Don’t take on the victim role

There is a difference between a prophet and a fortune teller. Prophets do not predict the future; they just tell you what you need to know. A fortune teller tells you what you want to hear. Isaiah and Jeremiah did not ever tell their listeners they were going to meet a handsome stranger. Neither did they hold back the truth God wanted told to His children.

As I look at Isaiah 42:1-9, I see God explaining to His people what to expect when His servant arrives. Guess what? It wasn’t a conquering hero. This was no soldier or combatant. No, this servant was to “not break a bruised reed,” or “not quench a burning wick,” nor was he to “cry in the streets.”

That cry in the streets really intrigues me. What, you can’t show your emotions? I don’t think that is what God is saying. I think that God is telling us that this servant will not be a victim. Yes, that is what I said, this servant will not complain about what is being done to him, nor make excuses as to why he is in the situation he’s in.

You see, victimhood is nothing more than using can’t to say I won’t. When Christ met the man at the pool, Christ asked that man if he wanted to be healed. The man answered with, “I have no one to help into the pool” (John 5). The man answered with an excuse. Christ did not ask for an excuse.

Our churches today all too often take on the victim role. We have every excuse in the world for not doing ministry. We’re not big enough, we don’t have enough money, or we don’t know how, are just some of the excuses we use to avoid doing ministry.

But folks, that isn’t what the Great Commission is. Christ didn’t say, “Go and make disciples if you have the resources.” No, Christ told us to Go, make disciples of ALL NATIONS. There is no opportunity to make excuses.

Christ: Go make disciples.

Me: But they won’t listen.

Christ: Go make disciples.

Me: But they are mean to me.

Christ: Go make disciples.

Me: I don’t know how.

Christ: Go make disciples.

Do you get what I’m putting down here? Christ doesn’t tell us to make excuses. He tells us to Make Disciples. Isaiah pointed that out to the Israelites, and they still didn’t get it. If we are persecuted because we have helped someone who needs it, then so be it. If we are ridiculed for feeding someone who is hungry, then so be it. If we give shelter, or clothes, or just a word of encouragement, and we are laughed at, then okay. We take up the cause Christ gave us over 2000 years ago. No excuses, we go.

So, my friends, it’s time to put off the mantel of victimhood and pick up the mantel of Christ. This coming year should be a game changer for those who have no hope. For the church, this year should put us all back on track.

Shalom my friends.

See you in church.

Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.