Anger Tactics

Anger Tactics 1/13/2005

Ephesians 4:26-27

I came up with the title of my sermon today from a show that I have watched called, “Scare Tactics”. On this show people are set up in different situations where they have things set up to scare people and when they get them to the place where they need a change of pants. Then they ask them if they are scared. When they say yes they say they shouldn’t be because they are on the TV show scare tactics.

So with saying that, let me ask you the same question. Are you angry? Then should you be angry or should you not be? Is it wrong to be angry? Are there times when it all right to be angry?

I have heard anger mentioned in a sermon or two, but I cannot remember ever hearing a whole sermon or the subject of anger, but today this will be our topic.

This is a common denominator that all of us carry. For some it appears at a flick of a hat and for others it has to be drug out of them. It effects all ages from a baby who is angry because they are hungry and you are not feeding them as fast as what they like. We’ve all seen babies who are screaming bloody murder till that bottle hits their mouth and then instantly they are happy again.

You have children who have what we call temper tantrums. One of my favorite Andy Griffith shows was the episode of “Opie and the spoiled rotten kid” where Opie is not really angry, he is just pretending to be angry to get his way by lying on the floor and screaming and kicking his feet. And you have the 911 Nanny shows now where the Nanny comes in and handles the temper tantrums.

And as we enter into adulthood these temper tantrums still follow us around. Now as we get older and wiser we learn to control that temper more but it’s still lingers and show itself from time to time. You may or may not know it, but at one time I was someone one who had a horrible temper. I was ready to fight over the stupidest of things with my main one being road rage and I still struggle with that more than I like.

In resent months, attending some basket ball games that my sons participated in, I’ve seen the anger from the lynch mob parents who are so angry they are ready to get the rope and find a tree for those guys in the stripped shirts. That is a real good example to be setting before our kids.

So we all struggle with anger. We all have our pet peeves that light our fuse and set us off. So this morning I want to cover the following things.

1. Is it a sin to be angry?

2. How do we know which anger that is all right and which one is wrong?

3. And how can we control that anger.

So lets start with the first question. Is it a sin to be angry?

I’m sure in our minds all of us have already answered that question. No. Our text even says, “Be angry and do not sin”. You have people who say that it cannot be a sin because God made them that way. Maybe they are a red head or they are Irish.

The answer is no, anger is not allways a sin. But it is when you don’t control your anger and your anger controls you is when it becomes a sin.

The best example to this would be in looking at God Himself. And I will do that in two parts. The first is did God get angry in Heaven? Yes. In Exodus 4:14 you read about God being angry with Moses. God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush and He spoke to Moses and said that He wanted him to lead the children of Israel out of their bondage. Moses began to make excuses, “what if they won’t believe?” God gave him the rod into a serpent, the hand in the bosom turning in leprous, and then He gave him the turning of the Nile River into blood. Three signs for their unbelief.

Then Moses came up with another excuse. “I am slow of speech”. God then reminded Moses who made his mouth. But Moses still requested for God to send someone else. And God got angry and said in verse 14 So the anger of the Lord kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.