Truth Encounter Community

Socialism (5): Creation of the Victim Class

  2. Share
Del Tackett Del Tackett
7 2

Let’s return to our excerpts from the Marxism/Socialism game plan. I have substituted “victim class” for “working class” and will explain why:

  1. Pit classes against each other, make the ruling class the hated enemy and the victim class the righteous underdog.
  2. Promise the victim class, through revolution, a redemptive hope of utopia and the spoils of civil war in which the wealth and property of the ruling class will be distributed to them.
  3. Create a new set of ethics based upon stereo-typing: the victim class is righteous and the ruling class is evil. Additionally, anything that furthers the move toward socialism is moral; anything that hinders that movement is immoral.

The whole system rests upon getting a class of people to hate the hegemony class and all the social structures it has built. Marx was focused upon economics because it was the poor working class that could be easily convinced they were being oppressed by the wealthy ruling class. As we have noted earlier, that narrative didn’t play well in America where there was a prosperous middle class who couldn’t buy that they were oppressed. Even the poor were rich in comparison to the world and many could see a path upward. So, Marxism needed to find a new category of revolutionaries.

Enter, the victim class.

The Franklin School and Gramsci realized that the only way to create a revolution in America that would destroy its social structures was to go beyond simple economics. They needed to create a sense of being “socially” oppressed, even if they weren’t necessarily “economically” oppressed. Ergo, the rise of the term “social justice”.

So, over time, using academia and mass media, they were successful in convincing all kinds of people that they were being oppressed—they were a victim of the cultural hegemony. The search was on for more and more sub-cultures to convince they were victims. From a Marxist/Socialist worldview perspective, the coalition of sub-cultures was the new revolutionary proletariat.

Along with this came a whole glossary of new terms that help create that sense of oppression like “homophobic”, “transphobic” and “hate monger” along with new definitions for racism, bigotry, etc. Each of these are meant to provoke a hatred for the “oppressor” and the unstated righteousness of the oppressed. “Micro-aggression” became a way to create victims and oppressors out of almost anything. 

And so, after years of indoctrination in academia and the media, we find ourselves in a culture of “empowered victimism”, where being a victim brings status, significance and power. People now long for victimhood and to be identified in the victim class. This is what Elisabeth Warren was seeking when she tried to pass herself off as an American Native Indian. She wanted the power of the victim class. The same is true with Jessica King or Rachel Dolezai, white women who tried to pass themselves off as black. They were hoping to gain significance and power by doing so.

The Biblical Christian worldview points us in a different direction. As Paul wrote:

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

We no longer view someone according to the flesh. The shade of skin doesn’t matter to us. Whether they are wealthy or poor; strong or weak; Jew or Gentile. We see everyone as made in the image of God. We are not to divide, but to be ministers of reconciliation. When we see injustice, we seek justice for that wrong act. We don’t stereotype and hate a group of people because of their shading; we don’t hate a people because of their sex or ethnicity, the number of possessions or their nationality or even their worldview. 

If you are a Christian, think carefully before you hold up a sign that says “all cops are bastards”. Think twice before you speak or write or harbor hatred against a group of people “according to the flesh”. All of this is from the evil one who seeks to bring division and sow discord, to stir up anger and vengeance, to breed violence, to destroy. It is evil and we should have nothing to do with it.

If you are a Christian, have you gotten caught up in a “social justice” that fills your heart with hatred toward a class of people, rather than seeking justice for an individual event? Do you find yourself prone to follow the “tear it all down” mantra? Do you long for a feeling of significance that comes to you from being identified with a “victim class”? Are you more willing for the State to be the “cup of cold water” in the large rather than your own personal, sacrificial, benevolent actions to an individual?

If you are a Christian, examine yourself to see if you have been taken captive by the lies of the world, the flesh and the enemy. Don’t play the role of victim, for it does nothing but get your eyes off of Christ. It blames others rather than dealing honestly with your own sin. It hinders you from being a fruitful creature that brings glory to God. It sows seeds of vengeance and hatred and lust and jealousy and greed. 

There is only one true Victim. He was nailed to a cross because of our sins. “He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities.” (Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12)

The Marxist/Socialist worldview that is engulfing our culture wants to destroy the reality of personal sin before a holy God and turn it into a class war out of which there will be no promised Utopia but only misery and slavery. The former turns our hearts to God and our Redeemer; the latter seeks to set up the State as lord and savior.

Remember, our battle is not against flesh and blood.

[previous] [next]

Community tags

This content has 0 tags that match your profile.

Articles

Worldview Pieces

Comments

To view comments or leave a comment, login or sign up.

