How To Deal With Anger
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HOW TO DEAL WITH ANGER SUMMARY
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and agree whole heartedly with its contents.
Larry CrabbâÂÂs biblical approach leaves no room for excuses and so often man wants to run for the opinion of man, rather than adhere strictly to the perfect guidelines of the Word of God and this book does an excellent job of pointing out the danger in psychology in the life a one who chooses to be a follower of Jesus.
Desires (that is desires of the flesh) are not necessarily âÂÂbadâÂÂ, however when those desires conflict with GodâÂÂs desires, the desires of the flesh do become sinful.
It is not bad to desire affection, but when the desire for affection (which Paul refers to as being âÂÂdueâ to one another in marriage) outweighs GodâÂÂs desire for living at peace, the desire then becomes sinful.
Anger is to be presented before God honestly, as our anger will NOT and can NOT remove God from His throne, nor take Him by surprise.
At the same time however, we need to recognize that our desires should not be our primary focus, and that our responsibility is ministry, as Mr. Crabb outlines in the bookâÂÂs example between husband and wife.
So often we see what the bible says about our responsibility in relationships and would rather garner public opinion to justify our anger or lack of willingness to minister than to simply DO what God says our responsibility is.
Many times, we will base our actions or lack of action on advice weâÂÂve received, knowing full well the advice contradicts the written Word of God, and justify it with the âÂÂfactâ that weâÂÂre following the advice of well meaning, kind âÂÂChristianâ people.
I belive that is one of the reasons Mr. Crabb points out Eze 24:15-17 as it outlines proper biblical response and eliminates the possibility for gossip, allowing âÂÂone sideâ of the story to influence others, who inevitably do not question what they hear and answer how they âÂÂfeelâ best.
Yet proverbs 18:13 says âÂÂHe who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.âÂÂ
So Mr. Crabb points out that Ezekiel was instructed to âÂÂgroan quietlyâ without âÂÂpublic expressionâÂÂ.
To me that means it is to be shared only with the ONE person God has provided as accountability, rather than groups of people, as that only proves the other side of Mr. CrabbâÂÂs point of âÂÂdesireâÂÂ. Whatever the desire may be, when it is achieved by gossip (well meaning) or not, or âÂÂback bitingâÂÂ, it is a result of expecting that desire of justification to be met, and will cause one to lose sight of the goal and immediately loses sight of the most important responsibility, ministry.
July 27, 2011