FOCUS ON THE SCRIPTURES.ORG

THE ACTION OF ANGER

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER X

CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XII

ENDNOTES

Hosea 4:1 & 6 says: "Listen to the word of the LORD.
... My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

 

Jesus said: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16 NASB).
THE ACTION OF ANGER

Chapter VIII


HOW TO STOP BECOMING ANGRY - FOREVER


Hosea 4:1,6 (NASB): "Hear the word of the Lord" . . ."My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."


There are common thought patterns that result in The Action of Anger. "There are those that get angry when people are unfair. . . . When someone blocks their plans. . . . When they are delayed. . . . When someone embarrasses them. . . . When they have to take orders from someone else. . . . When they do something stupid. . . . When they are not given credit for something that they did. . . . When some of their friends have habits that annoy them very much. . . . When they have to take orders from someone less capable than they are. . . . When they have to work with incompetent people." 1


2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB) says: "we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." The key to changing common thought patterns that result in "the action of anger" is learning to communicate in words what caused them. When we are consciously aware of the embedded thoughts that "set us off," it makes it possible to dissolve or defuse the "anger" triggers, thus stopping the anger feelings, forever.


The process of learning to change embedded thought patterns such as anger triggers (buried deep inside the recesses of our minds), is called "Cognitive Restructuring." "Cognitive Restructuring" is a widely accepted cognitive behavior therapy. We have two minds: the conscious and the subconscious. We can bring distorted thinking to a conscious awareness, including embedded anger triggers, and we can change them and visualize a relaxing experience. The key to changing our behavior is changing our cognitive structure and creating behaviors by first changing our minds.


Even in clinical depression, the "triggers" of the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness are often concealed, and using cognitive therapy and communicating in words about what the causes of the feelings are has the effect of making it possible to identify the triggers. Thought processes are activated by external stimuli, and so finding what external stimuli activate these thought processes restructures the way the mind deals with triggering stimuli.


"There are those that get angry when someone blocks their plans."

     "To illustrate the point, Kenneth worked hard all week to provide for his family. He looked forward to the ball games on television as a Saturday diversion. His wife was very attached to her mother, and one Saturday, his mother-in-law was at the house. She wanted to see a favorite program while he was watching a very exciting football game. She flipped to the channel she wanted. He felt her intrusion and angrily flipped it back to his channel. They only had one television set. She flipped it again angrily, and he did the same. Push came to shove, and when she got up to change the channel, he pushed her back on the couch. She phoned the police and charged him with assault. He spent a few days in jail and paid a fine for his expression of anger." 2


And, "there are those that get angry when some of their friends have habits that annoy them very much."

     "Effie, an elderly lady, needed to get a towel. It was dark. She was angry at a neighbor for playing music too loudly. She thought she was opening the closet door, but instead she opened the hall door next to it. She suddenly found herself falling down the basement stairs to the bottom where she was seriously hurt." 3


And, "there are those that get angry when they are delayed."

     "Sam was bored with his work and kept looking at the clock and to that moment when the whistle would blow and he would be on his way home. He expected to be warmly greeted by his wife who was shopping. He knew she'd be back when he got there."

     "When he got home from work at 5:27, she wasn't there. He instantly became angry. He assumed that she had met some girl friend, got to visiting, and forgot about him. "That's the way women are," he told himself. The more he thought about it, the more angry he became. Waiting seemed endless. He was soon furious."

     "Finally, at 6:10, she drove in the driveway. He didn't wait for her to get out of the car but immediately attacked her with accusations. When he finally stopped to let her say a few things, she assured him that she had not been visiting. She explained that he had not fixed the leak in the rear tire as he had promised two days ago. When she finished shopping and came to the car, the tire was flat! She went to a phone, called a tow truck, and waited forty minutes for him to come; then waited again while he installed the spare. She made sure that Sam knew she had done the best she could under the circumstances, and that she did not appreciate his impudent outburst." We are not all as fortunate as Sam to discover the folly of our anger immediately. It takes a very humble and "adult" person to "eat crow" and find it beneficial. Our angry reaction is not constructive and helpful, especially in promoting relationships, but destructive. Our anger causes others to become defensive, react in anger, and either attract us, or cunningly devise a way to outsmart us, or withdraw from us all together." 4


