There is a very infectious generational curse passing through families. This curse is called Scapegoating. In a family, a parent picks one child to pick on, to magnify the literal or imaginary faults of the child. Often siblings will join in this activity of making the scapegoat and sin eater in the family. In Judaism the scapegoat was a goat that the nation placed its sins on and released into the wilderness. Today, it is the malignant curse that causes families to place all the blame and wrongdoing of themselves on one family member. Those who are scapegoats have a high level of perfectionism, low self esteem, self doubt, self deprecating and self loathing (hating) feelings and thoughts. Scapegoating is one of the most Satanic practices because rather than people owning their bad actions, bad choices, and evil nature in themselves and repenting, they choose to never acknowledge any weakness and instead make someone the scapegoat for all their sins. (Source of Information from Lynne Namka, Ed. D.).
Some could argue Jesus Christ was the scapegoat for all mankind. The problem with this argument is that Jesus willingly came and desired the cross. A scapegoat does not want to be chosen as the source of blame shifting. A scapegoat isn't the Son of God, it is normal person who can do nothing about sin. So to claim Jesus was Scapegoat is false, because he was Sacrificial Lamb (1 Peter 1:19, Hebrews 10:4-14). His blood cleansed all who will believe. In Ridley Scott's Robin Hood (2010), there is mantra in movie that says, "Rise and Rise Again, Until Lambs Become Lions." This is poignant in two ways, firstly Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29) and The Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5), so there is transition where Christ went from being meek to mighty, and so must we! Scapegoating seeks to deprive people of strength and the will to stand up for themselves. Eventually apathy and inertia make the scapegoat accept their lower station in a family or group. To break free of this curse one must renounce the scapegoat demon in the name of Jesus Christ and then do the hard work of "rise and rise again until lambs becomes lions."
We are sheep and Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-14). But there comes a time when we spiritually, emotionally, and in our self esteem we become lions. This is not some Therianthropy, animalism, or shape shifting into animals, it is symbolic of the type of attitudes, confidence, and response found in animals that are examples of how we should act as Images of God. Instead of being scapegoat, where like the ancient creature we allow people to abuse us and make us carry their sins, we become like a lion who is assertive, defends itself, and stands with a pride or confidence against enemies and adversaries. As Christians we are suppose to be bold like lions, but "innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:6). There is a balance of being strong but soft, tender but truthful. For those who have been scapegoats, it takes time to transition from being a "bottom feeder and worm" to being part of Christ's pride. Boldness take practice, standing up for yourself takes speaking up even when the nerves, anxiety, butterflies, and fear is pounding in your chest, guts, and head. To defeat scapegoating, you have to stop being the scapegoat and be the lion, telling people who blame you for all their problems and heap abuse on you, "I am not your scapegoat. I do not receive your scapegoating, your abuse, and blame shifting anymore." Often geographic distancing and cutting of the scapegoaters will be inevitable, because despite your new found courage and freedom, you will encounter in those who want you to be a sin eater no desire to change, they do not want to own their sins (bad actions, wicked choices, and abuses).
You have to leave the people who make you a goat and join the pride of the lions (Saints) who want you to grow, be strong, and of good courage in the Lord. Surround yourself with those who seek to build up, not tare down; those who edify and encourage, who are compassionate and yet convicting of when you are truly wrong. Beware of falling into the trap of never owning your mistakes, sins, and bad choices. Having been scapegoated, there is tendency to never receive blame again, even if it is rightful blame for your own mistakes. A complex develops where the person can never receive correction because they were scapegoated for so long and have decided to never be in that position again. Do not do this, rather be quick to admit when you are wrong, and be honest before the Lord Jesus your God. Those who allow the complex to take root of never admitting wrong become unteachable and thus useless to Christ and to Community of Saints (The Church). Granted Jesus said, "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces," (Matthew 7:6) and "be shrewd and wise as serpents," (Matthew 10:6) when sharing your deep mistakes, but also do not become like those who say, "I am blameless, and never make mistakes." Such an attitude is contrary to Christ, for it is written, "If you repent of your sins God if faithful to forgive them and restore you to all righteousness," (1 John 1:9) and "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16). While sin and the old nature is defeated by Christ Jesus in us, that does not mean the old nature and man doesn't rear up and our old disposition get the better of us. We are still transforming into likeness of Christ and so we make mistakes and need Christ's blood daily to cover those mistakes and to have penitent hearts so that we may admit when we are wrong.
