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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ANGER

MANAGEMENT?

by Peter Brave-Heart Jan 09 2013

It would seem that more and more citizens are “losing it”

and “getting out of control, ranting and raving even on

TV.

Is this especially happening in U.S.A. or is it now common-

place around the globe?

The following interview on U-tube is a typical example:-

The well-known survivalist expert Alex Jones, who does

talk a lot of sense about many issues on his own show, was

invited to speak on the show of the famous British Piers

Morgan who lives in the U.S.A. a couple of days ago.The

hot subject of de-bate was gun-control in the U.S.A

It was quite shocking to see the “madness of anger” rented

on the wrong person.

Watch the interview which is very short, if you dare!

(http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/981577/

cnn-piers-morgan-alex-jones-wild-u-s-gun-control-debate)

I was quite amazed how Piers Morgan, the interviewer

“kept his cool” and did not get into an aggressive

argument, but was very careful “how” he spoke to the

colourful, very aggressive & irate Alex Jones.

The knowledge and expertise of the invited speaker may

be very wise and true, but to be inflexible about one’s own

knowledge of any given subject, at least I would say, is

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certainly unwise at best, and can unfortunately lead to

fanaticism and even paranoia.

A couple of bible verses for this situation “He who has no

rule over his spirit, is as a city that is broken down &

without walls” and “He who lays hold on contention, is as

one who takes a dog by the ears” Both verses are from

Proverbs.

The following article brings out how dangerous life

becomes, when people do not control their anger, and

where that can lead to. When “what a person knows” is

more important to them than how they behave in private or

public.

It used to be a goal that “how we behave in front of others,

IS who we are as a person.”

If we behave in a friendly way, even when others say many

things that we don’t like, or even strongly disagree with;

then that was a good, acceptable behaviour for that

situation.

Sadly things are changing, and deteriorating very quickly,

when it comes to deportment, manners and caring for

others. I suppose it is another one of the Signs of the Times

in which we live.

The following is an article by Gary Stearman, which does a

very good job of showing us exactly where society is at today.

It is a scary assessment of the “mood of society”, and

reminds me of Revelations chapter 11:18 “And the nations

were ANGRY!”

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A Rampant and Growing Madness

By Gary Stearman on January 2, 2013

What’s going on? There is a creeping irrationality that’s

becoming a new norm. It is seen in politics, education,

religion and a society gone wild in commercialized frenzy.

Remember the last “Black Friday,” with legions of crazed

zealots charging their local shopping malls in search of cheap

possessions? Christians often comment that the old stability –

commonly known as “common sense” – has all but

disappeared.

One is reminded of the poet Robert Frost who, many years

ago, commented upon the societies of the World War I and II

era. He said, “A civilized society is one which tolerates

eccentricity to the point of doubtful sanity.” Truly, we have

become civilized, in the secular sense of that word.

A first-grade boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing

a classmate; grade-schoolers expelled for bringing aspirin for

headaches, or mouthwash to use after lunch. Yet in middle-

school, there have been cases in which pregnant teenagers

were denied the right to notify their parents, when counseled

to have an abortion.

At every level of society, lying, prevarication, deception and

mendacity have become acceptable behavior. Politicians do it

routinely. The new rule: It’s okay to lie. Today, even the

“good guys” lie. Of course, politicians have lied for decades –

for centuries. But there’s something a little different now.

They actually think they’re telling the truth. And they

really seem to believe that spending trillions of dollars will

somehow put more money into the public coffers! Insane!

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Across the world, swelling waves of street demonstrators

spread a mixture of fire and hatred, demanding support by

their respective governments. But having engaged in decades

of obsessive socialism, those regimes are bankrupt. Cycles of

violence will continue to increase, leading to totalitarian

governments.

Then there’s the music business. Back in the sixties, the

Beatles (despite their preoccupation with Eastern Religion,

drugs and spiritualist experimentation) were the picture of

innocence. Their schoolboy suits, pleasant melodies and well-

groomed manner covered the roots of a movement that has

become full-fledged debauchery. Rock is pornographic

madness. Rap is an endless stream of profanity and

blasphemy. Recently, a music star addressed the current

President as “God … and my Lord and Savior.” Sadly, he

probably didn’t know any better. But perhaps he did, and was

driven by an almost psychotic fixation upon the idea that God

has become a human being.

The movies have become careening mélange of fast cuts,

cursing, gunfire, when they’re not engaged in the steady

propagation of anti-social culture and sexual mayhem.

Television brings all of the above into virtually every home on

Earth.

