Anger and rebellion have been issues throughout history. Do scientific studies point to venting one's anger as the answer or something else? What does the Bible say about anger? Is anger ever a sin? Can people repent of rebellion? Do those that harden their hearts risk a root of bitterness? Does the company you keep affect you? Can relaxation and meditation help with anger? Did Jesus teach that we are to to love and do good even to those that hate us? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel discuss these matters and more.
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00:00Dr. Teal, even though I'm getting better at controlling my road rage, I'm not quite where
00:12I want to be.
00:14Any suggestions?
00:15Well, Science Alert posted something that I saw, the headline is, venting doesn't reduce
00:21anger.
00:22It says, venting when angry seems sensible.
00:26Social wisdom suggests expressing anger is like releasing steam from a pressure cooker,
00:32but this is misleading.
00:33According to researchers at Ohio State University who looked at 154 studies on anger, they said
00:40it's really important to bust the myth that if you're angry, you should blow off steam,
00:44get it off your chest.
00:46Venting anger might sound like a good idea, but there's not a shred of scientific evidence
00:50to support this, but that doesn't mean anger should be ignored and reflection can help
00:56us understand why we're mad and help us to address the underlying problems.
01:01Venting, however, goes beyond reflection.
01:06The study suggests that many people also try to exercise anger with physical exertion,
01:13which can offer health benefits, but not necessarily lighten the mood in the moment.
01:19What else can be done?
01:20The study says to reduce anger, it's better to engage in activities that decrease arousal
01:25levels.
01:31Progressive relaxation, just relaxation in general, can be helpful, as well as meditation.
01:38Rather than trying to vent anger, researchers recommend undermining it by turning down the
01:44heat.
01:45Well, that's good advice, but can God give me some additional pointers?
01:49Yeah, as far as turning down heat, for example, the book of Proverbs, chapter 14, verse 29
01:55says, he who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he is impulsive, exalts folly, so it's
02:03telling you don't blow off that handle here.
02:06Another way to help deal with it, though, Proverbs 15, starting in verse 1, a soft answer
02:13turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
02:17The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
02:24In Proverbs 15, verse 18, a wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger
02:32delays contention.
02:33Now, the Bible also teaches self-control, Ecclesiastes 7, verse 9, it says, do not hasten
02:39in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
02:46And in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 7, verse 5, it says, give yourselves to fasting
02:54and prayer so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
03:00While the Apostle Paul didn't write that specifically about anger, the principle is still applicable.
03:06Now, here's what he actually wrote, though, about being angry, Ephesians 4, verse 26,
03:12be angry and do not sin.
03:16Do not let the sun go down in your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
03:21If you stay angry, you're sinning and giving the devil a way to impact you.
03:26You're not supposed to stay angry.
03:29Now, the Old Worldwide Church of God published some stuff about this last century.
03:36It says, according to one social psychologist, people who are most prone to give vent to
03:44their rage get angrier, not less angry.
03:48I observe a lot of hurt feelings among the recipients of rage.
03:53And it says, the cycle's played out over and over again.
03:58This is not cathartic.
03:59Is this screaming or throwing a pot?
04:03Does he solve things and make your angry spouse feel better?
04:07Not that I can see.
04:08Yeah.
04:09Well, does Dr. Tarvis offer an alternative to venting?
04:14Yeah, she goes on and says, stress and anger aren't necessarily related.
04:18And she also says, forget this, let it out theory.
04:22She says, again, reflecting on the situation makes you angry.
04:26Deciding on reasonable, effective, calm responses is what we should be doing.
04:32Rethinking provocation and dealing with it in an appropriate, intelligent way is a more
04:37mature response.
04:41The article then says, the Bible offers much sound advice on building successful human
04:45relationships.
04:46The Book of Proverbs particularly contains much useful information, which I've quoted,
04:50on self-control, much of it dealing with emotional maturity.
04:56These apply to everyday situations that are easy to understand, especially if you read
05:00in a more modern translation.
05:01You'd be surprised at the wisdom you'll find in Proverbs.
05:05So am I supposed to just never get mad?
