From political polarization to protests.
From social media angst to online vitriol.
From racial tension to riots.
It seems that just about everyone is angry about something.
Yes, there is injustice in the world…injustice in our nation…injustice in our communities.
There is no way to minimize it.
And anger is a legitimate reaction to the tragedies, atrocities, and inhumanities of our world.
But, face it, if you are going to be angry about every injustice, then you are going to be angry for the rest of your life.
There are 7.8 billion of us on this planet. All of us sin. All of us fall short. All of us harm our neighbor in some form or fashion…either by action or inaction, commission or omission, intentionality or complicity.
We can be angry about injustice but we must see our own culpability at the same time.
Yes, anger can be legitimate…but it is also incomplete…insufficient…incapable of bringing healing, reconciliation, restoration, rest, peace.
The Bible is quite clear about anger.
Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm (Psalm 37:8)
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared. (Proverbs 22:24-25)
An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. (Proverbs 29:22)
Know this, my beloved brothers:
let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)
At best, anger identifies a problem. It lets us know that something is wrong. It stirs up our soul about the destructive nature of sin around us…among us…within us.
But it fails to bring a solution.
It stirs up the emotions but disengages the mind.
It stirs up action but increases division.
It may seek to squelch injustice but it often adds to it.
Victims become perpetrators and the vicious cycle continues.
Anger leads to hatred which leads to resentment which leads to bitterness which leads to conflict which leads to violence which leads to injustice which feeds more anger.
The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
It is a dead end…literally.
But, wait, wasn’t Jesus angry? Isn’t God angry?
Yes and yes.
But Jesus, God in the flesh, is also omniscient…perfectly seeing the whole picture. He is also sinless…perfectly balancing anger and compassion, justice and mercy, wrath and grace.
Our problem with anger is that we can’t see the whole picture…and we inevitably add our own self-righteous attitudes, self-focused agendas, and self-justifying actions to the mix.
That’s why the Bible puts a time limit on our anger.
“In your anger do not sin”:
Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
and do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
Don’t carry your anger from one day to the next.
It always grows…simmers…boils…explodes.
Instead cast it away…cast it into the hands of God…trust the justice of God…receive His grace and peace…and then act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.
Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
This is the path of love.
This is the road to justice.
This is the way to a better community…better nation…and better world.
I love this nation.