Our subject is "The Action of Anger." The action of anger is a negative, destructive and toxic emotion. The action of anger results in awful behavior problems, even murder. An angry feeling is generated by an attitude or belief. And, it is a habitual way of reacting to circumstances of which we disapprove. It occurs once an anger trigger, embedded in our thinking, has been activated. Anger triggers are "cognitive distortions" that send a signal that it is time to get angry. If our thought patterns contain anger triggers, the triggers will produce "The Action of Anger."


So, in this Chapter, we are calling attention to the fact that there is a Christian solution. We can change our beliefs, our thought patterns, the way we think, and we can stop becoming angry, forever. . . . . . Let's do it. Here's how.


We can solve our own anger problems, forever, by recognizing and verbally acknowledging the anger triggers that are embedded within our minds, and verbally acknowledging how our angry reactions harm both ourselves and our relations with others. We can choose to dissolve or defuse our own anger triggers, because we can learn to identify our own thoughts, our own anger triggers, our own resulting physical symptoms, and our own resulting behavior. In fact, we can choose to change any thought, any emotion, any behavior, and thus change the way we interact with each other. And, we can choose to make the decision that it is simply not worth it to get angry.


"Cognitive Restructuring" describes a process of self-talk, a process of verbalization and internalization.

To verbalize simply means: to express something in words. And, verbalization is the act or an instance of expressing in words. To internalize means: to make internal, personal, or subjective; to take in and make an integral part of one's attitudes or beliefs. And, internalization is the act of learning a new set of values, attitudes or beliefs and embedding or incorporating them into one's self.


In social sciences such as psychology and sociology, to internalize something is to incorporate that something, or a representation of that something, into one's "self." The "something" internalized may also take many forms, including, for example: concepts, relationships, values, and norms of behavior. Internalization is the opposite of externalization. Internalization is often associated with learning, for example: learning ideas or skills and making use of them from then on. More generally, internalization is the long-term process of consolidating and embedding one's own beliefs, attitudes, and values, when it comes to moral behavior. When changing moral behavior, one is said to be 'internalized' when a new set of beliefs, attitudes, and values, are incorporated into one's self.


"Cognitive Restructuring" then, is a process of verbalization and internalization by which we can change the incorrect programming of our subconscious mind, and that includes our very own anger triggers. Our thinking controls our emotions. We can change the way we think and we can change our emotions. If we don't we cannot stop becoming angry. It's our choice.


When we pay close attention to that which "sets us off," it is really very easy to identify our very own anger triggers and we can make a list of them. With the list of our anger triggers available, we can began verbalizing them, making it possible to dissolve or defuse the very causes of our anger so that they no longer make us angry. And, we can internalize the new concept in the gentleness of wisdom.


"Techniques for Anger Management" include: * Expressing feelings in a safe environment (catharsis). * Report anger to the person you are angry with. * Mourn any losses connected to an incident that angers you. * Keep a journal of what triggers your anger and how you respond. * Identify and correct cognitive distortions. * Replace "hot thoughts" with "cool thoughts." * Revise "should rules" to be more realistic. * Analyze the costs and benefits of being angry vs. "letting it go." * Develop the ability to empathize with the person you are angry with. * Recognize when you are feeling angry or when it is a cover-up for fear, shame, guilt. * Practice a quick form of gaining control, such as counting to 10. ("Sources" are listed in the footnote.) 5


HOW CAN WE STOP BECOMING ANGRY?  What do the scriptures say?


The "Basics For Living Life In Christ" includes the process of changing one's thought processes and changing one's mind, with the result of changing one's behavior. This is basic to becoming and remaining a Christian according to the teachings and the commandments of Jesus Christ. For this reason, we are introduced very early on in the New Testament to the concept of verbalization and internalization. And, from the following verses we can see the absolute importance that the New Testament places on confession, repentance and believing.