05:08Well, Worldwide Church of God says, listen, if you're on an idea, we're not saying there's
05:14not a time for proper expression of anger.
05:17God created our emotions, and all of them have their right uses.
05:21The Bible shows it's a proper time to have what is called righteous indignation.
05:26Even Jesus himself was angry on occasion with good cause.
05:30The type of anger Jesus expressed, the type we may express, is not selfish, depressing,
05:35resentful, hateful, or violent toward human beings.
05:40Righteous indignation seeks to teach people on how to right wrongs.
05:45It feels stabbing sadness.
05:47It's a tragedy sin produces in this world, and it's not destructive but constructive.
05:52Now, God told the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah chapter 6, I said to you as a seer of my people
06:05that they may know and test their way because they're stubborn rebels walking as slanderers.
06:11Now interestingly, despite Jeremiah being God's prophet, people rebelled against him
06:16and slandered him.
06:17You can read about that in Jeremiah 43.
06:22Sometimes people allow their pride to take over, and that seems to make them angry.
06:26Proverbs 29 starting verse 22 says, an angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds
06:33in transgression.
06:35Man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.
06:39Now in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5, the apostle Paul stated
06:48that Christians needed to be casting down arguments at every high thing that exalts
06:53itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity, into the obedience
06:59of Christ.
07:00And so self-control is supposed to include our thoughts.
07:05Now also in the New Testament, in the book of Hebrews chapter 3 starting verse 12 we
07:10read, beware brethren, lest any of you of an evil heart of unbelief in departing for
07:17the living God, but exhort one another daily was called today, lest any of you be hardened
07:22through deceitfulness of sin.
07:25We become partakers of Christ if we hold from the beginning of our confidence steadfast
07:30to the end.
07:31Well it said today, you'll hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.
07:38As it says in Hebrews 4, 7 as well, today if you'll hear his voice, do not harden your
07:43hearts.
07:44Verse 13 strikes a chord with me, exhort one another daily.
07:49You know, people who claim to be God's people should be exhorting, encouraging each other.
07:56But people who claim to be God's people, they rebelled against Moses.
08:00There's long been people who thought they are right and they are right to rebel against
08:04proper theological governance.
08:08Many have hardened their hearts.
08:09Look, when Pharaoh hardened his heart, he thought he was doing what was best for Egypt.
08:13When the children of Israel hardened their hearts against Moses, they apparently thought
08:16they were the people of God, they were doing the right thing.
08:20In modern times, later to see in Christians are like that as well.
08:27Because of how many end time Christians believe they were treated or what they think best,
08:31they're not Philadelphians, even though many claim to be.
08:35Jesus warned Philadelphian Christians in Revelation 3 verse 11, hold fast what you have that no
08:40one may take your crown.
08:42Sadly, most later to see in Christians have let the actions of men and women take their
08:49Philadelphia crown.
08:51They tend not to really accept biblical governance.
08:54They normally accept the fact that men ordain their leaders, but they choose to accept the
09:00fact that God the Bible reveals himself to prophets in dreams, according to Numbers 12.9.
09:07True prophets are from a hierarchical perspective above evangelists and ministers according
09:12to Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12, yet later to see and seem unwilling to believe God's
09:18word about these things.
09:20They've hardened their hearts, though they tend not to think that they've done so.
09:25But Dr. Thiel, wouldn't having a certain college degree be considered more important than being
09:30a prophet?
09:31No.
09:32Actually, I have tons of college degrees.
09:35The reality, though, is some tend to let root of bitterness grow into them, and it's not
09:40good for them.
09:41In Hebrews 12, starting verse 14, the Bible says, pursue peace with all people in holiness,
09:48without which one will not see the Lord, looking carefully, lest anyone fall short of the grace
09:54of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this become defiled.
10:03The last part of verse 15 said, many become defiled.
10:07How so?
10:08Well, those who hold on to anger or have the root of bitterness, they cause trouble.
10:14It's their spiritual life that gets troubled the most.
