The Christian as "Victim"
In Chapter 3 of his first letter, John writes about the likelihood that as a Christian you will be hated by the world. He introduces the subject this way, “11?This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ?12?Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. ?13?Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.”
Just as Cain murdered Abel because evil opposes righteousness, so it has always been. So it shouldn’t surprise us (to pick a current example) that those who maintain that marriage is a lifelong union between one man and one woman, and the only proper situation for sexual expression are hated. For a public figure to call homosexuality immoral is to be pilloried in the press as a bigot and a homophobe (whatever that is)!
This is just the newest in a series of issues going back to “no-fault” divorce, sex outside of marriage, abortion, and so on. Like something completely topsy-turvy it is those who subscribe to basic morality who are put on the defensive – even hated.
While anyone can promote morality without being Christian, Christians do take a different approach. For one thing, we realize that righteousness doesn’t consist just of outward marital fidelity, but in perfect love toward God and our neighbor. So in our witnessing we speak as one sinner to another, not as the righteous to the unrighteous. Our love shows not in seeking to achieve righteousness, but in living out the righteousness of Christ, which has been given to us by faith.
This irritates people even more, because in the scale of perfection all are found wanting, and apart from faith are insulted by the offer of a righteousness that is not our own. Even in showing love, then, the Christian invites hatred.
But that does not make us victims as we commonly hear about today. “Victimology” is the idea that it is OK to hate someone because of “what they have done to us!” It is such a common response to perceived hurts that it is blatantly exploited by agitators and politicians. Whatever happens, blame somebody! Sue somebody! Hate somebody!
Jesus who prayed for those who crucified Him calls upon us to respond differently. He says, ?Matthew 5:43? “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighborand hate your enemy.’ ?44? But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ?45? that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. … He calls upon us to respond in grace, in undeserved love. And that powerful message is just the thing to make an enemy into a brother or sister in faith.