ANGER

James 1:19-21
Matthew 5:21-24

Whenever Jesus said, “You've heard that it is said,” he was going to present a view that was in contrast to or counter intuitive to human thinking. Matthew 5 is filled with such teachings. In the weeks to come, we're going to look at such topics as loving our enemies, bold and radical witnessing, retaliation, oaths, adultery and today's topic, anger.

The world tells us that anger is a valid, normal emotion. As long as our anger doesn't result in harm to property or people, the justice system doesn't view it as a crime like assault or murder. However, Ephesians 4:26 says,”Be angry, but do not sin.” So, when is anger a sin, and when isn't it?


Everyone gets angry, including me. It's a protective behavior. When something or someone threatens me or hurts me physically or emotionally, I get angry. It's part of the fight or flight reflex. So, if it's a naturally occurring, defensive reaction why or how is it a sin?

Anger and the unloving, harmful behavior it may produce, can be murder on our relationships with other people. Because when we're not in right relationship other people, we aren't in right relationship with God, Jesus, in today's gospel lesson, tells us that working things out, reconciliation, takes precedence over offering worship to God. In fact, in Ephesians 4:26, we're counseled to not let the sun go down on our anger.

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than anything on which it is poured. “ (Mark Twain)

When anger is allowed to fester into grudges and unforgiveness, it is a toxin that not only affects our health, mind, body and soul, but it also impacts our relationship with God through Christ. Toxic anger becomes the focus of our lives rather than Christ. Such anger controls our actions and our thoughts. Even though the person who angered us is unwilling or unable to take responsibility for their actions, we are responsible for doing the right thing by forgiving and letting go of our anger.

“You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” James 1:19-20.

Whether it's the person who gets on our last nerve, the contentious person who always finds fault with us, that negative, argumentative person in our life or our friends and family members, being quick to listen is excellent advice.

  • Be quick to pay attention to the degree of our anger. If it is overt, what is pushing our hot buttons? Does this remind us of another time when we have been hurt, and are we projecting that on this situation?
  • Be quick to listen between the lines.  Human beings are imperfect communicators.  We often want to say one thing, and it comes out of mouths may be quite different.  Slow down, and stop to clarify -- "This is what I heard you say.  Is that what you meant?
  • Be quick to listen with God's heart. Every person comes into our lives wounded and flawed and may act out their pain in their relationships with others. Seek God's understanding and compassion for this person.

Anger is a valid emotion when we are threatened or hurt by others, and there are conditions in this world that should produce moral outrage in us. Justifiable, righteous anger is being angry for the right reason and results in the right action. That is, it produces God's righteousness -- reconciliation, healing, forgiveness or acts of justice, mercy and compassion.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRISTIANS AND COFFEE BEANS

Image
1 Peter 1:17-23 John 17:14-19 Potatoes, eggs or coffee beans? Which are Christians called to be? We're going to find out as we explore what it means to be “in the world but not of the world” in today's message, “Christians and Coffee Beans.” Put three pots of water on to boil. When the water begins to boil, put some potatoes in one, eggs in another pot, and coffee beans in the third point. Boil for 20 minutes The potatoes went into the pot hard. After boiling in the hot water, they are now soft, easily broken up and mashed. The eggs, with their fragile shells and soft centers, are also changed. They are now hard-boiled. The coffee beans are different. While they look the same as they did when they were put into the water, they have transformed the water. The water has taken on the smell, taste and color of the coffee Jesus was not of this world, yet he came into the world to redeem the world by his death and resurrection an...
Read more

OATHS -- GONE WITH THE WIND?

Image
Leviticus 19:11-12 Matthew 5:33-37 Even if we've never seen the movie, Gone with the Wind, we're probably familiar with Scarlett O'Hara's oath. Framed by the sunset, Scarlet raises her fist in defiance and says, “As God is my witness, I will never be hungry again!” In today's passage from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus leads us into a new understanding of oaths and profanity. Did the character, Scarlett O’Hara in the movie, Gone with the Wind , take the Lord’s name in vain when she made her famous oath? “As God is my witness, as God is my witness, they’re not going to lick me. I’m going to live through this and when it’s all over, I’ll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again. Leviticus 19:11-12 tells us not to take oaths, make promises that profane the Lord’s name, that is take the Lord’s name in vain. Scarlett’s oath is a profane ...
Read more

ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER

Image
"...  and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds...  " --  Hebrews 10:24  ( Amplified Bible) "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."  -- I Thessalonians 5:11 (NRSV)       To encourage means to:   give support, confidence, or hope to someone; give support and advice to someone to help them do or continue to do something; thelp stiulate development.  Encourage and building each other up go hand in hand.  Here are some ways we can encourage and build each other up which will in turn help us become healthy, thriving churches. 1.  Have high regards, great respect and favorable thoughts for each other. 2.  Be thoughtful and intentional when you speak.  Consider where someone is coming from and choose wisely your words. 3.  Be gracious.  When someone makes a mistake, be quick to forgive...
Read more