John [GW] 1:9-12 The real light, which shines
on everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came
into existence through him. Yet, the world didn't recognize him. He went to his
own people, and his own people didn't accept him. However, he gave the right to
become God's children to everyone who believed in him.
Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:26-27 That is why you
are no longer foreigners and outsiders but citizens together with God's people
and members of God's family. You are built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone. In him all the parts of
the building fit together and grow into a holy temple in the Lord. Through him
you, also, are being built in the Spirit together with others into a place
where God lives. … Be angry without sinning. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give
the devil any opportunity to work.
Philippians 1:27-30 Live as citizens who
reflect the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come to see you or whether
I stay away, I'll hear all about you. I'll hear that you are firmly united in
spirit, united in fighting for the faith that the Good News brings. So don't
let your opponents intimidate you in any way. This is God's way of showing them
that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved. God has given you the
privilege not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him. You are
involved in the same struggle that you saw me having. Now you hear that I'm
still involved in it.
I’m asked about anger as a personal issue.
I’ve previously given the emotion experience much thought, reading time, and
written about and taught on a number of times, quite often in inmate classes. I
could do a simple pull-and-copy-redact on the emotion but know that responsibly
in and toward good health I should not. I will begin without opening binder,
then shall review file.
As a consequence of my boyhood temperament I
was called “Sunny” until as an adult I insisted on “Ed”. What the designators
didn’t know was that I had developed an anger problem, the passive aggressive
kind. And as with many passive aggressive types, I abhorred the overtly violent
furious fellows, even in self-pride considering myself superior in intellect
and the strikers an ignorant unsophisticated bunch. Then there was the family
tradition to uphold; I never once saw a Bullock overtly angry. We were the cool
controlled family.
How to begin addressing the emotional
problem? How do I, we, “be angry and sin not”? Lest shame be mine later, by the
weight of God’s Word of course! (2Tim.2:15)
To begin: For my, your, study and serious
contemplation I share from ISBE:
Anger: an´gẽr: In the Old Testament, the translation of several Hebrew words,
especially of אף, 'aph (lit. “nostril,”
“countenance”), which is used some 45 times of human, 177 times of Divine,
anger (OHL). The word occurs rarely in the New Testament (Mar_3:5; Eph_4:31;
Col_3:8; Rev_14:10),
its place being taken by the word “wrath” (see WRATH). As a translation of
words denoting God's “anger,” the English word is unfortunate so far as it may
seem to imply selfish, malicious or vindictive personal feeling. The anger of
God is the response of His holiness to outbreaking sin. Particularly when it
culminates in action is it rightly called Has “wrath.” The Old Testament
doctrine of God's anger is contained in many passages in the Pentateuch, Psalms
and the Prophets. In Proverbs men are dissuaded from anger (Pro_15:1; Pro_27:4),
and the “slow to anger” is commended (Pro_15:18;
Pro_16:32; Pro_19:11).
Christians axe enjoined to put away the feeling of self-regarding, vindictive
anger (Eph_4:31; Col_3:8), and to cherish no desire of personal
revenge (Eph_4:26).
In reviewing the Bible references in the
above paragraph from ISBE I am again reminded of the clear distinction between
sinful and righteous anger.
·
Harmful sinful anger is centered in self-regard,
a life-is-all-about-me worldview.
·
Constructive anger is edification centered in
seeing life eternally about John 1:12 family and citizenship
“Do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God
which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus. Finally, my brothers [and sisters], whatever things are true, whatever
things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. Do
those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me.
And the God of peace shall be with you.” (MKJV Phil.4:6-9)
EBB4
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