In many ways, this is not easy to
write. This has forced me to
think deeply, study diligently, and repent frequently. Anger is not a simple subject to deal
with. Actually, it may not be that
difficult, but it is extremely difficult for me. You see, I struggle with anger and to be
honest, it feels good to admit it. It is
something that I have battled since childhood.
There are times when I get so angry that I feel as if I am going to turn
into the Incredible Hulk and destroy
anything and everything that gets in my way.
There are times, for no reason at all, I want to scream and shout and
turn into a fire-breathing dragon and spew fire on anyone and everyone. I justify my behavior by blaming others, by
blaming circumstances, or by blaming any other thing that takes the guilt off me. The sad reality is that I do not have anyone
or anything to blame but myself.
Thankfully, I can go to the Bible and get help. I can go to the book of Ephesians and get
some advice from the Apostle Paul. Ephesians
4:26-27 really helps. Let’s dive into
this passage and see how.
First of all, verse 26 tells us to
be angry. Wait! We are allowed to be angry? Before we get too “jacked up” in our
thinking, let’s define what this means.
Anger is not always a bad thing.
There are times when anger is good.
For example, when Jesus saw that the so-called “righteous people” were
extorting money from people in the temple, He got angry. In Mark 3, Jesus expressed righteous anger at
the hard-heartedness of the Pharisees (so-called “righteous people”) who did
not like it that Jesus healed a man with a messed up hand on the Sabbath. We are allowed to be angry at things like
injustice (child abuse, sex trafficking poverty, hunger, etc.), immorality, and
ungodliness.
But we cannot stop the
discussion here because that is not where Paul ended his statement. He said, “Be angry and DO NOT SIN…” Sinful anger is
anger that is only being expressed for the purpose of you; it is self-defensive
and self-serving. This type of anger,
according to Matthew 5:21-22, leads to murder and judgment. This type of anger has no place in the life
of someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ.
This type of anger must be dealt with; it must be given to God.
To recap, anger that is unselfish, and is
based on a love for God and a concern for others not only is allowed but is
commanded. John MacArthur says this,
“Genuine love cannot help being angered at that which injures the object of
that love.” Let’s be angry, but let’s
not sin.
Tomorrow, we will continue to look at this passage from Ephesians 4 regarding anger. Blessings for now!
