has honestly and frankly admitted: "I was totally mistaken. I messed up badly. I apologize sincerely, and I will do everything in my power to fix THE PROBLEM WHICH I CREATED. No one else is to blame for my stupidity, arrogance, and total lack of empathy".
Click to expand...
Couldn't agree more but it goes much deeper than that.
The more we look towards these public servants to fix the problems the further we walk from God.
We become blinded and led by the blind only to fall in a ditch.
I tell everyone don't think that what is happening now is a new or sudden thing.
It has hidden itself in our society for quite some time,
I believe God has exposed it as the root cause of our failure as a nation and believers.
Judgement starts in the house of the Lord. I know that your position is that the church should have no political involvement how ever we are not only to preach and teach individuals but also to preach and teach and disciple nations.
Truly what example have we set in the last 20 yrs?
Evil will run rampant when good men do nothing. These are the fruits of our idleness, of our silence, of our lack of empathy and concern.
 
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