Secular definition: “One commonality has come to apply to virtually all usages of the
term victim: That an individual has suffered injury and harm by forces beyond his or
her control, and not of his or her personal responsibility.” (National Victim Assistance
Academy,  funded and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice. www.nvaa.org)

Secular Solution: (Source = Helena, Montana School District #1
www.is.helena.k12.mt.us/schools.htm)

IV. How to overcome our victimization/victimizing
A. Forgiveness or how to deal with the truth
1) Accept the truth
2) Release lies
3) Accountability

Biblical Vocabulary for this study:  Victim, sorrow, groan, complain, sour, grumble,
grudge, hardened, offended, offense, insult, vexation, exasperated, provoked, and
hurt.

Biblical Examples of Victimization:

NAS 2 Corinthians 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a
repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces
death.

     Meaning: Worldly sorrow (7:10b) does not produce improvement (7:10a).
Those practicing victimization do not seek to improve themselves.  Note the context
of 7:8-11 and particularly the contrast of 7:10b with 7:11.  NAS Hebrews 12:11 says:
“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who
have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

NAS Job 19:21 "Pity me, pity me, O you my friends, For the hand of God has struck
me.

     Meaning:  Suffering during the Angelic Conflict for the glory of God can cause
some to feel victimized because of duration and peer pressure.  Note the context of
19:20-22 and compare 1:20-22 and 2:10-3:1 and 42:1-10.  In NAS Job 33:13 Elihu
wisely told Job: "Why do you complain against Him, That He does not give an
account of all His doings?”  NAS 1 Peter 4:12-13 says: “12 Beloved, do not be
surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as
though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you
share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His
glory, you may rejoice with exultation.”   NAS Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when
men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely,
on account of Me.

NAS 1 Peter 2:19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man
bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

     Meaning:  Note the context of 2:18-20, undeserved suffering can bring great
spiritual reward.  Do not waste these spiritual opportunities by feeling like a victim.

NAS Ezekiel 18:2 "What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of
Israel saying, 'The fathers eat the sour grapes, But the children's teeth are set on edge'?

     Meaning:  Read the rest of chapter 18,  Israel was practicing national
victimization and blamed God.  NAS Numbers 11:1 says:  “Now the people became
like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the
LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them
and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.” NAS Numbers 14:27 says:  "How
long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I have
heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me.”

NAS James 5:9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves
may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

     Meaning:  See the context of 5:8-11,  victimization toward others can develop
through failing the “suffering and patience” test.  Also, those who practice
victimization can become complainers.  For example: NAS Proverbs 12:16 says: “A
fool's vexation is known at once, But a prudent man conceals dishonor.”  Also NAS
Proverbs 21:19, “It is better to live in a desert land, Than with a contentious and
vexing woman.”  Compare one another and complaining  in NAS Colossians 3:13,
“bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against
anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”  Also NAS 1 Peter 4:9,  “Be
hospitable to one another without complaint.”  NAS Lamentations 3:39 says: “Why
should any living mortal, or any man, Offer complaint in view of his sins? 40 Let us
examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.”  Finally, NAS
Philippians 2:14 says,  “Do all things without grumbling or disputing;”

NAS Leviticus 19:18 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the
sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.

     Meaning:  Those who practice victimization feel justified to take vengeance
and bear grudges. NAS 1 Peter 3:9 says: “not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult,
but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might
inherit a blessing.”

NAS Jude 1:16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they
speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.

     Meaning:  Victimization and power lust go hand in hand.  NAS Ecclesiastes 8:9
says: “All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done
under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt.”

NAS Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still
called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

     Meaning:  Victimologists are not encouragers and become entrenched in their
sin.  NAS Proverbs 29:1 says: “A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will
suddenly be broken beyond remedy.” NAS Proverbs 28:14 says: “How blessed is the
man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”

NAS Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And
contentions are like the bars of a castle.

     Meaning:  Do not be a victimizer.  NAS Romans 14:15 says: “For if because of
food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy
with your food him for whom Christ died.” NAS Romans 14:20 says: “Do not tear
down the work of God for the sake of food.  All things indeed are clean, but they are
evil for the man who eats and gives offense.”  NAS 1 Corinthians 10:32 says:  “Give
no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;” NAS 1 Corinthians
8:12 says, “And thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience
when it is weak, you sin against Christ.”  Also, NAS Colossians 3:21, “Fathers, do not
exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.”

NAS 1 Peter 2:8 and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for
they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were
also appointed.

     Meaning:  Read the context beginning with 2:4,  the Stone Jesus Christ offends
many unbelievers: “You mean my good works will not get me to heaven?”
Unbelievers can become offended spiritual victims.

NAS Hebrews 10:29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve
who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood
of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

     Meaning:  Religion minus grace = an insulted victimized God!

NAS Ezekiel 34:29 "And I will establish for them a renowned planting place, and they
will not again be victims of famine in the land, and they will not endure the insults of
the nations anymore.

     Meaning:  The Millennial reign of Jesus Christ will end victimization for Israel.
Speculation:  After the Millennium, will Satan be able to deceive the nations by
portraying them as 1000 year victims of Israel?  See Revelation 20:7-9.

NAS 1 Corinthians 13:5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not
provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,

     Meaning:  According to the context of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Christian love
based on application of Bible Doctrine overcomes victimization.  Compare NAS 2
Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with
distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak,
then I am strong.”

NAS Psalm 22:1 {For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of
David.} My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are
the words of my groaning.

     Meaning:  See the context of verses 1-3 for the proper manner in which to
complain (be the victim) toward God: “Yet Thou art holy. . .”