Ferguson's Victim Mentality: A Lesson in Soteriology?

“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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