CPC THIS WEEK
JULY 21, 2010
THE E-NEWSLETTER OF CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
VENTING YOUR ANGER
By Tom Stein
Ever heard that one? Ever used that one? “I am just venting.” “It is okay - you need to vent your anger.”
What do you think? I think...maybe.
A key text on anger is Ephesians 4:26-27: “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
In a world of sin, we will become angry, and we are right to be angry at wrong. If you are never angry, you may be sinfully indifferent to the real wrongs of this world.
But what are we doing with our anger? Paul warns against:
* The length of our anger. The sun will go down soon. Will that anger remain?
* The outcome of our anger. Satan wants to devour you with that anger. Will you allow that?
Let’s use that image of venting. You are boiling something and producing lots of steam. Yes, that steam must be “vented,” or the pot will blow. So maybe there is a proper “ventilation” of anger.
But what does that look like? If you simply vent the steam into another pot, or if you somehow vent the steam back into the same pot, the pressure remains - and that pressure will keep building as long as the heat is on.
Now relate that to anger. If you vent to someone who feeds your anger, or if you vent to someone who has no ability to challenge you in your anger, or if you vent so violently that you just become more angry, you are simply fueling your anger. All of that pressure is still building. The anger will remain. Satan will win.
On the other hand, you may vent the steam into the air. It will quickly dissipate. This is the venting of sharing your heart with a person who can listen, but will also challenge. He or she will appreciate your anger, but he or she will also strive to be a calming and directing guide in that anger.
With anger, we tend to run to the first solution. We fuel our anger, and it builds more and more. Instead, we should strive to be in relationships where we can be honest about our anger, but faithfully urged to deal rightly with that anger.
This is another aspect of self-control. I will let the “steam” out in a way that will seek its demise, not its development. Maybe I should vent. But I should be careful about where I send the steam.
PLEASE PRAY DAILY FOR YOUTH CAMP THIS WEEK!
PRAY FOR:
* Safety - for all.
* Strength - especially for the leaders.
* Sanctity - growth in holiness through worship, teaching and fellowship.
Our teens and adults (20 or so) are scheduled to return Saturday.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
CPC 25TH ANNIVERSARY WORSHIP SERVICE AND CELEBRATION:
SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 19
PRAYING FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: NIGERIA
Voice of the Martyrs reports:
“Muslims recently attacked Christian villages and killed at least eight Christians in Kaduna and Plateau states of northern Nigeria.”
THIS WEEK’S FRIENDLY REMINDER
Each Sunday morning, our musicians begin leading “gathering songs” at 9:20.
Please join us as we enter our season of worship to the Lord.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
July 24 - Molly Harrington, Cara Tegeler
July 26 - Tim Loyd
July 27 - Nedra Clark
THIS SUNDAY’S SERMON TEXT: LUKE 19:1-10
JULY VERSES TO MEMORIZE: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11