Escaping The Chains of Emotion: How to Become Externally Free

Christian-Based Emotional Control

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

As a Christian, our goal is to spread the word to the ends of the earth. Whether this involves at Church or at Sodom & Gamora, Christians must be able to control their emotions and tongue. Jesus speaks of the ability to forgive the unforgivable, Solomon speaks of how to control one’s tongue during anger, and God speaks of Moses to keep his creed, and not dig into his feelings and emotions.

Sin is feeling; this is why it is such a common and addicting occurrence. Sometimes we cannot feel God, and humans inherently adore the ability to feel. This is why Satan and sin are prominent, because of the adoration from the rush, the highs, the external feeling of being.

If sin externally felt bad, no one would sin; this is why it is the opposite, and why Satan is the ultimate deceptionist.

Christians must be able to crucify their flesh as Jesus once did. One must be able to say no to the highs of feeling and be able to internally realize the corruption behind hedonic pleasure. During spiked emotions, one must learn how to control their tongue and forgive the dissenter.

You must be able to control your emotions. to grow your internal being; You must be able to say no to the sinful feeling which grows Satan’s empire.

Stoic-Based Emotional Control

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius

Stoics believe in the ability to control emotions, by realizing that it is not in one’s ultimate control. This belief stems from the fact that humans do not know the future and cannot predict the outcome our brain thinks it knows. Being able to control emotions, in the Stoics’ eyes, is the purest form of soul-refreshing possible.

Emotional control is also important for staying grounded in the present, allowing for one to continue to internally grow. when one can internally grow, one can obtain a good disposition of the soul.

Stoics believe that emotional control allows for your light to shine brighter onto society.

Lucius Annaues Seneca, the author of my personal favorite book, said that forgiveness allows for true peace. When one can forgive another, they have reached the ultimate ability to control negativity.

The Power of Combining Both

As stated in one of my first ever blogs, history believes that Seneca and Paul used to write to each other. This is a symbol of how Christianity and Stoicism connect. Both agree on many things, with one of the main points being the advantages of controlling one’s emotions.

Jesus said that forgiving others allows for the Father to forgive you; Stoics believe that forgiving others allows the ability to forgive yourself. (Same principle, different divine ending)
The Christian belief about the future being in God’s hands, not our own, compared to the Stoic belief of the future being out of human control. (Same principle, different divine ending)
Christians believe in being gracious of one’s situation, and Stoics believe in staying present. (Same principle, different divine ending)
Solomon spoke about the ability to hold one’s tongue during anger, and to know when and when not to speak. Seneca spoke about how the cure to anger is by waiting. (Same principle, different divine ending)
Paul speaks of how to get rid of nervousness is to realize that God does not make timid souls, and Stoics believe in not trying to control the uncontrollable through anxiety-burdening situations. (Same principle, different divine ending)

The Christian Stoic Way

You may see a pattern with my parenthesis, and this is to emphasize that you can combine both.

As long as the ending is divine through Jesus Christ.

One can use the Stoic principle of not wanting tomorrow to come, by staying present and in control of oneself, to enact the finish line of being gracious for the situations that Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit puts you through. One can refer to the Stoic principle of not controlling the uncontrollable, by realizing that God is protecting you, in control, and is working in your life. Stoicism is not a religion, it is a philosophy.

Do not say no to the fireman believing that God will save you; God sent the fireman to save you.

God allows for these internal-building philosophies to inspire Christian light, and allow for the ability to combine both to become a joyful machine.

I’ll end this blog with two quotes, it is only fitting.

“You can also commit an injustice by doing nothing.” – Marcus Aurelius

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:17