I will sometimes come a cross a quote that sounds like it could be from the Bible, or at least said by a Christian author or proponent of Judeo-Christian values. And then I come across quotes that are said by agnostics or atheists which are equally Biblically sounding.

Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind. - Robert Ingersoll, 19th Century American Politician

I am sure we’ve all heard the phrase “blind with anger”. The Bible teaches us that we should cease from anger and forsake wrath, because when we act out of anger injury is close behind. The Bible also teaches us that we can be angry, but do not sin as a result. We must “keep our heads” when situations arise that push our anger button.

Robert Ingersoll, although he was a devout agnostic, knew very well that when acting out of anger, one can lose his ability to reason. I don’t believe though it is any coincidence that his father John Ingersoll was a preacher. Even though Robert may have rejected the Christian faith, his upbringing and teaching still reflects his moral and mental viewpoints.

Here are some more quotes about anger.

Everything leads to something. That’s the nature of both the good and the bad. Good habits lead to more good habits, bad habits lead to more bad habits. Kind of like the idea of karma, whatever a man sows, that he will reap. And that’s the nature of today’s quote.

“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda, Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace, 1999

Is that true? Biblical? What the Bible does say is that there is no fear in love, that perfect love casts out fear. So, I guess we could assume that without love, there is fear. And the opposite of love is hate, so it is rational to see that connection between fear and hate – they go hand in hand. So, perhaps anger is the step from fear that leads to hate.

FEAR → ANGER → HATE → SUFFERING

Now getting from hate to suffering is easy. God is love, so the Bible tells us. And also, those that do not know love do not know God. And without God, where does that put you? Having a lack of love in your life is painful, and in this life just the beginning of suffering. If we live with hate in our hearts, then we cannot live with God in our hearts, and we therefore will die without God. That is the ultimate suffering.

So, did I sufficiently make the case that Yoda’s wisdom stands up to the Bible? How did I do? Let me know if you enjoyed this, or if you think I’ve gone off the deep end.

Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear. – James Thurber

Is this quote Bible or Not?

“Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness.”

As we walk through life, the past has happened and cannot be changed. We can only move forward. If we look back in anger, then we are only prolonging our anger, and in turn our unhappiness and suffering. If we look forward in fear, then we seriously limit our potential for happiness, not to mention limiting the potential for God to create something more wonderful for our lives. Now if we move forward in faith, and look around in awareness without the biases of anger and fear, we will be able to perceive God’s hand and blessing all the more in our lives.

Yes, this is easier said than done. After all, we are emotional beings who tend to hold on to the baggage of past hurts, projecting them into the present and future. The first step is to be brave and actually take a step without fear, in faith, trusting that God will protect and provide. Not blindly, but in full awareness of your surroundings and in full awareness that our Savior is with us even in the darkest of times.

Here are some related Bible verses…

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” – Ephesians 5:15 KJV

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” – 1 John 4:18 NKJV

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14 KJV

And taking a page NOT out of the Bible, here are the immortal words of Yoda: “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”