Matthew 3:6 (NASB) says: — "and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed [verbalized] their sins." The English word confess means: "to acknowledge, admit, avow, concede, grant, own (up). 'Slang - fess up.' To recognize, often reluctantly, the reality or truth." (For the meaning of the Greek participle translated "confessed" see the footnote.) 6


Mark 1:14-15 (NASB) says: "Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [i.e. be changing one's mind, internalizing] and believe [changed mind, internalized] in the gospel." (For the Greek verbs translated "repent" and "believe" see the footnote.) 7


Acts 3:19 (NASB): "Therefore repent [i.e. change one's mind, internalization] and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (For the meaning of the Greek verbs translated "repent" and "return" see the footnote.) 8


The teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ make it very clear that we can know the truth, and the truth will make us free. In John 8:31-32 (NASB) Jesus said: "If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." We can change our minds; and, we can change the way we think; and, we can change our beliefs; and, we can stop becoming angry - forever. It's ours to do. It's our choice. Let's do it.


In Matthew 5:21-24 (NIV), Jesus said: "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder,' and 'anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 'Therefore, if you are presenting your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." So, if our brother has something against us, the instruction is: "First go and be reconciled to your brother." Let's do it.


The key to changing anger behaviors or reactions is learning to communicate in words, the causes of the feelings. "Verbalizing" and "Internalizing." If we are angry, we can report our anger to the person that we are angry with, and we can change our thought patterns (the way we think about it, the way our subconscious mind is programmed). When we are consciously aware of that which "sets-us-off" (our own embedded anger triggers which result in the action of anger), it makes it possible to dissolve or defuse an anger trigger and be free from its consequence, the action of anger, forever.


Acts 17:30-31 (NASB): "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." (For the Greek verb translated "repent" see the footnote.) 9

HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT CHANGING ONE'S OWN MIND?

 
James 5:16 (NASB) says: "Therefore, confess [see footnote] 10 your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."


"Christians would do well to take heed to what the Bible designates as sins." 11 "Christians are commanded to get rid of all anger in Ephesians 4:31." "In Matthew 5:22, Jesus forbids being angry." In John 14:15 (NASB) Jesus said: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Galatians 5:19 (NASB) says: "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. This is very serious.


Acts 19:18 (NASB): "Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing [expressing in words: see the footnote] 12 and disclosing [reporting: see the footnote] 13 their practices."

1 John 1:9 (NASB) says: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (For the Greek verbs that are translated "confess," and "cleanse," see the footnote.) 14


We can confess and disclose that which "sets-us-off" and causes us to become angry. Let's do it!


In order for those of us who are Christians to get rid of all anger, and wrath; we must first admit that there is a need for a change in our thought processes; and that we want to make that change. And, just like those mentioned in Acts 19:18 who "believed," we can choose to confess and disclose that which "sets-us-off"; and our practices. The choice is ours. We can choose to identify, and make a list of our own anger triggers that evoke our anger feelings (that which "sets-us-off"); and we can choose to dissolve or defuse them by verbalizing them and internalizing the corrected thought processes. If we become angry, we can confess and disclose that which "sets-us-off"; and we can be "cleansed"; and, we can stop becoming angry - forever. "I did it!" And if you want to, you can do it too. Try it. It works!


One does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand that if we get rid of all anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from our mouths as commanded in Colossians 3:8 (NASB), WE CAN STOP BECOMING ANGRY - FOREVER.


1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NASB) simply says: "For God has not destined us for anger, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."


ARE YOU BEING ANGRY? "STOP IT!" Ephesians 4:30-31 (NASB) says: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." Let's do it.


WE CAN STOP BECOMING ANGRY - FOREVER



Chapter VIII

Questions for Discussion


1. Do you agree that "The Action of Anger" is a negative, destructive and toxic emotion; and, it results in awful behavior problems, even murder? Why or why not? If our thought patterns contain anger triggers, the triggers will produce "The Action of Anger." Agree? Disagree?