Intelligence and intellectual discipline has been distilled into a

never-ending barrage of new electronics: Tablets, phones,

gaming and texting are the new measure of culture. True

education is no longer needed – you can look it up. In his hot

hand, a third-grader has as many electronic facts at his

fingertips as a college professor, and he knows it.

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Respect for social discipline has almost disappeared. Worst of

all, society is breaking down into tribal territories and well-

guarded boundaries.

The result: Gang warfare, drug wars and a hard-rock mentality

have permeated the new generations, producing social

instability … or worse. Drive-by shooting or mass murders by

crazed gunmen are now almost a common phenomenon.

Society has become crazed … ragingly insane.

Paul’s Prediction

In the context of the foregoing paragraphs, there is a

fascinating term, used only twice in the Greek New

Testament. It is calepoV, spelled in English as chalepos, and

pronounced with an initial “k”, as in kalepos.

In this study, we shall look at both instances of its usage. In

combination, they reveal a prophetic truth that is at once

exciting and foreboding. At first glance its two usages, in two

very different contexts, seem unrelated. But in combination,

they bring us a remarkable prophetic insight.

The first time this term is encountered, it is found in the

context of a familiar episode related in the Gospel of

Matthew. It is the centerpiece of a series of seemingly

unrelated events. But in fact, they are woven around a

common theme.

As the scene opens, Jesus had healed many people. When the

word spread, a crowd gathered, at which time Jesus

commands His disciples to prepare a boat, so that they could

sail to the east side of the Sea of Galilee. As they departed,

Jesus announced that from this point on, His home would be

defined, not by a specific place, like his home town, but by

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His ministry, which would expand into the world. The sea and

the boat become a metaphor for that ministry.

In the following narrative, pay particular attention to the

word, “fierce,” which is represented by chalepos:

“Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave

commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain

scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee

whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The

foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the

Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his

disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury

my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the

dead bury their dead. And when he was entered into a ship,

his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great

tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with

the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him,

and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith

unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he

arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a

great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of

man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! And

when he was come to the other side into the country of the

Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming

out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass

by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have

we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come

hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good

way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the

devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to

go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go.

And when they were come out, they went into the herd of

swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently

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down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the

city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the

possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out

to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that

he would depart out of their coasts” (Matt. 8:18-34).

In this account, the events on and around the Sea of Galilee

can be likened to the human drama of the whole world. They

offer a microcosm of faith, family and the service of

discipleship in a world gone mad. They center about the

person of the One who, Himself, is the center of all creation.

In the narrative above, as the people begin to find out about

Him, Jesus is in demand. In the midst of this growing

excitement, a scribe rashly professes his intention to be an

unwavering disciple. Jesus informs him that there will be no

security in the endeavor.

Another disciple wishes to take care of family business … the

funeral of his father. Jesus informs him that such business is

of the world, not of his calling as a disciple.

Departing from the commotion of the crowd, they enter the

boat and the sea (May we say, the world?). Like the sea of

humanity, it is stirred up by winds and weather, themselves

metaphors of conflict on the spiritual level. By extension, it

depicts the troubled condition of the whole world. His

disciples fear for their lives in the maelstrom, but Jesus calms

them, with a reminder that they must hold to their faith in all

circumstances. Then, he demonstrates to them that He is in

control of the tempest.

On the east side of the sea, Jesus makes landfall in an unclean

land, symbolized by demonic possession and the dominance

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of swineherds, eking out a living in an unclean world. Both

these conditions are typical of humankind living in sin, which

finally rejected Christ.

And so it was with the Gergesenes. After Jesus cast demons

out of two possessed men, the people begged Him to leave.

And no wonder, In Mark’s account of this incident, we learn

that about two thousand swine were drowned! In any event,

their reaction was totally inappropriate.

In the other accounts of this incident, we are also told that the

possessed men displayed supernatural strength, and were

controlled by many demons. They broke chains and fetters; no

one could control them.

Exceeding Fierce

This brings us to the use of that term mentioned above. Here,

in Matthew’s account, demon-possessed men are called,

“fierce.” This is a translation of the Greek term chalepos

[calepoV], meaning “violent.” It is coupled with a modifier,

“exceeding fierce.” This term suggests more than violence,

reaching even to the level of uncontrolled, raging and brutal

insanity.

And here, we come face-to-face with the world, driven by an

inner darkness, out of control and furiously rejecting the

message of Christ. The east bank of the sea offers a compact

view of the depraved world. For those who have eyes to see, it

displays a blatant truth. Jesus’ followers were fishermen, not

swineherds.

