“Pastor accused of hurting man in a road rage incident,” read the headline. My first response was to think, As a believer in Jesus, why wasn’t the pastor more forgiving? Why didn’t he show self-control when provoked? Then the realization hit me that I’m equally capable of such behavior. There have been too many times when I’ve been behind the wheel and my daughter has had to remind me, “Chill, Dad, chill.”
I continued to muse about this act of road rage: Can true believers in Jesus get angry? Is anger sin?
After telling the Ephesian believers not to live as nonbelievers do (Ephesians 4:17), Paul offers some timely advice on anger management. He reveals that anger is not necessarily sin. But it can lead to sin. Since God is the only One who can be angry and never sin, Paul warns us of our propensity to sin when we’re incensed (Ephesians 4:26). If we allow anger to simmer and fester within us, we’re dancing with danger. And when we allow anger to control us, we give Satan an opportunity to bring about a greater evil (Ephesians 4:27). Paul doesn’t differentiate between good or bad anger. He simply states that when we’re angry, it’s vital that we don’t sin.
Cain presents a classic case of anger mismanagement (Genesis 4:3-8). He was angry (at God), but for the wrong reasons (Genesis 4:3-5). God warned Cain to rein in his anger, to subdue it, so he wouldn’t be mastered by it and sin (Genesis 4:7). Cain couldn’t cool down his hot head and ended up murdering his brother (Genesis 4:8).
Knowing the potential evil awaiting to be unleashed when we don’t master our anger, we need the Holy Spirit to keep us from “being angry” and losing our “temper—[leading] to harm” (Psalm 37:8). May we rest in His strength and counsel when anger comes calling!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 16:1-36
More:
Read Matthew 5:21-22 to see what Jesus said about anger and sin.
Next:
Think of someone who has angered you. What should you have done or what should you do with your anger? How can the Holy Spirit give you the power to cool down and do the right thing?
Gary Shultz on February 12, 2017 at 5:43 am
Hi K.T., This is something I must be continually reminded of, that anger often leads to trouble. Even if it is just a short answer, or quick reaction, it leaves a “burn” on everyone. I think rather rare are the situations that we would show righteous anger. There seem to be enough anger spread around from politics, religious, sexual, and personal rights. We see, more than once, Jesus did get angry, and He took action at times. But for me allowing the fuse of anger to be lit is a dangerous thing. The Lord over time has drained a lot of anger from me and shown that His love is a much more needed thing to be shown in this world. Sometimes I have to count to 10, but chilling your jets is usually always worth the response time. Let’s face it most anger is from a selfish base, we need to be showing another way to the world. Being calm reasonable and showing love through the Spirit is a witness of God’s work in our lives. Thanks K.T.
trey102 on February 12, 2017 at 8:55 am
I completely agree with you, and I’m so glad you took the time to type out your comment because it brought an important realization to me: Anger is most definitely a fuse. It is easy to light but hard to put out, even after whatever lit it is long gone. Lately, I have found myself in situations where anger was justifiable (righteous, most probably), but my spirit continues to be reminded that although anger may very well be an appropriate stop, love must be the end result. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and thanks to K.T. as well.
hsnpoor on February 12, 2017 at 9:08 am
“Anger may very well be an appropriate stop, but love must be the end result”. That’s a very good word! Thank you for sharing, trey!
conmeo on March 8, 2017 at 8:48 am
Thanks KT and all. Complicated yet so simple….in the end Love! Thank you to our God of reconciliation!