byThere is always a victim in court cases, whether criminal or civil. Victimology, defined by Merriam-Webster, is the study of crime victims and their experiences, including the relationship between victims and offenders. In the Christian community today, many of us fall victim to spiritual, financial, marital, academic, and health-related problems. These are offences in the body of Christ because they are not supposed to happen to you unless you victimise yourself. This article will help you know how to avoid becoming a victim in various areas of your life.
Have faith in Christ Jesus
You may have developed chronic cancer, diabetes, allergies or any ailment that may seem simple or complicated. For instance, the woman in Mark 5:25-34 was a victim of severe and persistent menstrual bleeding (known as menorrhagia or dysfunctional uterine bleeding). Imagine if she was like many of us today with little faith. She would have died in that situation. But because of her faith, she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and received her healing. Jesus is still in the healing business. So, if you choose to host the sickness or ailment, you are just wobbling in health-related self-victimisation. Stop being faithless, and exercise your faith in Christ to avoid being a victim of health-related problems.
Be prudent
In this world, time is valuable—time is money. As a student or worker, how you manage your time directly affects your productivity. To avoid falling victim to academic failure or career stagnation, you must be prudent. The psalmist, as written in Proverbs 22:1-4 (ESV), wrote,
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”
In order to avoid becoming a victim of financial problems, one must be wise. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us,
“For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Office hours should not be spent watching TikTok videos or scrolling on social media, just as time designated for study should not be used to play games or wander aimlessly in the study room. I have never encountered a prudent person who does not earn a good reputation in their world. It is the simple—those who lack wisdom and foresight—who often end up seeking riches and fall prey to danger. A simple person is the opposite of a prudent one. Therefore, choose prudence to avoid becoming a victim of academic or career failure.
Avoid sin by all means
Sin is one of the critical elements that can lead to victimisation. Where there is sin, separation from God occurs, and the devil attempts to exploit that gap. It is through sin that one becomes vulnerable and susceptible to becoming a victim. For instance, consider the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3); she became a victim of discrimination. In John 8:5, it is stated that she should be stoned according to the law. But verse 7 reads,
“And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’”
Although she committed the act with another man, she was the one dragged before Jesus to be condemned. She placed herself in that vulnerable position by sinning. Had she not committed adultery, none of those events would have unfolded. Moreover, sin can make one a victim of eternal damnation. As Revelation 21:8 declares,
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
That implies that hell is not predetermined for anyone, but one can become a victim of it by engaging in such sinful behaviours without salvation upon death. Avoiding sin not only shields you from becoming a victim of injustice but also prevents the ultimate consequence—eternal separation from God in hell.
In summary, avoiding victimisation, whether in health, finances, academics, or spiritual matters, largely depends on your faith, prudence, and commitment to righteousness. As illustrated through the stories of the woman with the issue of blood and the adulterous woman, faith and wisdom are crucial in preventing one from falling victim. Faith in Christ enables the believer to overcome challenges such as sickness, while prudence shields one from avoidable failures in academics and careers. Lastly, avoiding sin is critical to protect oneself from spiritual separation from God and, ultimately, eternal damnation. The key to overcoming victimisation is to anchor yourself in Christ, exercise wisdom, and remain steadfast in righteousness.
