You may be following the Oscar Pistorius trial (if you read the paper or watch the news, it's hard not to!). I haven’t been watching every move, but, as the embattled South African hero's name has been “trending” on news sites as a result of ongoing testimony that will help decide whether he will face at least 25 years in prison for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, I’ve generally been keeping up.
What has caught my attention most (in addition to his behavior in the courtroom) are reports portraying Pistorious’ personality. Text messages, testimony and news interviews with people who reportedly know him have revealed a brash, temperamental Pistorius who had been known to fire a gun in at least a couple heated moments.
I could not help but reflect that the picture painted of Pistorius - and this very sad situation, whatever the outcome - gives us practical, biblical lessons about the need to control our emotions, especially anger.
I’m not arguing whether I think Pistorius is legally innocent or guilty – I don’t know, and the South African court will decide that based on the evidence – but it does strike me that at the root of the events resulting in Steenkamp’s death on Valentine’s Day last year could be the outcome of a guy who has had challenges controlling his emotions. Now, how he's been portrayed may not be accurate, but, since issues about his allegedly temperamental persona have been raised, I can’t help but wonder if him not having controlled emotions was the underlying cause of the killing – whether it was premeditated or in the heat of the moment.
What we can learn from the tragic death - directly or indirectly - is that how we handle our emotions matters. In Genesis 4, right before the first murder, God gave some practical advice to the soon-to-be-culprit, Cain. In a nutshell, Cain became angry at his brother Abel because God accepted Abel’s offering from his work keeping flocks but not his, from his work on soil (after sin entered the world through Adam and Eve's actions, various offerings were required to make amends for sins committed).
The text it is not completely clear why Cain’s offering was not accepted, but the Bible says that “In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor" (Gen. 4: 3-5a). As the type of offering Abel brought – i.e., “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock”, and Abel himself - is favorably described - and Cain’s fruits - and Cain himself - is not favorably described, Cain's attitude and his offering likely were not of the first-rate quality of his brother's.
In response to God rejecting Cain’s sacrifice, the Bible says Cain got heated. In reply, God said to him, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (vv. 6-7). Rather than heed God’s warning, however, Cain killed his brother (v. 8). And, as we know, killings of passion – and premeditation – have continued since.
What would have happened if Cain had controlled his emotions – in this case, his anger? God’s words to Cain before he committed murder indicate he had the opportunity to reverse course by doing what was right – giving a good sacrifice, from a right heart - and not getting caught up in the moment of feeling rejected by God. Instead, Cain chose to let his emotions master him.
Ephesians 4 further provides that in our anger, we should not sin so that we don't give the devil a foothold in our lives. This implies that being angry is not always sinful, but what we do with our anger can be – and can lead to lasting negative emotions, and sin.
Expressing anger – and other emotions – starts with inward feelings that flow outward into our actions. Jesus said, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45). In other words, our words - and actions - are connected to what is in our hearts. While at times someone’s actions - or our own - may surprise us, the Bible indicates that, whether we saw it coming or not, our actions are the result of what’s in our hearts. Further, the Bible also says that our hearts are wicked and hard to know.
How, then, do we avoid being mastered by our emotions? Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” The heart is often referred to as the seat of our emotions and mind. What feelings we allow ourselves to be caught up in, and what we fill our minds with, ultimately determines how we behave. The wrong thoughts and attitudes can lead us to make sinful, devastating choices. Learning to protect our hearts from being overcome by adverse attitudes and emotions can keep us bearing good fruit rather than bad.
Ultimately, however, the task of guarding our hearts is just too much on our own, that’s why we need Jesus. The death and resurrection of a sinless God gave us a way to be made right with Him, without sacrifices such as the one Cain and Abel offered - we need only confess with our mouths and believe - in our hearts - inJesus’ death on the cross and resurrection. Then, we receive His Spirit, which enables our hearts to change so that we learn to say no to sin and yes to right living. Christians aren't perfect, but we are being changed through faith in Jesus!
Whether Oscar Pistorius is guilty or innocent I don’t know, but I can’t help but wonder to what degree a habit of acting on negative impulses may have played a role in Steenkamp’s death, intentional or unintentional. I can’t answer this question, but I think the image we’ve seen of Pistorius is a chance for us to evaluate what – and who – has our hearts. Pistorius is human, as we all are, and our hearts can all wander off course, and anything can happen. Each day, who has yours?
