By Terry Loving
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light
for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20
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When we think of the word passion, most times it is associated with intimacy – strong desires relating to sexuality. It is also used to describe ones feeling towards a goal, an achievement which includes feelings of enthusiasm or excitement. One can be passionate about saving the planet or abused animals – any endeavor that creates strong desires to achieve an end result – for good or evil.
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I was watching an old movie, where the father of a missing teen addressed the man whom he thought was responsible. The accused was the girl’s high school teacher, a mild mannered, even tempered – overall very nice man. He was adored by the girl – actually she was in love with him. His other students also thought highly of him, and everyone was shocked to learn that he was a suspect in the girl’s disappearance.
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He visited the girl’s father in order to assure him of his innocence – attempting to dispel unfounded rumors of wrongdoing. His untainted character was challenged by the father:
Mr. Barlow (the teacher): “I came to assure you that I’m a perfectly normal person, and as far as I know, incapable of physical violence in any way.”
Mr. Vining (the father): “They all talk like that when the passion of a thing is over; they’re clear and lucid, more normal than the norm. And they’re polite and restrained, too, like you.”
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No truer words have been spoken. Mr. Vining described perfectly the state of mind of abusers after an episode of violence. Whenever the police are involved, no raging maniac answers the door – only a husband or boyfriend who exhibits calm, rational thinking, charm and feigned sincerity. Gone is the fury of the violence and the police don’t encounter a fire breathing maniac spewing hateful venomous rantings – no – for the desire to destroy has been spent. The object of the battering and hateful speech is left crumbled on the floor broken, bewildered, scared – and possibly wounded both physically and mentally for life.
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The “they” Mr. Vining spoke of are the violent and abusive souls, of many who also commit rape, murder and a host of evil doings. “The passion of a thing” is the acts committed – abuse, rape, murder, violence and whatever means of discomfort or torture committed towards others. The “passion” represents the hunger, thirst, and ache, powerful and gripping emotions. Definitions of “passion” may also include:
- “any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.”
- “an outburst of strong emotion or feeling: He suddenly broke into a passion of bitter words.”
- “violent anger”
- “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something”
- “a strong sexual romantic feeling for someone.”
- “a strong amorous feeling or desire; love; ador” 1
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The Bible speaks of passions that can lead to sexual sin.
8”But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/7-8.htm
Apostle Paul was giving advice to the “unmarried” and “widows” on avoiding fornication. We are human beings with feelings and desires given by our Creator – passions that must be tamed in order to keep our conscience clear and in right standing with God – and in many cases, to avoid self-harm.
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“1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
“5Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.”
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Hosea chapter 7 verse 6 speaks of the passion of anger that resides within our hearts:
“For their hearts are like an oven As they approach their plotting; Their anger smolders all night, In the morning it burns like a flaming fire.” New American Standard Bible
(1) “For they bring near as an oven their heart, whilst they lie in wait;” that is, they approach the king with loyalty on their lips, but hatred in their heart. Their heart (which is the fact) is heated with evil passion, as an oven (which is the figure) is heated for baking purposes; while they are secretly set for wickedness.” Pulpit Commentary
The various Bible versions also refer to “evil passion” as smoldering anger, evil plotting, a sleeping baker, and hearts that will heat up as ovens of fury.
“For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleeps all the night; in the morning it burns as a flaming fire.” http://biblehub.com/hosea/7-6.htm
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Intimacy and anger utilizes the same energy and power source. Both are a state of mind. Both begin with our thoughts, and manifest as actions or reactions to internal or external stimuli. The difference under normal situations is that shared intimacy between two people can be a beautiful experience. However, the energy and power that drives anger most often leads to violence and abuse. Thus, what the abused suffer is the passion of violence.
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Since both positive and negative passion share the same energy – desire, hunger, appetite, craving, lust, urge and ache – could this be why abusers can have sex right after an episode of violence? Personally, I could never understand how that could happen. I always thought that when you beat someone you really hated them. Truth is, sex and love are not synonymous. One can exist without the other.
