Ferguson's Victim Mentality: A Lesson in Soteriology?
Soteriology 101 w/ Dr. Leighton Flowers
Leighton Flowers
4.8 • 826 Ratings
🗓️ 27 November 2014
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
“If it’s never our fault, we can’t take responsibility for it. If we can’t take responsibility for it, we’ll always be its victim.”
Richard Bach
“Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the nonpharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.”
John W. Gardner
One big problem a lot of people have is that they slip into thinking of themselves as victims that have little or no control over their lives.
Victim mentality is an acquired (learned) personality trait in which a person tends to regard him or herself as a victim of the negative actions of another, and to think, speak and act as if that were the case — even in the absence of clear evidence.
A victim mentality is one where you blame everyone else for what happens in your world. You may come to believe that you are destined to struggle.
Victims of victim mentality have the illusion that they are constantly under attack from the universe, but only because of the way they choose to digest the things life throws them. They seem to sulk and even marinate in their misery, failing to realize that with a slight shift of thinking, everything can change.
Can a theological view make one take on this kind of victim mentality? Does the hard determinism of Phil Johnson, John Hendryx and other proponents of the compatiblistic worldview promote a victim mentality, even if unintentionally? What are the practical implications of adopting determinism? Are we victims of God's decrees?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Today we're going to look at what the victim mentality being played out in Ferguson teaches us about the doctrine of man, and specifically sotyriology, and respond a little bit more about the decrees of God in conversation with J.D. Hall. Let's dive in. |
| 0:14.0 | You answer all my questions. You can never tell no lies. You're always telling me what it's all about, but some don't listen to your |
| 0:22.1 | replies. You say to us we can't do enough, and when I try, I'm a fool. This time I'm spent |
| 0:29.1 | and I've realized that I can't make it through. I need you. The words you say, your gracious |
| 0:35.5 | love just gives you away The words you say |
| 0:39.1 | You're so believable |
| 0:42.0 | Welcome to the Soteriology 101 podcast |
| 0:47.9 | With Professor Leighton Flowers |
| 0:50.1 | Join our online university classroom |
| 0:53.1 | As we discuss the doctrines of grace and God's amazing plan for salvation. |
| 0:58.0 | You're so believable. |
| 1:01.0 | Over the last several days, many of us have sat in front of our television and watched the town of Ferguson burn to the ground. |
| 1:09.0 | And it's frustrating as we watch it. |
| 1:12.1 | Many of us get angry when we watch it. |
| 1:15.1 | I know I did. |
| 1:17.0 | It's a frustrating thing. |
| 1:20.1 | And I hesitated to comment on it because this is a soteriology podcast. |
| 1:24.5 | But I think preachers have a tendency of looking at modern day events, |
| 1:30.2 | things that are happening around them in their own home or in the news, and look for life lessons. |
| 1:37.4 | And that's what I do even with my podcast. I look for life lessons. I look for the value of what |
| 1:43.6 | God may be teaching in and through the |
| 1:46.3 | circumstances. And as I watch the news and as I find myself getting angry, and what's so frustrating |
... |
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