Victims and Perpetrators

Those who have ever lived have all been victims. There is not a person on the face of this earth who has not been hurt or disadvantaged, by others or by him or herself, directly or indirectly, if even before birth.

Every one of us has also been a perpetrator (producers of victims). The Bible declares that if we offend in one law, we offend in all. Therefore, we are all perpetrators, because all of us have sinned.

Because of our carnal nature, which is at enmity with God, we have viewed ourselves as victims, but seldom as perpetrators. Thus, we defend and justify ourselves, complain, and accuse others of being perpetrators, ever pointing to slivers in their eyes while blind to the beam in our own. We do this especially when someone points to our beam, fingering our sins, declaring us not victims but perpetrators. However, salvation and peace cannot come while we see ourselves as victims. They come only when we confess ourselves as perpetrators, or as the Bible terms it, “sinners.’

It takes the genuine gift of faith from God to see ourselves as perpetrators (sinners). Oh, we believers commonly declare that we are sinners, according to Scripture and doctrine we have been taught. However, when someone criticizes us, we get upset, and when someone rightly speaks more specifically and personally to us about our spiritual shortfall before God, addressing that perpetrator nature in us, we are offended. We protest vehemently that we are victims, and proceed to verbally, socially, and effectively kill the messenger. We do not really accept that we are at fault, that we are sinners. Yet, our fruits belie our words. Thus we lie, we call God a liar, and in effect, declare the sacrifice of Christ unnecessary. We trample on that very blood shed for our sakes, which we claim has washed us from our sins.

Think of it: those who claim to be victims automatically condemn others as perpetrators. Thus, they function as the perpetrators they truly are themselves, serving to make victims. Often those victims are brethren of the Lord, coming in His Name to preach and to deliver perpetrators from their sins and the consequences thereof. Those who justify and defend themselves crucify Christ afresh.

Deliverance and healing can only begin when one lays aside all thought and concern of being a victim and sees him or herself as a perpetrator. Truly, when we recognize ourselves as perpetrators, the thought of being a victim greatly diminishes.

With the true sense of being a perpetrator come shame, remorse and hopefully, repentance before God. To acknowledge oneself as a perpetrator is to begin the path to salvation. Four of the greatest and truest words any person can ever speak are, “I am a sinner.” Repentance is for perpetrators, and not victims. The gospel calls for all to repent.

With the sincere acknowledgment and repentance of being a perpetrator, one also opens the door to salvation for others. Because we know that we are all equally guilty before God, we realize that we can and must forgive all others who have ever wronged us if we can ever expect forgiveness and healing from God. Jesus said:

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

In humility and understanding, we will not be offended when spoken to (righteously or otherwise) as perpetrators.

Of that same Savior and Lord in Whom we profess to walk, it is written: "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth, Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously..."

As long as we focus on being a victim, we sin against our own souls. We breed self-pity, resentment, and bitterness. Thus, we continue as perpetrators and remain in our sins and consequences thereof. As perpetrators, we fault others and justify ourselves; we denigrate others and honor ourselves; we deny our sins and condemn those who come telling us our sins for our sakes. We become guilty of the very things of which we accuse others, while we accuse them.

"For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps...”

"Christian," where are you? Do you see your sin or do you only see the sins of others? Do you claim salvation while under the judgment of God, and reject His approaches through others to you for your good? Do you pity yourself (see yourself as a victim) and get offended when confronted? Do you readily accept sympathy, praise, and comforting words from friends while rejecting His rebukes from "enemies" as condemnation from the devil? Consider.

Seeing yourself as guilty, you will no longer focus upon yourself as a victim. You will willingly suffer wrong and not retaliate against even wrongdoers, and especially not against those whom the Lord sends to tell you your sins.

Perpetrators receive forgiveness; victims do not. Saying you see, your blindness remains; confessing yourself a perpetrator (sinner), you will see.

Until then, you are a hypocritical believer, a perpetrator in essence, walking in the paths of the destroyer, a child of darkness posing as a child of light, in vain worshiping God with your lips, while you nurture your own wicked, “victim” heart.

Recognizing your need for forgiveness, you receive it. Receiving forgiveness, you are prepared and willing to grant it to all others. Deliverance and healing in all aspects begin to bear fruit, in yourself and others.

Victor Hafichuk