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Scriptures speak of a passion that is beyond human comprehension – the passion of Christ.
Introduction for Theophilus (Luke 1:1-4)
“1The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 2until the day in which he was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3To whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God:” Acts 1:1-3
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“To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion,…. That is, after his sufferings and death; for that he suffered many things, and at last death itself, is certain from the acknowledgment of the Jews themselves, who own, that they put him to death on the passover eve (d); as well as from the accounts of the evangelists; and from the soldiers not breaking his legs, when the rest that were crucified with him were broken, because he was already dead;” Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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“after his passion—or, suffering. This primary sense of the word “passion” has fallen into disuse; but it is nobly consecrated in the phraseology of the Church to express the Redeemer’s final endurances.” Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
“After his passion – After he suffered, referring particularly to his death as the consummation of his sufferings. The word “passion” with us means commonly excitement or agitation of mind, as love, hope, fear, anger, etc. The original means “after he suffered.” The word “passion,” applied to the Saviour, denotes his last sufferings. Thus, in the Litany of the Episcopal Church, it is beautifully said, “By thine agony and bloody sweat; by thy cross and passion, good Lord, deliver us.” The Greek word of the same derivation is rendered sufferings in 1 Peter 1:11; 1 Peter 4:13; Colossians 1:24.” Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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One cannot adequately describe the energy and power involved in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Mel Gibson’s The Passion of Christ provided a visual of our Lord’s dealings with evil hearts, and ultimately His last hours of life on earth. When we read about His sufferings in the Word, it may not register just how much passion was involved – it is impossible to really feel the pain and agony that Christ felt. Therefore, Christians tend to not understand that Someone loved them so very much that He suffered all manner of wrong – even death – for our wicked sake.
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Abused people can imagine the level of passion that accompanies violence and abuse because they live it – or they have escaped from it. The fury is hellish and originates from the very pits of hell itself.
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” New American Standard Bible
When your abuser tells you he will never hit you again – and he does – he lies! He is a liar and guided by the “father of lies.”
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“8:41-47 Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men’s souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the devil are spiritual wickedness, the lusts of the mind, and corrupt reasonings, pride and envy, wrath and malice, enmity to good, and enticing others to evil. By the truth, here understand the revealed will of God as to the salvation of men by Jesus Christ, the truth Christ was now preaching, and which the Jews opposed.” Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
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“And the lusts of your father – those of falsehood and murder, lying and slaughter, being the top and chief of all his evil passions – ye are willing, desirous to do. He has engendered these very lusts within you. The paternity of your angry passions, your incapacity to see and accept my word, are both alike explained.” Pulpit Commentary
“He that doeth sin is from the devil (ἐκ τοῦ διαβόλου), for the devil sinneth from the beginning (ἀπ ἀρχῆς).” And sin entered into the world through the seduction and false statements of the devil, by which the first man was veritably slain, his moral nature killed outright. Grace was not shut out, but Adam died. In the day that he ate of the forbidden tree, man most surely and in the deepest sense died. “God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity. Nevertheless, through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of its side do find it” (Wisd. 2:23, 24; Revelation 12:9); “Sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Romans 5:12).
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“Ye are of your father the devil,…. Not of his substance, but by imitation and example; and as being under his authority and influence, his instructions and directions, and ready to follow after him, and obey his commands; the word “your” is rightly supplied, and is in some copies:” Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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Anger has its place in life – God does not forbid anger, but wrath which leads to discord and violence is strictly forbidden. Passionate anger ultimately outwardly destroys – while seeking inner release. Over time, angry persons are destroyed within through bad health such as high blood pressure and stroke. No one wins – neither the recipient of angry passion nor the giver of it.
Part two of this article will deal more closely with anger and the Biblical cure to get rid of it. Until then:
Ephesians 4:6
“BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”
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