GUILT
The natural condition of mankind is one of guilt. Guilt comes from mans' sinful condition. He possesses an old sin nature as a result of the Fall of Adam. Man may try to escape from guilt in many different ways.
Man seeks to rid himself of guilt. If there are personal sins committed, the greater the driving force to remove or repress the guilt attached to these sins. The conscience can become even more riddled with guilt. The greater the sin or sins, the greater the sense of guilt. [1]
NATURAL MAN AND HIS "ATONEMENT" BY MEANS OF "HUMAN GOOD"
The usual way the natural man attempts to rid his conscience of guilt is by some sort of "self-atonement". All manner of "human good"[2] can relieve his guilty conscience for a short period of time. These "self-atoning works" usually involve some sort of giving. Self-atonement will seem to "make things better" by relieving the stress mans' guilty conscience is experiencing. By this means the person "pays" for their sins by certain "good works", and the conscience "feels better". [3]
If an individuals' sins are more condemning, he may repress them; but since the subconscious guilt still remains, he may turn to stronger forms to "atone" for them. This too continues until the individual "feels" they have "paid for their sins". At this point they may attempt to draw others into their system of "guilt-relief" through radical Masochism or obsessive self-pity or "breast beating". Psychiatrists[4] refer to this as "neurosis" and if carried to extremes, can become "psychosis". ("Neurosis is undoubtedly a Masochistic formation". Bergler, Reik) In some cases, medication may necessarily be prescribed by a Psychiatrist or Medical Doctor.
Let us examine a few things about Masochism and how to identify it in its various manifestations. What follows is especially important for Pastors. [5]
MASOCHISM
The guilty individual, if he finds that the "accepted means" of "good works" do not sufficiently alleviate his guilty conscience he may turn to more radical forms of behaviour.
Masochism is the inflicting of punishment on ones' self, placing oneself in a place of suffering for "atonement purposes" or the causing of oneself to be punished. This is done to achieve "atonement". Relief from guilt comes because he has "paid for his sins". These sins can be totally unrelated to the act of disobedience he is seeking to be punished for. The individual may be masking his desire to be punished for other sins more severe than he reveals.
The person will actively seek to be punished to "atone" or "cause payment to be made" for his repressed sins. This becomes "self-justification". By "atoning" he becomes "self-justified".
The individual becomes "submissive" to "offer up himself" for "proper punishment" or do anothers' bidding. Since the other person is "giving the orders", he takes on the role of "innocent party" seeking "self-atonement" because he was only "following instructions". This can include "acting out".
SEEKING PUNISHMENT FROM "AUTHORITY"
This manifestation demonstrates itself in bizarre behaviour; behaviour for which the individual unconsciously but actively seeks punishment from an "authority type". The masochistic individual unconsciously seeks to be caught and "properly punished" to relieve his subconscious guilt. He will seek out any "authority type" to attempt this, taking "chance after chance" and achieve "self-atonement" by offering up himself and getting caught has achieved his goal. Sometimes a simple questioning from an "authority type" is suffient for "self-atonement" purposes.
The individual Masochist may sometimes deliberately do something offensive, and then either declare his innocence, or humbly come and seek forgiveness time after time. Thus, they become "forgiven" for their offenses; their "atonement" has been made, and they feel "self-justified". His inner guilt is relieved.
"INJUSTICE COLLECTING"
In this manifestation, the Masochist actively seeks to intrude into the middle of situations where he knows he will be offended. This one is said to find "pleasure in displeasure" and actively seeks to place himself in a position where this will most certainly occur. The Masochist then sees himself as "the innocent party" and sinned against and can now revel in self-pity as their "self-atonemet".
A Clinical Evaluation:
"(b) Not realizing that they themselves have brought about this disappointment, they become aggressive, seemingly in self-defense. ("pseudo-aggression").
(c) "They then indulge in self pity, unconsciously enjoying psychic masochism: "This can happen only to me."