I hope that you can experience some freedom from scapegoating. I recommend you do the following points:
1) Pray this prayer or something similar as Holy Spirit leads you: "Lord Jesus Christ I pray and break the generational curse of scapegoating. I renounce the scapegoat and will not receive the treatment that comes with it in your name Jesus Christ! I ask you deliver me O Lord from the demon of scapegoating and loose in me Lord the heart of the Lion of Judah to stand against the scapegoat in your name Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. Amen."
2) Now for the hard part, you need to stand up for yourself. When being scapegoated, you need to say words like "I do not receive that," "stop scapegoating me," "I am not responsible for your sins and mistakes," and "If you do not stop speaking and treating me this way, I am leaving." It is hard to roar, when one is used to making the groaning sounds of a goat. Do not become mean spirited or harsh, but be stern, strong, and with a voice of authority that comes upon you from God, like when Jesus in righteous indignation (wrath, anger) corrected the money changers (John 2:13-16). This step is crucial after breaking curse and being delivered from the demon of scapegoating and it will take time to master.
3) Find an accountability partner, someone who is for you and not against you. Your number one accountability partner is Christ Jesus himself. In addition to Lord, I suggest someone who obviously doesn't scapegoat you and that can encourage you to break free of this curse. It can be helpful to find support group or person going through breaking scapegoating, because in numbers we become stronger (Matthew 18:19-20).
4) Read up on scapegoating, the tell tale signs and symptoms so that you can discover just how deeply effected you have been. Most of what you will find is Psychology, which is helpful but incomplete because it does not include the spiritual component (element, facet, piece) in scapegoating, especially if the scapegoating is done by someone who is spiritual, even a leader of church and more. Ultimately, there is the spiritual element of the curse and demon that has to be dealt with, and so the psychological elements are only necessary after the other steps mentioned.
5) Not everyone is a scapegoat. Some people really are in wrong and to refuse taking responsibility they may abuse this knowledge and thus use scapegoating as a shield so they can never have to take ownership of their sins, mistakes, and bad actions. This is the danger mentioned earlier, in really unhealthy individuals this is the usual case: rather than discovering they have a curse and disease called scapegoating and wanting to get free of it and heal, they use it as an excuse to never get well and be a victim. Avoid such persons and avoid becoming this way yourself.
6) Surround yourself with Lions and Lambs who are centered in Christ. A Lamb is someone beginning to come out of scapegoating and choosing to be how Christ sees them. A Lion is when we finally have a default of not being scapegoated, not having scapegoat thinking, and are quick to respond to scapegoaters with the Truth of who we are and what the Holy Spirit wants to say. Find more people who want to defeat and break free of the curse of scapegoating, and learn to fight back against this demon and those under its power in the Pride of Christ.
7) Pray. Really this should be intrinsic to each step. Be steeped, saturated, and perpetually in prayer in your spirit and soul before Christ. It will take prayer and action to change from a scapegoat into a lamb and then lion. You cannot break free of this curse, demon, mentality, disposition, and attitude of scapegoating without the Savior Jesus Christ. You will need the Divine and disciples to defeat the devil's scapegoat.
For Those Who are the Scapegoater or One who makes scapegoats:
If you are the scapegoater, and making someone be scapegoat, you will be required to own your mistakes, sins, and the abuse you have done. You will need to repent to the person you made a scape goat, and pray, "Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me for being one who makes people scapegoats and who passed this curse and demon to another. I have "abused my fellow servant" and deserve punishment. I ask that you in your mercy deliver me from the scapegoat demon and its curse, that I may cease making people my scapegoats and own my errors, mistakes, sins, and bad actions. I now choose to confess and stop placing blame on others. Please release those who I have harmed from the spell of scapegoating. Amen." The Next step is to go individually to each person you've scapegoated (if you can) and apologize and go through the prayer listed above in point 1). One can be the Scapegoater and Scapegoat at the same time. Often a person who was a scapegoat ends up making more scapegoats because they passing the generational curse and demon down to children or even friends. Getting well is the same for Scapegoat and Scapegoater, but the Scapegoat must regain self esteem, a voice, and be bold as Lion, while Scapegoater needs to be a Lamb for a while and "innocent as dove," before becoming a Lion.
If you have read this and it touched you or you are finally seeing that you've been scapegoated and want to be free, please comment on this post. I would love to enter into a dialogue about it and offer any support I can.
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