Christian Ramblings

Anger

Is anger a valid emotion before God? The answer to that question is yes! Here is one example of God Himself showing anger.

Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them. Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?” (2 Chronicles 25:14–15)

Even Jesus Himself expressed anger.

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business. (John 2:13–16)

As He was making the rope to be used to “drive” out the people in the temple, do you think He was sitting there with burning anger? The answer is yes! Jesus gave a portioned response to the offense not to just punish them, but make a point that would stick in their hearts and even cause some of them to repent. God’s anger has purpose which is to lead people back to Himself.

Anger is a response to sin and all sin has a proportionate response of anger associated with it because God is absolutely impartial. Listen to what Paul wrote about the wrath that is apportioned towards our sins.

having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us (Colossians 2:14)

Those decrees are the judgments of God against us and the lake of fire is the manifestation of God’s anger according to those decrees.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the resolution of anger where the penalty for that anger is paid so that the reason for that anger no longer exists. This is what Jesus did for us.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

The Lord Himself instructs us to forgive.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12)

What will unforgiveness do to you?

You have heard that the ancients were told, “You shall not commit murder” and “Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, “You good-for-nothing,” shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, “You fool,” shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. (Matthew 5:21–26)

But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions (Matthew 6:15)

For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, “Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.” And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, “Pay back what you owe.” So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, “Have patience with me and I will repay you.” But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, “You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?” And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart. (Matthew 18:23–35)

So unforgiveness is something that is absolute hypocrisy. After all God has forgiven us, how can we not forgive? This is what these scriptures forcefully teach.

Spiritual Maturity

Spiritual maturity is to know the relationship and balance between anger and forgiveness.

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:25–27)

Paul is explicitly telling us it is OK to be angry, but don’t sin. So we cannot side step anger and say it is something to be shunned as if all anger is bad. Listen to what James wrote.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. (James 1:19–20)

James is also saying anger is OK, but be slow to anger. Many times we are to quick to express anger.

Here is a spiritual equation to consider...

anger + pride = self righteous judgment

Pride is just a set of lies we believe as the truth. When we add pride to anger we get a judgmental attitude that is meant to make the one expressing the anger to be the center of attention. This is ugly.

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:8–13)

Mercy triumphs over judgment is the key here. This implies self-control over your anger in that you put the other person’s needs first over your desire to express anger for the wrong they committed. Under self-control, anger becomes a tool that is used to help lead a person to repentance. Here is an example where Peter properly used anger and rebuked Simon which led to Simon’s repentance.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (Acts 8:14–24)

Anger in hand of a Holy Spirit led person who is trained with self-control is a mighty tool in the hand of God.