--- id: ff14_method_two_ignore_anger title: 'FLYINGFREE - Anger Method Two: Ignore It' category: Biblical Life Counsel predicted_narrative_arc: suppressed-anger-to-open-resolution sentiment: Convictional emotions: - Pastoral - Cautionary - Practical keypoints: - Second common method: ignore the feeling and not deal with it - As a marriage counselor Dean hears “ignorance is bliss” is normally disastrous - Ignoring anger increases tension and does not relieve the problem - Ephesians 4:26–27: in your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down angry - Better to get the problem into the open than allow it to fester — business and marriage summary: > Dean’s second anger method is ignoring the feeling — “ignorance is bliss” that increases tension — answered by Ephesians 4:26–27: do not let anger fester past sundown in marriage or business. tags: - flying-free - chapter-14 - anger - ignore - ephesians - marriage - fester - dean-rush - book-excerpt - biblical-counsel sycophancy: 0 truth_score: 9 entropy: 2 sample: false consent: owner_approved agent: flyingfree created: '2010-01-01' updated: '2026-09-09T00:00:00Z' vault_stage: 07_CODEX headwaters: FLYINGFREE prefix: FLYINGFREE enrich_status: ok enrich_blockers: [] enrich_method: manual pipeline_filename: FLYINGFREE_14_method-two-ignore-anger.md source_kind: book_excerpt proposed_topic: FlyingFree lane: FlyingFree voice: desk active_voice: desk voices: - desk routing_source: carbon corpus_topic: FlyingFree content_status: active date: '2010-01-01' share_url: https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md source_url: https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md site_category: Flying Free book_title: Flying Free book_chapter: 14 book_chapter_title: Think Straight – Stop Anger Now! source_file: flyingfree/flying-free-14-think-straight.md description: > Chapter 14 — second anger method: ignore it; Ephesians 4:26–27 against festering in marriage and business. --- # Anger Method Two: Ignore It **Author:** Dean Rush **Book:** *Flying Free* · **Chapter 14:** Think Straight – Stop Anger Now! **Full book:** [deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md](https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md) ## Context for the Reader This chapter closes Section I by teaching straight thinking about anger. After method one (other always wrong), Dean names the opposite error: silence that pretends bliss. This lesson is method two — ignore the feeling — with Ephesians 4:26–27 and Dean’s marriage-counselor observation that buried anger increases tension. > Voice note: Everything under **Dean's excerpt** is Dean's original prose (lightly cleaned only). Sections marked **Biblical foundations**, **Scholar sidebar**, **Takeaways**, and **First-time learner** are enrichment for Asker / first readers — not Dean speaking. --- ## Biblical foundations (preface) Dean leans on Paul. Scripture does not command denial; it commands timely, non-sinning honesty so the devil gets no foothold and problem-solving can resume. | Dean's claim | Scriptural undercarriage | | --- | --- | | Ignore the feeling; do not deal with it | Ephesians 4:26–27 — do not let the sun go down on your anger; give no opportunity to the devil | | “Ignorance is bliss” is normally disastrous | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy (Proverbs 28:13) | | Increases tension; does not relieve | Faithful are the wounds of a friend (Proverbs 27:5–6) | | Anger stops progress in problem solving and festers | Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger (James 1:19); speak truth with neighbors (Ephesians 4:25) | --- ## Dean's excerpt ### Method two and the sundown rule Another common method of handling anger is to ignore the feeling and not deal with it. In a role as a marriage counselor, I am told that the “ignorance is bliss method” is normally disastrous. It seldom works because it only increases tension and does not relieve the problem. “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV). When Paul authored that statement in his letter to the church at Ephesus, he could have intended it for those who want to ignore their anger. It is better to get the problem out in the open than to allow it to fester. Anger stops progress, especially in problem solving, and festers. The advice applies to both business relationships and marriages. > **Scholar sidebar — Open is not cruel** > Ephesians 4:25–27 pairs truthful speech with the sundown rule — open does not mean abusive. Proverbs 28:13 and 27:5–6 favor honest dealing over concealed rot. James 1:19 still slows the tongue. Dean’s scope is explicit: marriages *and* business relationships. --- ## Takeaways 1. **Method two defined.** Ignore the feeling; refuse to deal with it. 2. **Counselor’s report.** “Ignorance is bliss” is normally disastrous. 3. **Tension rises.** Avoidance does not relieve; it multiplies pressure. 4. **Paul’s sundown.** Do not sin in anger; do not sleep on it; deny the devil a foothold. 5. **Open over fester.** Progress in problem solving needs the issue in the light. --- ## First-time learner ### What is Dean saying in one sentence? Ignoring anger — the “ignorance is bliss” method — usually increases tension; Ephesians 4:26–27 calls you to deal with it before sundown so it does not fester in marriage or business. ### Does “out in the open” mean a blow-up? No — Dean pairs openness with Paul’s “do not sin,” not with venting as violence. ### Key verses to read with this lesson - **Ephesians 4:26–27** — Anger, sundown, foothold. - **Ephesians 4:25** — Speak truth with your neighbor. - **Proverbs 28:13** — Conceal vs confess. - **Proverbs 27:5–6** — Faithful wounds. - **James 1:19** — Slow to speak and anger. ### A simple practice If something is festering, schedule a same-day or next-morning conversation with a clear “I” statement and one requested next step — not a midnight ambush. ### How this feeds Ask Dean Seed material for: *What is Dean’s second anger method? Why is ignoring anger disastrous? How does Ephesians 4:26–27 apply to business and marriage?*