Are you hiding as a victim or standing victorious?

Are Christians called to be victims or to be victorious?

This may sound like a silly question or a question with a foregone conclusion, but as we look around us, it is evident that this is an important question that culture often answers for us, rather than Holy Scripture.

It is true (but not good) that culture plays into how we answer this question... not just intellectually, but practically in our day-to-day choices and life.

The Bible is very clear that we are victorious in Jesus Christ and that we have every reason for faith, hope, and trust in the Good News that is presented through God's Word.

However, as we look around the world, we can see that many cultures and societies instill a sense of fatalism that leads to an inner feeling or thought-pattern of victimhood where an individual may assume that they are unable to take action, move forward, visualize success, or get unstuck because of disadvantageous circumstances, unfortunate events, lack of resources, lack of education, lack of support, lack of abilities, or any number of reasons that come from outside of Scripture.

This limits our effectiveness both as individuals and as followers of Jesus Christ because rather than taking action as an empowered individual following Jesus, if we see ourselves as victim, we see ourselves as confined, unempowered, unable, unprepared, or constantly hampered by outside forces beyond our control.

Victims do not see themselves as free agents who can make choices based on their values, abilities, strengths, passions, gifts, backgrounds, and consciences, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In a word, victims are powerless.

This is where God's Word can help.

Below are just three examples of what happens when God's servants fall prey to victimhood.  

Hagar

In Genesis 16 and Genesis 21, Sarah's slave, Hagar, suffers unjustly because of Sarah's jealousy toward her.  Twice, Hagar runs away to hide in the wilderness, thinking that her life is over.  Both times, God discovers her hiding in inertia, afraid for her life... but God assures Hagar that He sees her.  God encourages Hagar, provides for her (and for Ishmael), and blesses her.  Hagar was clearly victimized, but Hagar is no longer a victim of her circumstances.  By God's will and God's help, Hagar is victorious.  (Or more accurately, God is victorious as He works His wonders through Hagar.)

Moses

In the book of Exodus, Moses runs away to hide in the wilderness after murdering an Egyptian, thinking his life is over.  Many years later, when Moses encounters God in the burning bush, Moses makes every excuse to refuse God's command to return to Egypt as God's prophet.  Moses clearly sees himself as a victim to such a degree that he argues with God.  However, God encourages Moses by sending along his brother, Aaron, and equipping Moses to accomplish God's mission.  God also provides help to Moses through Zipporah, Jethro, and Joshua.  By God's will and God's help, Moses is victorious.  (Or more accurately, God is victorious as He works His wonders through Moses.)

Elijah

In the book of First Kings, chapter 19, the prophet Elijah runs away into the wilderness to escape the wrath of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, thinking his life is over.  God finds Elijah hiding in a cave and asks Elijah, "Elijah!  Why are you here?"  Then, Elijah replies with every excuse he can think of.  Elijah clearly sees himself as a victim who cannot possibly be expected to continue to do God's work and accomplish God's mission.  However, God provides for Elijah's needs and offers Elijah encouragement by telling him that there are still 7,000 people in Israel who are faithful to God.  By God's will and God's help, Elijah is victorious.  (Or more accurately, God is victorious as He works His wonders through Elijah.)

It is clear from the Bible that God doesn't want us to see ourselves as victims, but rather as empowered by God, gifted by God, equipped by God, strengthened by God, and helped by God to do whatever He calls us to do.

We are not victims of circumstances, upbringing, life choices (made by us or by someone else), or a lack of anything.

"I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength."  (Philippians 4:13)

"If we are God’s children, we will receive blessings from God together with Christ. But we must suffer as Christ suffered so that we will have glory as Christ has glory.   The sufferings we have now are nothing compared to the great glory that will be shown to us.  [...] But in all these things we are completely victorious through God who showed his love for us.  Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:17-18,37-39)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, remember what David declared when confronted by the cursing and blasphemies of the giant Goliath.  David said, "“You come to me using a sword and two spears. But I come to you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel!"  (First Samuel 17:45)  

No matter how you feel today and no matter what challenges life has brought to your doorstep -- no matter what you have suffered or are suffering -- if Jesus Christ lives in you, then you are not a victim of anything.  You may have a thousand excuses to run and hide, but God provides and God watches over those that He calls.  Seek Him and ask Him for help and encouragement.  Ask Him to give you what you need to stand victoriously today.

By God's will and by God's help, you will be victorious.  

Or more accurately, God will be victorious as He works His wonders through you!