Sermons
Count Down Before Blasting Off
Series: TurbulenceCOUNT DOWN BEFORE BLASTING OFF
Sermon By Terry Siverd / September 13, 2020 / Cortland Church of Christ
As we read daily from Proverbs it would be helpful to keep a notebook with the various topics addressed. The TONGUE fell into two subcategories: how to keep silent and when to speak up. Last week we looked at several proverbs that promote the virtues of COMPASSION AND CARING. This morning we want to visit another sub-topic from with the book of Proverbs: ANGER. Although the tongue is often the release point for anger, it originates in the heart, mind or spirit. Proverbs records: he who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city (16:32) … like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit (25:28). Prov.14:29 states, he who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. Prov.29:22 adds, an angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
I have written a companion essay that appears on the flipside of today's FamilyMatters. I have titled the essay, An Absence Of Anger. It deals with the topic of righteous indignation.
Solomon writes, a fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back (Prov.29:11). cf. Eccl.7:9. Closely related is Prov.15:18a - - a hot-tempered man stirs up strife. In Prov.19:11 we read, discretion (good sense) makes one slow to anger. In Prov.17:27b Solomon declares, he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Prov.22:24-25 warns about the “contagious” side of anger - - do not associate with a man given to anger, or go with a hot-tempered man, lest you learn his ways, and find a snare for yourself.
Here we are just beginning this lesson and already we have referenced nine specific passages that speak either directly or indirectly of THE DANGER OF ANGER. Many deadly fires are sometimes ignited by the smallest of flash-points. In his New Testament epistle, James the brother of the Lord writes (Js.3:5/NIV) - - Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
The cumulative impact of these various texts drive us to ask ourselves several questions. Do I have an anger problem? … Is anger ever a good thing? ... Do I tend to be cool-headed & even-keeled or hot-tempered & easily combustible? ... Can one's bad temper come to be harnessed or bridled, and if so, how?
The seriousness of this topic can be seen when we take note of the damage done by anger. Temper tantrums often appear early in life in the form of a toddler who wants to get his/her own way. It takes a toll on the peace and tranquility within a home. One Christian psychologist pointed out that such behavior is frequently allowed to fester because parents with good-intentions fail to follow through on threats of discipline. He suggested that moms plan a day when they can intentionally deal with the follow-up needed in confronting a temper-tantrum toddler. Go to the grocery store with a realistic plan to pack up and head home the minute an outburst occurs. Uncontrolled anger is not unique to toddlers. It impacts grade school playgrounds & high school sporting events. It infiltrates the home: moms who sometimes “loose it” and dads who are prone to “chronic explosions”. The damage caused by anger is not only seen on the swing sets, ball fields and at home, but it negatively impacts workplaces, friendships, church-life and political arenas. Every corner of life is touched by an abuse of anger.
Anger is sometimes justified, especially when our anger is roused by sinful or unacceptable behavior. It is wrong to encounter evil and not be angered. Yes, anger is sometimes a good thing. Are there bad cops? Yes, there are - - just like there are bad people in every vocation. Should we seek prosecution in cases of mistreatment, maleficence and murder. Absolutely, we should. But it angers me to see criminal's glorified and so-called “protesters” resorting to burning, destroying and looting. Peaceful protesting is a prime example of how we can heed Paul's words: be angry, but do not sin (Eph.4:26). It angers me to watch the mainstream media provide wall-to-wall coverage of a black man shot by a cop (while in the act of wrongdoing and resisting arrest), but this same media is strangely silent in failing to report about a black man who shot to death (to the head at point blank range) an innocent 5 year old white boy, Cannon Hinnant.
Someone has offered this maxim: When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one-hundred. Perhaps this encouragement to count down before you blast off sounds too simple, but at least it's a start. Anger is a double-edged sword. Obviously it harms those on the receiving end of our outbursts, but it also hurts the angry one. If an autopsy was done of anger, it would show a number of prominent contributing factors: bitterness … resentment … hostility - - to name a few. Mark Twain is right on target in writing: “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” Counting to 10 or 100 is just a starting point for seeking to control our anger. To truly come to terms with managing our anger we'll need to ascertain WHY we're so angry. To keep on ignoring our rage or burying our toxic anger will only delay the day or reckoning. Prov.19:19 records - - a man of great anger shall bear the penalty... It's too easy to just blame our lack of control on genetics or early childhood experiences. Much of the blame for our hot-temperedness can be traced to selfishness and spiritual immaturity. For a few this means we've got to GROW UP. We must keeping growing in Christ Jesus (2Pet.3:18). We need to start thinking more about OTHERS and less about Self.
Bill Hybels tells the story of a flight home from a speaking tour in Europe. After landing in Chicago, he heard his name paged, asking him to report to the airline rep as soon he exited. Viewing this as a serious matter, he began to panic: his adult kids were flying to Chicago from the west coast and his wife was returning home from Michigan for Thanksgiving. Had a tragedy befallen his family? Had something sad happened at the Willow Creek church? It ended up it was simply that one of his bags had been lost. At first he found himself full of relief (perspective - - what good news that it was just a lost bag). But as he headed to the airline desk near the baggage claim he began to be really annoyed and angered. Such incompetence - - he only had two bags, how could one be lost? As he walked the long route at O'Hare he wrestled within himself. Would he deny his anger? Would he nurse his anger? Would he slow down and reflect. He composed himself as he went to the gate rep. A young woman greeted him politely. He had chosen to arrest his anger and behave. After he had filled out all of the paperwork, the airline attendant looked him in the eye and, with a hint of a smile, said, “Shall I have this bag delivered to your home, or shall we send it to the Willow Creek Community Church?” She smiled again and said, “I attend there.”
It's sobering to remind ourselves that others are watching, chief among them is God our Father.
