Ask Your Preacher - Archives
“Soul Victims”
Categories: CATHOLIC, DOCTRINE, RELIGIONSHi, ya! What is your take on "soul victims"? I am Southern Baptist, and from what I can find, it is a Catholic thing… something about a soul that God has chosen to go through more in life than most people (trials and things, like Job, I guess). I’m just wondering because sometimes I wonder when God is going to give me a break LOL!Sincerely,
Hard-Pressed
Dear Hard-Pressed,
The teaching of ‘soul victims’ is a Catholic theology, not a Bible one. According to victim soul doctrine, certain people are chosen by God to suffer more than others and to specifically partake in Christ-like pains. According to Catholic tradition, these people experience mental and physical anguish, even exhibiting visible wounds in their hands and feet (like Christ did). It isn’t just that these soul victims suffer more than others; it is that their sufferings help to complete what Jesus’ sufferings didn’t. These soul victims are chosen by Jesus to appease the anger of His Father.
Now, here’s the truth: the Bible does teach that some people suffer more than others (Job is a great example of this), but it NEVER teaches that certain people are chosen by Jesus to suffer or die to satisfy the Father’s anger – this is totally blasphemous. The Father, just like the Son, finds no pleasure in our pain and suffering. God may discipline us, but that is always for our long-term good, not harm (Heb 12:7-9). Jesus’ blood atones for our sins (1 Jn 1:7); no one else’s blood can do that. The idea that certain people are “victims” to help atone for others’ sins directly contradicts Bible teaching.