Consciously, these neurotics only realize their righteous indignation and self pity. They repress the fact of initial provocation, as well as that of the masochistic enjoyment of self pity." (Bergler)
These are not the only manifestations of Masochistic tendencies. [6]
SADO-MASOCHISM AS A RELATIONSHIP
The "ideal" neurotic relationship for a Masochist is to find a Sadist. One who enjoys inflicting punishment upon the "offending Masochist". If the individual found does not seek to be a Sadist, the Masochist may cause his misbehavior to escalate even more to become exceedingly offensive; attempting to cause the target individual to become a Sadist and inflict "proper punishment" upon the Masochist.
Some Masochists can become very dissatisfied if they are not properly "punished for their sins" as they neurotically demand.
THE MASOCHIST AND THE "UNCOOPERATIVE AUTHORITY"
In some extreme cases, the Masochist will openly dare the "authority" to punish them. If this punishment for some outrageous behavior is not sufficient to produce the "proper atonement", or the authority is wise enough to not be duped by their neurosis, the Masochist may resort to being pitied, even attempting to gather agreement that he has been "sinned against" and is "innocent". They may seek to openly humiliate an "authority" who has not provided their "atonement-on-demand".
They will attempt to make others and the authority "pity them" because they "are innocent" they insist, or "just can't control themselves" and do things worthy of social or group disapproval. They can seek to make the "authority" feel as guilty as themselves in their course of destruction; for it can become a course of destruction. (Warner).
Some may display suicidal tendencies or behaviour to draw attention to their need for True Atonement.
"SHARING THE GUILT, BRINGING THE PITY"
The Masochist is all involved in the need to repress subconscious guilt and its' need for the True Atonement in Yeshua. Many times the radical Masochist wants to "share" his guilt with as many "well-meaning" persons as possible by causing or attempting to cause them to "feel as guilty" as he is, and multiply their "atonement" by collective guilt.
The Masochists' "target" in this case is made to "feel guilty" because the target cannot "fix" the Masochists' guilt problem as rapidly or as precisely as the Masochists' would like. The Masochist feels self-justified to freely "blame" the target and become an object of everyones' pity at the same time. The Masochist may then attempt to rally as many sympathetic, well-meaning persons who do not understand what is actually taking place in the neurotics' mind.[7] This contributes more to the targets' humiliation in not providing the Masochist with their "atonement-on-demand". This is simply known as "The Blame Game".
The bewildered and unsuspecting target then may try to find a way out in becoming equally as "pitiful" or "guilty" to "atone" for their own inability to "fix" it. Sometimes even the well-meaning sympathizers may also try to induce guilt in the target, following the Masochists' lead. Thus, the target has been conveniently served-up as the Masochists' "atonement"!
In this and other subtly clever ways, the Masochist passes the guilt cycle to naive individuals setting all in confusion. The Masochists' behaviour is "self-justified" in so doing because the target or the well-meaning people co-operate with the Masochist possibly becoming just as "guilt-ridden" as the Masochist! This can damage entire Congregations from within.
MASOCHISM AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR
Some Masochists, in their desire for sufficient punishment, may indulge in criminal behavior to purposely get caught, and even leave clues behind so they may be punished and their consciences "relieved". All this for their own "self-atonement" and "self-justification".
This is one more reason why prison Ministries are needed.
THE TRUE ATONEMENT
Yeshua HaMoshiach (Jesus Christ) is the True Atonement. By His vicarious sacrifice, we are Truly Cleansed in our consciences. Water Baptism is our evidence of a clean conscience toward G-d. This is G-ds' Way of Atoning for mans' sin, and has nothing to do with human works at all. Philippians 2:13.
We must learn to recognize Masochistic behaviour and direct such ones away from self and instead to the True Atoning Work and Person of Jesus Christ. Only in Jesus Christ will anyone ever find The True Atonement of Grace.
If the Son therefore shall make you Free, you shall be Free indeed. John 8:36
MORE FOLLOWING SOON!
PEOPLE OF G-D MINISTRIES
© Copyright 2002, 2003 People of G-d, Ministries, Inc. No reproduction or redistribution without the Prior Written Consent and Approval of People of G-d.
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Sometimes an unsaved false shepherd (working his way to heaven) can be a Masochist himself, regularly apologizing for his "shortcomings" as he seeks "atonement" from the unregenerate "congregation" to assuage his guilt while leading people astray simultaneously. All of them, including the false shepherd, still remain in their sins.
