We have become an angry culture.
Just watch the news, follow social media, or read the comments that follow just about any article online.
It seems everyone is offended about something and eager to tell the world about it.
Certainly there are things to be angry about. We live in a sin-cursed world surrounded by sin-corrupted people. Life will be unfair, ugly, and unbearable at times. Evil exists. Violence abounds. Death is a reality.
In the midst of this world, anger is a natural reaction but it is not a solution.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19).
Anger simply does not get us where we want to go. It does not bring about the "righteousness of God." Anger at what is wrong does not make things right. Actually it makes things worse.
An angry man stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered man increases rebellion (Proverbs 29:22).
Anger is like fuel to the fire. It burns us up then destroys all those around us. That's why we are told not only to avoid an angry spirit but also to avoid those who try to stir up anger in us.
Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself (Proverbs 22:24-25).
Imagine if Solomon wrote this proverb in today's world of social media, 24 hour news, and talk shows. Have you noticed that most of our "news" is not meant to inform as much as it is to inflame? Have you noticed that much of social media acts to enrage us into crusades rather than engage us into conversation?
If feeding on these things makes us angry then it is time to change our diet.
Of course, I know the common retort.
"God gets angry. Jesus was angry. And anger in itself is not a sin."
Absolutely true.
Anger in itself is not a sin. It is actually a very needed emotion reflecting the very image of God in us. We often react against injustice and unfairness because deep down we know that life is not supposed to be this way. We know that there is a standard of righteousness that is being broken. We know that people should treat each other with love and respect. We know that evil is not supposed to win the day.
We were designed to live in a garden not a jungle.
But Scripture tells us: Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Yes, be angry at injustice, at unfair suffering, at the temporal triumphs of evil. But don't let that anger simmer for more than 24 hours. Don't let it take root in your heart. Don't let it dominate your thoughts. Don't let it dictate your life.
God knows that we can't handle the fires of anger without it soon consuming us. So He tells us to trust Him, to hand over our anger to Him, to know that He is just and He will avenge. Sin, evil, and death will not triumph in the end. Thus we can overcome evil with good rather than with hatred (Romans 12:17-21).
But let's be honest. Much of our anger is not "righteous indignation." It is often selfish vindication. We are an angry culture because we are a culture with an unhealthy mixture of entitlement, self-gratification, and depression.
We think we deserve more, we want more, and we are depressed that what we have doesn't satisfy.
So someone is to blame, someone has to pay.
The angry person is the discontent person. The irritable one is the miserable one.
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel (James 4:1-2).
There are wars in the world because there are wars in our hearts. We don't get along with others because we can't get along with our own self.
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24)
The restlessness of my heart is not to drive me to anger. It is to drive me to Jesus Christ.
He is my Savior. He is my rest.
And He is the only source of hope and peace in an angry culture.