2. Do you agree that we can choose to change any thought, any emotion, any behavior, and thus change the way we interact with each other; and, we can choose to make the decision that it is simply not worth it to get angry. And, do you agree that we can stop becoming angry - forever? If not why not?


3. What is an anger trigger? Can you describe, in your own words, "an angry feeling"?


4. How would you define "Cognitive Restructuring"? What do you think the key is to changing anger behaviors or reactions? Discuss what it means to verbalize and to internalize as it relates to the act of learning a new set of values, attitudes or beliefs and embedding or incorporating them into one's self.


5. Do you agree that when we pay close attention to that which "sets us off," it is really very easy to identify our very own anger triggers and then we can make a list of them? If not why not? How can we purposively set about to dissolve or defuse the anger triggers that are embedded within our minds?


6. Do you agree that with a list of our anger triggers available, we can began verbalizing them, thus making it possible to dissolve or defuse the very causes of very own anger so that they no longer make us angry? Why or why not? Do you agree that we can internalize new concepts. If not why not?


7. Did Paul mean that we can change the way we think, and that we can change our emotions, when he said in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB): "we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ"?


8. What has been your personal experience with the following ten common thought patterns that result in "The Action of Anger"? "There are those that get angry when people are unfair. . . . When someone blocks their plans. . . . When they are delayed. . . . When someone embarrasses them. . . . When they have to take orders from someone else. . . . When they do something stupid. . . . When they are not given credit for something that they did. . . . When some of their friends have habits that annoy them very much. . . . When they have to take orders from someone less capable than they are. . . . When they have to work with incompetent people." Have you seen any of these patterns in other people's lives?


9. Discuss the merits of each of the eleven listed "Techniques for Anger Management."


10. In the New Testament we are introduced very early on to the concept of verbalization and internalization. Agree? Disagree? Discuss the literal meaning of the words: confess, repent and believe.


11. "Cognitive Restructuring" is essential to the "Basics For Living Life In Christ," in other words, changing one's thought processes and changing one's mind through verbalization and internalization will result in changing one's behavior. Do you agree that if we want to, we can stop becoming angry?


12. Why do you think the Bible tells us to "get rid of all anger, wrath, malice, and abusive speech from your mouth?" What does it mean to put off the old person and put on the new? Is this how we can stop becoming angry?



HOW TO STOP BECOMING ANGRY - FOREVER

　


CHAPTER VIII FOOTNOTES:



1 "The Multidimensional Anger Inventory" by J. M. Siegel, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (1986), Pages 51, 191-200.


2 Anger's Fire Extinguisher by Maurice E. Wagner, Th.M., Ph.D. (Atascadero, CA: Christian Growth Publishers, Inc., 1992).


3 Anger's Fire Extinguisher by Maurice E. Wagner, Th.M., Ph.D. (Atascadero, CA: Christian Growth Publishers, Inc., 1992).


4 Anger's Fire Extinguisher by Maurice E. Wagner, Th.M., Ph.D. (Atascadero, CA: Christian Growth Publishers, Inc., 1992).


5 "Techniques for Anger Management" are listed on the web site http://www.skysite.org/anger. SOURCES: * Anderson-Malico, R. (1994). "Anger management using cognitive group therapy." Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 30(3), 17-20. * Fein, M.L. (1993). I.A.M.: A Commonsense Guide to Coping With Anger. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Press. * Zook, R. (1996). "Take action before anger builds up." RN, 59(4), 46-50. * Staples, P., et al. (1994). "Empowering the angry patient." The Canadian Nurse, 90(4), 28-30.


6 Matthew 3:6. The English word confessed translates the Greek participle exomologoumenoi, the nominative, plural, masculine, present tense and middle voice of the Greek verb ex + omologeo that becomes exomologeo and is transliterated exomologeo (phonetic spelling: ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o). Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament says: "(ex either forth from the heart, freely, or publicly, openly); 1. to confess. 2. to profess i.e. to acknowledge openly and joyfully."


