Anger is a God-given emotion and a God experienced emotion. We are actually blessed with the emotion of anger. The fear of righteous indignation often motivates a person to keep his values in check. Throughout the Old Testament we can find ample examples of God experiencing anger because His people were living in rebellion to His principles and their purpose. Those that fear God will and do change the direction from one of doing things their way to that of a lifestyle that pursues the plans and purposes of God. (Proverbs 1:7) Jesus expressed His anger with the leaders in the temple because they had misused the purpose of God’s house. In this expression of anger, we can see how anger motivates a person for good. It is often not until we become angry that we desire to take action. We can see things that are wrong, hear things spoken that don’t need to be spoken, and see people do things that are harmful to others and themselves, and yet, it is all too often that we do not wish to take action until something stirs our anger. While anger is a God-given emotion, it remains that we must temper that emotion.
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Metro Baptist Church
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus... Philippians 2:5 |
Some ministers preach against anger as sin. This teaching is not true because even the Apostle Paul said that we are to be angry but not given over to sin in our anger (Ephesians 4:26). It is not the anger that is sinful but normally for us, it is the thoughts and actions that follow. Regardless if we seldom see good come from anger, it can actually be used for good. If not for our anger, then many times we would sit back and allow evil to prevail without taking action. Anger can motivate us to answer our convictions. If our convictions are not just, holy, honest and pure, then we already have a problem with our anger. Our heart and life must belong to God before what He has blessed us with can be brought under control. It is only as a child of God that we can ever hope to gain control of our will. (Galatians 5:19-20) Uncontrolled anger is one of those in the list of the works or products of the flesh. We must, as believers, retain control of our anger or our anger will take control and soon consume us and those around us. Anger that is not tempered is sinful. Righteous anger may be impossible for mankind but not for God. God calls us to be like Him. (Matthew 5:48)
Two ways our anger displays a less than righteous anger is by either blowing up or by clamming up. These have the promise of bringing you more heartache than reward. Yet many of us choose to free ourselves of the anger in means that we were not made to express in that way.
By blowing up you direct your anger at someone or something and you take out your frustrations on that object. Although this may appear to work to our benefit in very few cases, it is basically and unequivocally an illusion. Wrath cannot promise a solution but it certainly will guarantee to create more problems. The Holy Scriptures say that the wrath (uncontrolled anger; brash display of anger) does not produce the righteousness (anything and everything right) of God. (James 1:20) Blowing up is damaging and destructive both to yourself and to your relationships. It has the promise that something is going to give and it may end up being something you treasure. As my late father told me once after he noticed the result of one of my numerous displays of temper, “Son, one day your temper is going to cost you more that you are willing to pay.” That day came some years later. If you’re looking to fix things in an outburst of anger then you may be rewarded with an illusion that things are made right. If you are looking for justice, then the Word of God says that vengeance belongs to Him and He will repay.
While some people prefer to blow off some steam, others may choose to clam up. That does not mean that since you generally blow up, that in a different series of events, you are not susceptible to clam up. By clamming up you turn your anger inward, and choose rather to suppress it than to express it. This is neither the proper way to control your anger. Anger must be confronted rather than abused or suppressed. Many people attempt to deny or hide their anger and prefer to express it indirectly than use the direct approach. This is not fruitful nor the proper way to control. Generally, this display of anger also has an illusion of peace. This type of expression also will eventually display itself in the form of bitterness and resentment. Ultimately, it will show up in a person through health problems. By clamming up we will begin to blame and criticize others for our personal lack of peace. Although they may have contributed, it is our responsibility to deal with our anger in a right way. Jesus possibly could have been accused of clamming up, when he sat down after becoming angry with the way the people disrespected his father’s house. Yet, the scripture records that he platted a whip then he used it to fix the problem. It is wise to clam up when your anger is hot, but unwise to hold it inside and use your silence to try to inflict pain on someone else.
Controlling your temper is a gift from God. (Galatians 5:22-23; “temperance”, kjv) One of the quickest ways to give place to the devil is to blow up or clam up. Like the principle of the steam engine, without the fire under it to bring the water to a boil, the engine had no way to create the steam. But, there was one other element to the power of a steam engine, the inlet valve. As the pressure built up in the boiler the pressure would be released through the proper valve thus creating the power to move a monstrous locomotive or steamboat. Consider puncturing the boiler and letting out the steam some other way. Two things happen, one you get burned and two you loose power. This principle is true of the person who does not keep the steam of anger its proper place. They loose the power of God’s grace in their lives, relinquishing control to the devil and giving him an ample arena to work in, and they also, as revealed earlier, get burned or cause someone pain by the actions that follow.
