It’s safe to say that at one time or another, we’ve all experienced anger. It comes in different forms. There is the red-hot rage that blows up and causes us to lash our irrationally, the “slow burn” that simmers and festers until it blows up, the passive-aggressive feeling that maybe doesn’t blow up, but eats away at our joy, and the dozens of minor irritations that we encounter every single day. We’ve all had those times when we’ve been angry.
Not that we always call it “anger.” We have various names for it: “frustrated,” “irritated,” “ticked off,” “mad,” “furious,” “ballistic,” or even more colorful metaphors. Anger, no matter its form and no matter its name, is a universal experience. The Bible has a lot to say about anger. For one thing, not all anger is wrong. In John 2, we read that Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple. He had a whip, he turned over the tables, and rebuked the swindlers there. It would be difficult to picture this scene without seeing Jesus clearly angry. In fact, John quotes an Old Testament passage that says, “Zeal for your house has eaten me up” (John 2:17). Being angry at blatant sin or injustice is certainly appropriate. But if we are totally honest with ourselves, most of our sin is not “righteous indignation” over the violation of God’s holiness, acts of willful, unrepentant sin, or injustice that surely grieves the heart of God. No, when we are angry—okay, when I am angry—it is usually for selfish reasons. I was insulted. Things did not go my way. I am unthankful or ungrateful for what is happening in my life. I want what I cannot have and get irritated that I cannot have it. It’s all about me! Our purpose is not to do an in-depth psychological paper on the causes and consequences of anger. There have been studies that show the effect of anger on health, the effect of anger in marriages and families, the effect of anger in society and with crimes. What we’re going to do is share just a fraction of what the Bible says about anger. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he says “be angry and do not sin, let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” (Ephesians 4:26). There is a time and place for anger, but sin should not follow. You want to be angry, fine—just don’t sin! Easier said then done, though. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus says whoever hates his brother without a cause has committed murder in his heart. That anger and resentment you have toward another has the same effect spiritually as murder! You may not punch someone in the mouth, but if you’re angry enough to think about it, you’ve sinned! Ephesians 4 cautions us that, even if we are experiencing righteous anger, we should not dwell on it for a prolonged period of time (let not the sun go down on your wrath). Later in the chapter, the apostle tells us, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Here, we are told what to put away: bitterness, wrath, anger. . . in short, no matter what we call it, anger should be shoved out of our lives. And then we are encouraged to replace anger with kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness. We see this same sentiment in other parts of the New Testament: Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” James 1:19-20 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 “Love suffers long (patient) and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil” Feeling angry? Let the Lord know how you feel, admit that it is what the Bible calls it: sin, and be thankful for His forgiveness. With God’s help, replace the anger and bitterness with love, kindness, and patience. Forgive one another. Anger is common to all of us, but it does not have to rule our lives. Thanks be to God for His victory.
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