ANGER – A Bad Theory Of Psychology
by Danny Pettus
A very popular theory of psychology now is to always let your feelings be known. “Get it all out! If you are angry, get a bat made out of foam and hit something as hard as you can, as long as you can. If you feel hostility toward someone, express yourself. Get out all those nasty things you are thinking! The only way to get rid of those feelings is to express it!”
Is this what God wants? Is this what the Bible teaches? Has Jesus given us a better way to deal with anger and frustration? I believe he has, and I am surprised that some Christians have fallen for this bad theory of psychology.
The wisdom from God and the wisdom of the world are opposites (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). The wise man Solomon, who received his wisdom from God, wrote, “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” ( NKJV – Proverbs 29:11). The ASV says, “A fool uttereth all his anger, but a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.”
Paul said, “Be ye angry and sin not” (Ephesians 4:26). Peter tells us to add temperance (self control) to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-6). The Christian life is a life of self control.
We either control our emotions, or they control us. Negative emotions, such as anger, are not bad in themselves, but they must be controlled. A Christian does not express his hostility, sinning with his tongue!
Venting all our feelings will not get rid of them. This allows our emotions to control us! Any time we let out any negative feeling, we will find it harder to control the feeling the next time. As a matter of fact, we will find that those feelings will spring up more often. And even worse, we will discover that those feelings become more and more stronger.
A man admitted that he had a fierce temper and he said, “I suppose that is my cross.” Another man replied, “No, that is not your cross. It is your wife’s cross, but it is your sin.”
What is a Christian to do when feelings of anger, hostility, and frustration arise from within? We are to do what is right! We are to please God!
We must confess our sinful feelings to God. We must plead for his help and strength. We must ask him to change us. We must read his word so he can change us. Then we can do what we know is right, instead of what we feel is right!
We pray often! We memorize the scripture, “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). We even pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
We know some psychologists say to vent all our feelings, but we know God says, “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).
Those in sin and darkness are in the middle of a losing battle. If they vent their feelings, they are sinning. If they keep them in, their risk of a heart attack is very high.
It is wonderful to have been delivered “from the power of darkness,” and to have been “translated into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). We have escaped a helpless and terrible situation, in which the world has found itself.
Our faith is strong enough to know with confidence that God will settle any wrongs we endure. “Give place unto wrath, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine. I will repay, saith the Lord’ ” (Romans 12:19). The world thinks if it is not settled here, it will not be settled.
They need faith! Some Christians need a stronger faith! “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Studying the Bible and prayer will change us from the inside out. Then and only then can we overcome evil, instead of allowing evil to overcome us (Romans 12:21).
“Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27).
