Is there such a thing as the right type of anger in Christianity? Absolutely! There are two types of anger: one that leads to sin, resulting in dire consequences and glorifying the devil, and another that disrupts Satan’s work, giving glory and honor to God. I am referring to sinful anger versus righteous anger. Today, we will explore both types to ensure that we are using the appropriate kind of anger when necessary. We will examine two passages of scripture that highlight the differences between these two forms of anger.
Let’s first examine Numbers 20:10-12, which states: “Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’ And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice. Water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, along with their livestock. The Lord then said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in Me and did not uphold Me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.’”
The next scripture is John 2:13-16: “Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, as well as the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, along with the sheep and the oxen. He poured out the changers' money and overturned their tables. And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
**Sinful Anger**
Reflecting on the history of the Israelites, we can see that during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, they consistently grieved God with their complaining, nagging, and sinful behavior. Despite this, God showed them mercy time and again because they were His chosen people, whom He loved dearly.
On one occasion, while they were in the wilderness of Zin, the people gathered around Moses and Aaron, once again expressing their complaints about thirst and the lack of water. In verse 3 of Numbers 20, they said to Moses, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”
Moses and Aaron then left the assembly to seek guidance from the Lord. In verse 8, God instructs Moses with the following directive: “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water.” So, you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” And so Moses took the staff as the Lord had commanded him to do and then he gathered the people together, but instead of following the instruction to the letter, meaning speaking the rock, what did Moses do, verses 10-11 reveals he struck the rock not once, but twice instead and not after giving them a piece of his mind with the statement out of frustration , “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”
The Lord immediately responds to Moses in verse 12 and pronounced his judgement upon Him as a result of Moses actions. Beloved, there are dire consequences for the actions we take. God loved Moses, no doubt, He chose him as the deliverer for His people and He continued to use Moses until the end of his days, but it didn’t stop the Lord from chastising him. The word of God tells us in Proverbs 3:12 and Hebrews 11:6 that He disciplines those He love.
Moses experienced sinful anger, and the consequences were profound. The promised land he longed to see was taken from him; a stark reminder of how destructive uncontrolled anger can be. We have much to learn from Moses’ journey. Consider Cain, whose jealousy-fueled anger led him to tragically kill his brother Abel. Similarly, Saul’s envy drove him to attempt to take David’s life on multiple occasions. Joseph's brothers, overwhelmed by jealousy, plotted against him and ultimately sold him into slavery. These stories illustrate a clear truth: anger rooted in jealousy only leads to regret and heartache.
**Righteous Anger**
Beloved, the Bible acknowledges that while feeling anger can be normal, it often stems from selfish intent. Ephesians 4:26 states, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” This verse teaches us that it’s acceptable to feel anger, but we shouldn’t allow it to overwhelm us to the point where we go to bed angry. Righteous anger, on the other hand, is about standing up for what is right. I once came across a definition of righteous anger: it is the grief we feel over sin when we witness an offense against God or His Word. This type of anger also applies to offenses against God's creation, His works, and everything He has established for the good of humanity.
To grasp the meaning of righteous or holy anger, we must examine the portion of scripture we discussed earlier. In John 2:13-16, we read, “Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, along with the sheep and the oxen, poured out the money changers' coins, and overturned their tables. He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’” In this passage, Jesus was not just troubled; He was filled with righteous indignation. He was appalled at how they had defiled His Father’s house—an area that is meant to be sacred. Their complete lack of respect for the Lord their God was unacceptable, and Jesus would not stand for it. He forcefully expelled not only the animals but also everyone engaged in business within the temple.
We cannot ignore the alarming trend in churches today, where individuals come in to sell their products and make deals during services, treating the house of God like a mere office or business center. Regrettably, church leadership often fails to take a stand against this behavior. It is essential to remember that we will all answer to God for our actions on this earth. A powerful example of Jesus displaying righteous anger is found in Mark 3:4-5. While in the synagogue on the Sabbath, He encountered a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees were always waiting to catch Jesus in a mistake, eager to see if He would heal the man on the Sabbath. True to His mission, Jesus healed him. Verse 5 states, “And He looked around at them (the Pharisees) with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.” Jesus is our assertive role model for standing firm in the face of wrongdoing and defending what is right, moral, and just. He clearly demonstrates the importance of knowing when to speak, when to remain silent, and when to take decisive action.
**Conclusion**
God wants us to live a life of holiness and that means putting off all ungodly practices and behaviors which include anger and bitterness. Sinful Anger is a manifestation of the flesh, it is not of God and can lead to dire consequences. Whatever that situation may be, ensure there is a resolve, there is reconciliation by the end of that day. There will be times when you will have disputes whether with your husband, child(ren), a friend, loved one, or colleague, whoever it may be, endeavor to make peace with that person and examine yourself before you turn in for the night to ensure you are not harboring any anger or bitterness towards anyone. Sinful anger not only negatively impacts our relationship with God, but our relationship with others.
The only form of anger that is deemed acceptable by the Lord God is what we call Holy or Righteous anger. This type of anger arises when we stand up for what is right, just, and true. It compels us to take action when we witness wrongdoings, immoral actions, and unethical behavior that go against God's teachings and values. Despite this strong call to righteousness, the Bible advises us in James 1:19 to be slow to anger, reminding us that even God embodies this wisdom and is slow to anger Himself, as highlighted in Psalm 145:8. This counsel serves as a guiding principle for all expressions of anger, urging us to reflect thoughtfully before reacting. When we feel righteous anger, it is crucial to allow the Holy Spirit to direct our thoughts and actions. By seeking divine guidance in our responses, we ensure that our efforts to uphold justice and morality are infused with grace and compassion. Our ultimate goal should be to bring glory to God—allowing Him alone to take center stage as we advocate for what is good and true in the world around us.
Avoiding anger that leads to sin is essential. Such anger is unproductive and self-centered. If you are reading or listening to this message and have been struggling with anger, my prayer today is that the Lord God will set you free from this stronghold and bring healing and restoration to your life. He will fill you with love, patience, and humility; in other words, He will clothe you with the fruit of the Spirit, in Jesus' name.
