What do you call it when someone or some organization that is demonstrably among the most powerful, popular, wealthy, or influential person or group around is constantly sending out alarms and alerts about how things are stacked against them and everyone is trying to drag them down?
I call it a Persecution Complex. This is the conviction that forces much stronger than you are out to get you and take away everything you hold dear. For some Christians, it's demonstrated as fears that those evil schemers at the ACLU are trying to outlaw Christmas or make it illegal to practice your faith. Not all Christians have a Persecution Complex, many are quite secure in their faith. They are able to casually co-exist with others without feeling they are on the verge of losing it all. But there is an appeal by some to tug at Christian heartstrings with the siren song of persecution. It's easier to feel that you are righteous if you have to struggle to maintain that position.
Consider that the central figure in Christianity is most recognized and respected by adherents for being persecuted. Look what it got him in return. If you think of Jesus as someone trying to launch a product, in this case a new religion, being persecuted worked out great for him. I'm deliberately stating this in cynical terms. It's not logical to project a corporate sly manipulation on Jesus' motives, he obviously did all that he did out of belief, faith, and conviction. Ignoring his motivation, look at the effect. Being persecuted tugged at the heartstrings of people everywhere. "Why, Jesus is just like me, powerless and harassed by large and irresistible forces, yet prevailing in the end!" It's one of the big lures of Christianity. I have no doubt that it is a significant factor as to why Christianity is the most popular religion in the world. Christianity is not seriously challenged by any other religion in terms of number of adherents or wealth or influence.
So why do Christians feel under attack? I think it is because this appeals to them. To feel under attack is one way to keep vigilant, stay active, and continue to strive mightily to goals. I just can't help but notice the irony in it. If the biggest, most powerful person around was complaining to you that people were always picking on them, would you have much sympathy? They can still more than take care of themselves, so why are they complaining?
I feel the same way about many of the things you hear from big corporations or wealthy individuals. For someone of modest means, hearing someone that is extremely rich complain about all the taxes they pay is like listening to a fat kid complaining of having to eat too much dessert. You're paying high taxes because you're making boatloads of money! Do you think your complaints make those of lesser means less likely to want to exchange places with you or emulate your success?
This is a little bit like what we do as a nation. We have the world's biggest economy, we have the world's most powerful military, and we have one of the freest and most open societies on the face of the earth. With all of our planes and tanks and ships, we act as if an enemy that would attack us by exploding a bomb is some kind of powerful monster. He's using bombs and booby traps because he is overwhelmed by our power, not because we are weak.
Actually, I think my point is that it's tiring to hear complaints from someone that is winning. For me personally, a great example is Nebraska football fans. I'm sure there are some nice ones out there that are modest and not fanatics, but I've met several that live and die by Cornhusker success or failure. They had an incredibly long winning streak, and in my discussion one time with a coworker, he recounted the time they came to my college and beat our team. He was complaining that their fans were not treated well by our fans. I certainly can't vouch for every person at my college, so it's not unbelievable that some would behave badly. After all, it's football and not a tea party, people's competitive blood gets up, people drink, fans act belligerently - that's really no surprise. What irritated me was that instead of being satisfied with the fact that they won, or even bragging about the fact that they won, he was whining about the way they were treated when they did win. He was accusing my alma mater of being poor sports, but I would say people that win and then whine are sore winners. What do you expect? Beat someone and then they should genuflect and treat you like royalty? Beaten individuals are angry and sullen. Is there any other condition you would expect to see?
This is also a little like the current political situation, or at least before the last election where the Democrats won back Congress. If you tuned into talk radio, you saw that having the executive, congress, and packing the courts still wasn't enough to satisfy conservatives. They were still complaining about taxes, still blaming "liberals" for everything that was wrong with the country, and still raving and whining about the condition of things. It drove me nuts because when you listened to them, it sounded like listening to spoiled children. Actually, the parallel to children is chilling. Children of parents with modest means don't seem to complain as much as rich kids. I guess part of it is that poor children probably feel that no one will care, and it's pointless to complain. But when a spoiled little rich kid, who basically has the world handed to him already, starts bawling about not getting to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, there is no sympathy.
We used to understand this. Look at the way we treated Germany and Japan after World War II. We knew they were utterly defeated and helpless, probably somewhat hopeless. They had every right to expect mistreatment, every reason to brace themselves for arrogance and abuse. Look at Germany and Japan today. World economic powers that are responsible and moral allies, with healthy relationships to their neighbors. By not being a sore winner, we converted former enemies to good friends.
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