Persecution

I have met a number of Christians who suffer paranoia, which is to say they are persons who feel persecuted but are not, or may not be to the degree they believe.  Many persons generalize their prejudices, distortions, misrepresentations which ought to be treated as something unrelated to paranoia.  For example, a person may have a negative feeling about Christians generally, but they might say, I don’t mean that this applies to you.  This is a common response among prejudicial persons, to offer exemptions for their general beliefs and feelings.  This general context related to ignorance and distortion, of give and take, ought to be a part of parenting to bring freedom and proper relationships to the lives of children.  The formation of their lives has something to do with making them the carriers of paranoia when they are adults.

Christianity Today included a briefing about this theme related to persecution or paranoia in the workplace. Apparently, according to the study 36% of evangelicals believed they were targets of rumor or gossip at work. Other responders registered 29%.  In another measure it was asserted that evangelicals were nearly three times more likely to express that they were targets of gossip.  On the statement: I have been treated rudely at work – evangelicals scored 44%, others 35%. Born again Christians are 79% more likely to say they are often or sometimes the butt of jokes or derogatory comments. On: I have been lied to at work – evangelicals 50% and others 42%.  They are: nearly twice as likely to say their boss has lied to them.  The summary of the article was: What Did They Do About It?  Born agains are more likely to confront the person engaging in the behavior than non-born-again Americans as a whole.  But members of non-Christian religions are significantly more likely to confront offenders than members of any Christian group (or than “nones”). Evangelicals and born-agains are the least likely to report incidents to management. They are: more likely to say they are satisfied with their jobs.  (The study was carried out by The General Social Survey, highly respected with a forty year history of social study. It offers complexity.)

What is our response to the ugliness of persons assuming superior personal position by invading the lives and motivations of others when the invasion has nothing to do with their own safety, welfare and function? My own experience has followed variant responses.  I had an excellent student of color, who was liked by everyone who knew him at the college.  There were a few persons, who did not know him, who were reluctant to friendship.  When he was asked about the sometimes snubs he was given by persons, mostly outside the college community, he said: You may not believe this, but I truly feel sorry for them.  They find on the negative side of their lives in stumbling over human worth.  I knew that Eddie would never be the victim of paranoia.  I have several experiences in which he proved his objectivity about himself and the human condition that tries to find ways to up the personal stock of a person or group at the expense of another.  To respond in offense, in hurt, in dislike, in anger, is to invite something that creates a victim.  This can be extended, so to refuse to be victimized in one’s own mind and person is to win any skirmish and put the lie to the negative, or to take the sting out of it if it is true.  It can be addressed in some objective way to solution.  Such objectivity and generosity is not likely to occur.  We are weak in areas of our lives so become vulnerable to large and small offenses.  For me, I refuse offense.  I will not permit anyone – friend, enemy, stranger or family member, to offend me.  If everything were balanced in the person, or the group, the offense would not likely occur.  Like Eddie I don’t want someone else to determine my response.  Even so I have found that I may have failed in some way.  I am so taken on occasion with what I am doing, or on my way to do, that I actually miss seeing some persons along the way.  A lady in a conversation with my wife stated that I offended her when passing through the hall of the college without greeting her: Does he believe that the faculty person is more important than the staff person?  My wife, knowing something of my inclusive attitudes, informed me of the conversation.  As soon as I could I went to the lady to assure her of my appreciation for her work and her place of leadership in what she was doing.