7 Mark 1:14-15. The word repent translates the original Greek verb metanoeite, the 2nd person plural, present tense, imperative mood of the Greek verb meta-noew, transliterated metanoeo>. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament says the Greek verb meta-noew, transliterated metanoeo>, means: "to change one's mind, i.e. to repent." Also, in this passage the word believe translates the original Greek verb pisteuete, the 2nd person plural, present tense, indicative or imperative mood, of the Greek verb pisteuw, transliterated pisteuo>. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament says the Greek verb pisteuw, transliterated pisteuo>, means: "to think to be true; to be persuaded of; to credit; place confidence in." So, the process of repentance (meta-noew, transliterated metanoeo>), changing one's mind, is absolutely essential in order to arrive at a settled persuasion that is described as 'believe' (pisteuw, transliterated pisteuo>), and the teaching is basic to Christianity. If we change our thinking, we can change our habits, and we can change the way we react to the circumstances of life.


8 Acts 3:19. The English word repent translates the original Greek verb metanohsate, the 2nd person plural, Aorist 1, imperative of the Greek verb meta-noew, transliterated metanoeo>. meta-noew, transliterated metanoeo means: "to change one's mind, i.e. to repent." The English word return translates the original Greek verb epistreyate, the 2nd person plural, aorist 1, imperative of the Greek verb epistrefw, transliterated epistrepho>. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament says the Greek verb epistrefw, transliterated epistrepho, means: "1. transitively, a. to turn to. 2. intrans., a. to turn, to turn one's self. b. to turn one's self about, turn back. c. to return, turn back, come back."


9 Acts 17:30-31. The English word repent translates the original Greek infinitive metanoein of the Greek verb meta-noew, transliterated metanoeo>. meta-noew, transliterated metanoeo>, means: to change one's mind, i.e. to repent.


10 James 5:16. The English verb confess translates the original Greek verb exomologeisqe, the 2nd person, plural, present tense, imperative mood, middle voice of the Greek verb ex+ omologew that becomes exomologew and is transliterated exomologeo> (phonetic spelling: ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o). Regarding exomologew; Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament says: "(ex either forth from the heart, freely, or publicly, openly); 1. to confess. 2. to profess i.e. to acknowledge openly and joyfully."


11 Commentary On Thessalonians, Corinthians, Galatians and Romans by J. W. McGarvey, LL.D., and Philip Y. Pendleton, A. M. (Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing Company, Public Domain), page 283.


12 Acts 19:18. The English word confessing translates the original Greek participle exomologoumenoi, the nominative, plural, masculine, present tense and middle voice of the Greek verb ex + omologew that becomes exomologew and is transliterated exomologeo> (phonetic spelling: ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o).


13 Acts 19:18. The English word disclosing translates the original Greek participle anaggellotej, the nominative, plural, present tense, and active voice of the Greek verb anaggellw, transliterated anagello>; and, according to The Analytical Greek Lexicon means: "to bring back word, announce, report, to declare, to set forth, teach" (i.e. to express in words, to verbalize).14 1 John 1:9. The English word cleanse translates the Greek verb kaqarish, the 3rd singular, aorist 1, subjunctive mood, and active voice of the original Greek verb kaqarizw, transliterated katharizo>, Phonetic Spelling kath-ar-id'-zo. The definition of kaqarizw, transliterated katharizo is: "to make clean, cleanse from physical stains; to cleanse by curing; to remove by cleansing in a moral sense; to free from defilement of sin and from faults; to purify from wickedness; to free from guilt of sin; to purify." The English word cleanse translates the Greek verb kaqarish, the 3rd singular, aorist 1, subjunctive mood, and active voice of the original Greek verb kaqarizw, transliterated katharizo>, Phonetic Spelling kath-ar-id'-zo. The definition of kaqarizw, transliterated katharizo is: "to make clean, cleanse from physical stains; to cleanse by curing; to remove by cleansing in a moral sense; to free from defilement of sin and from faults; to purify from wickedness; to free from guilt of sin; to purify."

　


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The Bible Tells Us To Get Rid Of All Anger!


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THE ACTION OF ANGER