Some people will say, “Well, that’s just me”, excusing their outburst of anger. Some will admit that they have no control when they loose their temper. This is why anger must be controlled at the heart level and where it starts, because once it is allowed to get out of control, it is just that, out of control. Submission to the will of God is critical in the efforts to control your anger. You cannot expect to be right with others if you are not right with the God of the Bible. When I ask groups, “Where is the most important place to start in the effort to control our anger.” They all unanimously say, “Prayer!” But then, do we? Do we start every disturbing situation as a time to pray, praise God, and thank Him, rather than let our anger build and begin to complain and criticize others? Anger can reach a point that is beyond our control, but never beyond God’s. We need to recognize the danger signs.
There are several signs that characterize uncontrolled anger. The first stage of anger begins with an offense. Jesus says that if you are offended then go to the offender and tell them. A huge mistake is made by many people when they ignore the offense instead of accept Jesus’ instructions. Another sign of uncontrolled anger is complaints. Instead of confronting the issue with the person who committed the offense, we often begin by complaining to another person who sometimes has no real contact with the circumstances. This leads to another sign which is when we begin to be critical of the actions of others. At these stages, people normally will deny that they are angry. This is generally because we do not recognize uncontrolled anger it is earlier stages. As anger builds, so does resentment and bitterness. This is when anger begins to become more and more expressive and obvious. This expressive display of anger is what wrath and this is sinful. Even though God shows wrath, this is not right for us because vengeance is not ours to display. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” saith the Lord (Romans 3:5) The scripture is clear about this distinction. Other signs that can be displayed in various stages of anger are a touchy attitude, a harsh tone, and a refusal to communicate with the person or persons involved. Often a person will deny using a harsh tone. Sometimes it may be helpful to record some of the conversations within your household to see the tones that we use with those we live with. Just a word of wisdom and experience, this may be helpful for you but dangerous if used to confront someone else in the house about their tones.
Maybe you are reading this because someone else influenced you, encouraged you, or pressured you. Regardless, my prayer for you is that you will find some principle here that will help you better deal with your anger. That you will seek to be ever more meek in your dealings with others. As it is written, “A soft answer turns away wrath…” That which we sow, we reap. Each one of us faces the overwhelming power of our anger about a specific issue, event, or person at various times. Each one of us may differ in the level at which that anger rages or how fast we reach that level. Yet, the choice remains to give in to the anger and let it control us or break the habit, the natural response, and watch God work in our lives. Many of us will ever remain victims of our uncontrolled anger because we seek self-justification. We must not justify our outburst by pointing the finger at the cause. The futility of this can be seen through an illustration that was shared with me by a former pastor and mentor, Claude Townsend. He shared that you can take two jars of water. Both filled with water, but one having sediment in it. If you set the jars aside for some time without disturbing the water then the water in both jars will look crystal clear. If you were to take the jars and stir the water in the same way and with the same vigor, only one becomes murky. Our life is the same way. It is not because someone stirred us up and made us mad that we sinned in our anger. It is simply because of the sin lurking inside of us. That is what must be dealt with first and foremost. Anger forces us to confront the issues of life and we have the choice to face them in righteousness and truth or in fury and bewilderment.
Next, we will focus on some basic Biblical principles that can help you respond righteously and healthy to a personal confrontation with anger. Principles to overcome life’s constant issues are a treasure to know and hold, but unless you practice them, then they will be more of a curse to you than a blessing. Principles are meant to live and not just meant to know. (James 1:21-25) Putting these principles to work will spell out happiness for you and open the door for God’s peace in your life.
Other scriptures from the Proverbs that shed light on anger. 1. Prov 14:29: He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. 2. Prov 15:1: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 3. Prov 15:18: A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. 4. Prov 16:32: He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. 5. Prov 19:11: The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 6. Prov 19:19: A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. 7. Prov 21:14: A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. 8. Prov 21:24: Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. 9. Prov 22:8: He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 10. Prov 27:3: A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. 11. Prov 27:4: Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? 12. Prov 29:8: Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
Some information was derived from the book ‘How To Deal With Anger’, by Claude Townsend This study is in memory of my earthly father and my late pastor and mentor, Claude Townsend, who both were instruments of God to help instill in me Godly principles. |
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instructions. Proverbs 1:7
Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down on your wrath: Ephesians 4:26
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:19-21
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
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