Chalepos also carries the meaning of ferocity. In the social

context, it indicates uncivilized behavior, ranging all the way

to savagery.

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This was the scene on that ancient day when Christ sailed the

sea of Galilee. On one side, tumultuous crowds sought His

blessing. On the sea, winds and waves buffeted His disciples.

Upon their landing, they came to a world gone mad,

subsisting in a state of spiritual depravity.

The Far Future

This brings us to the second use of chalepos. And here, its

application is plain and simple. It sets the tone of a prophecy

given to Timothy by Paul … his final epistle, written to

Timothy just before his death. It is written from a cold Roman

cell. Winter is coming. Paul has been convicted by Caesar –

confined as the leader of an illegal religion. The prison setting

portrays the long, cold winter night that lies ahead for

Christianity as a social and cultural force.

His epistle is an exhortation and warning to the young pastor,

who may not have developed deep insight into that which lies

ahead. Its tone is solemn and thoughtful, befitting the

difficulties that Paul knows will define the future. Pay

particular attention to the word, “perilous,” noting that the

subject revolves around “the snare of the devil,” and the

subsequent effect he has upon the world:

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle

unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing

those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give

them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that

they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil,

who are taken captive by him at his will. This know also, that

in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be

lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,

blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,

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incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors,

heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of

God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power

thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which

creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with

sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able

to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and

Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth:

men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But

they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest

unto all men, as theirs also was” (II Tim. 2:24 – 3:9).

Here again, we find the Greek word chalepos, this time

translated as “perilous.” As used in Matthew, it described the

actions of men possessed by demons. They were out of their

minds, uncontrollable and violent. And here, in Paul’s word of

prophecy to Timothy, we find exactly the same meaning!

This time, however, it does not merely apply to two men on

the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. As Paul envisions the

world of the latter days, he sees that it is characterized by the

same insanity.

Ragingly Insane

Paul urges the young preacher, Timothy, to exercise a quiet

strength in his daily ministry. He emphasizes the importance

of teaching the strong doctrines of Christianity. He knows that

only correct and thorough doctrinal teaching offers the

strength to withstand the coming social subversion that the

devil and his followers will bring upon the world.

That world is symbolized in the book of Matthew by Galilee’s

eastern shore … the swineherd culture and the demoniacs who

raged among them. Paul’s letter says that it will become a

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reality. Of course, he was correct. The past two thousand

years have brought a cavalcade of narcissistic, vain, despotic,

blasphemous, criminal usurpers to leadership in every country

of the world.

Though the last three or four centuries have brought

enlightenment to the West, darkness is quickly closing in

upon the last vestiges of Christian influence. Europe has

reverted to paganism, as a tiny minority of Christians holds on

for dear life. Radical Islam is fast becoming the dominant

force there.

Godlessness is sweeping across the United States. The result

is just as Paul’s words foretold. The worldwide web – the

Internet – is a bubbling porridge of mixed information.

Though amazingly useful, with a potential for great good

(particularly in the spread of the Gospel), evil has, in fact

overtaken it. The electronic culture is now dominated by

pornography, corruption, thievery and crass commercialism

that threatens to undermine the last vestiges of civilized

behavior. The mind of this generation is all but enslaved to its

seduction.

In the outside world, it is even worse. The sordid underbelly

of culture crawls with serial killers, drug pushers, sexual

predators and a wide variety of self-serving criminals who

will resort to any means to enhance their own wealth.

Increasingly, we are seeing the emergence of behavior that,

only a few short years ago, would have been unheard of …

simply beyond belief.

And then there is the world of public communications. For the

Christian, television has become all but un-viewable. Radio is

becoming lewd and coarse, as the public debate of issues

devolves into endless harangues, diatribes and rants,

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sometimes touching upon subjects that send one racing for the

volume control, lest the ears of the children be subjected to

corrupt and perverse notions that were once confined to the

conversations of social outcasts.

Public life has, itself, become a parade of insanity. Think of

the last few elections. Both nationally and locally, they

increasingly seem to be dominated by money and

demagoguery – emotional speech without a thread of logic.

Think back; have you recently heard a public figure make a

statement that you found simply insane? Where is the voice of

logic and rational ideas? To argue from fact is to be found

lacking in compassion.

Raging criticism among political factions has reached an

uncivilized level.

Increasingly, the godless ones scheme to save the world

through the application of various social programs that will

reshape society through a global bureaucracy. To apply more

of the strategies that caused the initial problem is simply

insane. And almost two thousand years ago, Paul accurately

predicted it.