Related Content

25
If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#1) the Seal Was Broken
We don’t spend much time talking about the seal that was placed upon the tomb, but I think it is significant. Here is the historical record: The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. Matthew 27:62-66 The historical account states that the chief priests and the Pharisees “made the tomb secure by sealing the stone…”.  This seal was most likely several ropes that were drawn across the stone and then affixed to the tomb walls with a soft clay imprinted with some symbol of authority. It was also likely that the ropes were also sealed at their juncture in front of the stone. In this way, no one could move the stone or the ropes without breaking the dried clay and destroying the “seal” affixed upon the clay.  The seal was there to “put on notice” that no one was to mess with the tomb. Rome could deal quite nastily with those who did so. Now, this doesn’t mean much to us today, for we are long past the norm of using “seals” as they were utilized in ancient times. but in those days, a seal was inviolable[1]. It represented authority, authenticity, and finality. No one messed with a seal. In the book of Esther, when King Ahasuerus issued the order to save the Jews, he commanded them to “seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.” (Esther 8:8) When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, “… a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel." (Daniel 6:17) In the vision concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, the Scripture says this: And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” Isaiah 29:11 The permanence of a seal against all who were unauthorized to break it was an inviolable part of their world.  It becomes even more apparent when John is caught up to heaven and there beholds the scroll with seven seals. John begins to weep because there was “no one worthy to open the scroll or to look into it” (Revelation 5:4). Of course, we find that the Lamb, “standing as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6), was worthy to break the seals. And when each of those seals were broken, great calamity came upon the earth. Seals in the Scripture mean something. And John had wept, because the seal represented an inviolable wall to anyone who did not have the authority to break it. Seals show authority. They show authenticity. And they show finality for all except the one who had the authority to break them. And so, we now come back to the tomb. The seal, whether it was a Roman seal or the High Priest’s seal, represented a fixed closure that no one was allowed to breach. When it was set upon the tomb, there was a finality, a stamp of ultimate authority, that said, “this tomb is closed”. Ah, but God is not subject to the laws or seals of man. I can imagine that when the earth began to shake and the stone was rolled aside, that those clay seals with the authority of man impressed upon them broke into a thousand pieces and lay as trash littering the ground. If Jesus rose from the dead, then the seal of man, meant to keep Him in the grave, had been utterly and completely destroyed. But there is one more thing that must be mentioned regarding “seals”. It is important to note that God has given us this detail in the record to help substantiate the reality of the accounts of the empty tomb and the risen Lord Jesus. But it also brings our minds to something quite wonderful. In John 6:27, Jesus said this: Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” If God seals something, it is sealed! In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13 “… it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:21 This is God’s seal of authority, authenticity, and finality. You are His, sealed with His guarantee. Oh, my, dear brothers and sisters in Christ! How deep is the steadfast love of God that He should do such mighty things to secure us to Himself and then tell that He has put His own seal upon you and me. As David writes: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:6 [previous] [next]     [1]Inviolable /ĭn-vī′ə-lə-bəl/: never to be broken, infringed or dishonored; unassailable; secure from violation or assault or trespass
10
If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then... (#0)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in history. It is the most important truth claim in a biblical worldview. It is the key apologetic for Christianity. Over the next seven weeks, I would like for us to think through forty compelling arguments and implications that are true if Jesus, indeed, “rose from the dead”. This will take us through Ascension Day and Pentecost. Both are important days of remembrance following the Resurrection and we will highlight them. But more importantly, I want for us to see the tremendous significance of the Resurrection by looking at not only the many proofs, but also the many implications. And this, I pray, will lead to deep contemplations in our hearts and minds. Paul states that without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain and we would still be lost.  “… if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”      1 Corinthians 15:17 This is not a minor statement, and it should cause us pause, for it puts this unique historical event into sharp perspective. Without the Resurrection, we are hopelessly lost. We are without a true faith and we are unforgiven, still condemned in our sins. We should probably read that verse over several times before plowing forward. It is easy for me, and possibly you, to treat Easter as another Christian holiday marked by multiple, and possibly extensive, preparations. Church choirs rehearse diligently and on overtime, special services are prepared (think Good Friday and sometimes Sunrise Services), thousands of lilies are tended and provoked to bloom at the right time and are purchased to line sanctuary rails, special meals are planned and prepared and joyously consumed, treasure hunts are created, painted eggs are hidden and Easter baskets are filled with chocolate bunnies, peeps, and who knows what else the market has, and will, come up with.  The point here is that just like Christmas and Thanksgiving and every other holiday, including birthdays, anniversaries, and the multitude of “take-your-boss-to-lunch” kind of days, they are preceded with much preparation, happy execution, and then forgotten except to toss the wrappings into the trash and press on with life as usual. When I was at the White House, the annual “Easter Egg Roll” on the south lawn was a big deal with weeks of preparation, followed immediately by a massive clean-up and the Secret Service hustling folks out of the “compound”. For the Resurrection, however, Paul implies that it is something so critical to our faith that it should be an ever-present reality. The astounding cry, “He lives!” should be ongoing, not a one-and-done holiday. I believe it is important for us to frequently ponder and meditate upon the deep implications that the tomb was really, truly empty and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is absolutely true… a historical fact that has everyday implications. So, we will look at not only these implications, but also the apologetic propositions and the incredible truths that logically follow this unmatched historical assertion. We will not go through these in any particular order. We are not going from the least to the greatest or vice versa, although we will generally lay down the apologetic arguments first and then deal with the implications. And hopefully, after seven weeks, we will have imprinted these truths deep in our hearts such that they will help us with our walk into the darkness we call future. Because it is the Resurrection of Christ that stands at the forefront in the apologetic reality of who Jesus is and what God has done for us. As a famous hymn states: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." [Next: The Seal Was Broken]
Truth Encounter Community
Powered by Cause Machine. All rights reserved.