What the Masochist should actually be seeking however, is to humble themselves in Faith before G-ds' Holiness and Divine Justice; which brings the True Atonement. The True Atonement is where G-ds' Divine Justice and Divine Righteousness were Satisfied at the cross, ending the Masochistic spirit, guilt and pity cycle forever.
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Psychosomatic Illnesses: Their psychosomatic illnesses become their "atonement": "if I suffer enough I will pay for my sins". There is now an established branch of medicine called Psychosomatic Medicine. (Benedek, Slaughter)
Gambling: Gamblers know going in that the odds are against them and view losing as a form of self-punishment. Winners "are paid in the intra-psychic coin of psychic masochism - which is, after all, what he has bargained for." (Bergler).
Alcoholism: Alcoholism is a well-known form of self-punishment, and marriage to a known alcoholic is also Masochistic. For example, when an alcoholic husband quits drinking the major problem is very often the wife, who has now lost her "cross to bear". Her behaviour can become bizzare and erratic as she seeks a new form of self-punishment. Having now "lost her cross"; she may drive the man back to drink again to regain her "cross". (Rushdoony).
Drug Use: Same as above.
"Burden Bearing": Playing the role of "public saint" in order to "atone" for private guilt. "The more unpleasant the role, the more desirable its function for purposes of atonement...Self conscious burden-bearing, public works of virtue, worrying and fretting, worship or penance, all serve as devices for self-atonement, as forms of do-it-yourself salvation." (Rushdoony).
Please note: we are not speaking of True Worship and True Good Works with the True Atonement at the fore. Neither are we speaking of True Christian martyrdom or True Compassion or, as the King James Bible says, "bowels of mercies"; only that an individual must be shown the True Atonement truly exists for him, not found in self or anything else outside of Yeshua.
Failure: The desire to not be successful. "Failure is a penalty paid, an atonement made, for sins committed" (Rushdoony). Also called "Fear of Success".
Suicidal Activity: Included in this are desires for "mass destruction"; sacrificing innocents. (Warner).
Sexual Promiscuity: Sexual activity outside marriage. Unfaithfulness in marriage, Homosexual activity. (Bergler, Freud).
Public Confessuion os sin: Not using I John 1:9, but seeking to be "self-justified" and "forgiven" by someone elses' "sympathy".
Promiscuity can also be manifested in one who has a "lifestyle of flirtation". Covenant breakers, those that break vows, ones who have made a lifestyle of being "marriage proposal collectors", simply for their own selfish "need" to "feel loved" thereby bringing "self-justification", or to "offer themselves up" for some material gain.
Co-operation with a Sadist: Seeking to be dominated by a "dominating type" who is mean or cruel. For a male, to seek domination and "take orders" from a dominatrix.
All of these can be used to "mask" an even greater sin.
True Atonement and True Freedom from all of these things can only be found in the Atoning Work of Yeshua on the cross. All of our guilt, pity, sins, iniquities and transgressions were Paid for In Full.
Larger group concentrations featuring co-operation between Masochists is not unknown. As a matter of fact, entire nations and groups of people can be involved in "collective guilt" or "national guilt". (Rushdoony) At some point, identification of Masochistic behaviour must be made and if possible, corrected.
Yeshuas' Atonement was, and is, Sufficient.
Benedek, Therese. M.D. Psychosexual Functions in Women. New York. The Ronald Press. 1952.
Bergler, Edmond. M.D. Counterfeit Sex: Homosexuality, Impotence, Frigidity. New York. Grune and Stratton. 1958.
ibid. Principles of Self Damage. New York. Philosophical Library. 1959.
Freud, Sigmund. Collected Papers. (1919). Volume II. p.201. "A Child is Being Beaten, A Contribution to the Study of Sexual Perversions". Translation by Joan Riviere. New York. Basic Books. 1959.
Reik, Theodore. Masochism in Modern Man. New York, Farrar, Strauss. 1949.
Rushdoony, Rousas J. The Politics of Guilt and Pity. Fairfax, Virginia. Thoburn Press. 1978.
Slaughter, Frank G. M.D. Your Body and Your Mind. New York. Signet Books. 1947, 1953.
Warner, Samuel J. The Urge to Mass Destruction. New York. Grune and Stratton. 1957.