10:17They sometimes think they're making progress, but instead of being like the Bereans of old
10:21who search the Scriptures daily to see whether things are so, Acts 17.11, they tend to be
10:27focused on not wanting to believe the Philadelphian work that we're leading in the continuing
10:32Church of God and hope that you can find things that are wrong with it.
10:35Now whether you've been one of them or mainly have problems with anger issues, don't think
10:41that you can't change for the better.
10:44Now, Paul said in Philippians 4, verse 13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
10:50me.
10:51And he also wrote in 1 Corinthians 10, verse 13, no temptation has overtaken you such as
10:58common to man.
10:59But God is faithful, will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you're able, but with
11:03the temptation will also make a way of escape and be able to bear it.
11:08Yes, you can improve, not harbor anger, not harbor hateful thoughts and actions and be
11:16bitter.
11:17Instead, remember Jesus said to love, bless and be perfect in Matthew chapter 5.
11:28In Psalm 4, verse 4, it says, be angry and do not sin, meditate within your heart on
11:34your bed and be still.
11:35Now, as far as meditation goes, we at the continuing Church of God have a free booklet
11:40you can find at ccg.org called Meditation for Faithful Christians.
11:44It goes in some scriptures.
11:46We don't teach Eastern meditation, but the biblical type.
11:49Now, several years ago, I needed a roommate to help split the cost of the apartment.
11:55There was someone who approached me because he knew I was looking for a roommate and I
11:58turned it down.
11:59Now, while I liked the guy, I couldn't live with him because I remember what it said in
12:05Proverbs 22, starting verse 24, make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man do
12:12not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.
12:17So I worked with this guy, but I wouldn't let him live with me because of what it said.
12:22Now, that seemed financially very difficult for me to apply at that time.
12:27I didn't really have the money, but I still turned it down because that's what the Bible
12:32said.
12:33As it later turned out, I did end up with a roommate who was not an angry or furious
12:37man.
12:39So self-control based on the biblical admonition was an exercise and that was spiritually beneficial.
12:46Now, I didn't deceive myself.
12:47I wouldn't be affected by the first guy's behavior.
12:50You know, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 15, 33 to 34, do not be deceived.
12:57Evil company corrupts bad habits, awake to righteousness and do not sin.
13:02And we know people who've gotten together with others who were bitter and this just
13:06makes them worse.
13:08Many are asleep spiritually and they need to wake up.
13:14Jesus talks about that in Matthew 25, 5 and Revelation 13, I mean, 3, 14 through 22.
13:19Now, the book of Proverbs, Proverbs 19, 11 tells us, the discretion of a man makes him
13:26slow to anger and his glory is to overlook a transgression.
13:31That's an excellent verse right there.
13:32A person's glory is to overlook transgression.
13:36Tell us more about that.
13:38You shouldn't let real or imagined slights make you angry.
13:42You know, the prophet Samuel made some real mistakes in management, but God was displeased
13:48with those who wanted a government leader other than him.
13:51You can read about that in 1 Samuel chapter 8.
13:55By the way, the Bible teaches that males aren't the only possible problem.
13:59In Proverbs 21, 19 we're warned, it's better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious
14:04and angry woman.
14:07Now as far as rebellious go, they need to repent.
14:11As far as one way you can maybe assist with that, Jesus said in Matthew 25, starting in
14:16verse, excuse me, Matthew 5, starting in verse 43.
14:21You've heard it said of old, you should love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
14:25But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you and do good to those who
14:29hate you and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you.
14:32That you may be the sons of your father in heaven.
14:35He makes the sun rise and the evil and the good, sends rain and just and unjust.
14:39If you love those who love you, what reward have you?
14:41Not even the tax collectors do the same.
14:43If you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?
14:46Don't even tax collectors do so.
14:49Therefore you should be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.
14:51We are to love, do good and pray for those who curse and hate us.
14:55Despite our personal flaws, we all need to be striving for perfection and anger control.
15:02Thank you, Dr. Thiel.
15:03For more interviews with Dr. Thiel, in addition to written as well as audio articles, visit
15:08our website at BibleNewsProphecy.net.
15:11This is Steve Dupuy for the Bible News Prophecy Program.