Righteous Anger
If we were to take a poll this morning everyone of us in here would have to admit that at some time in our lives we have become angry.
This passage of scripture tells us that is not a sin to be angry….to have the emotion of anger.. this sin is what we do with emotion. What we do in our anger.. The scripture tells us to be angry and sin not. The sin not is what we have a problem with too often.
A person who is angry on the right grounds, against the right persons, in the right manner, at the right moment, and for the right length of time deserves great praise.
The Bible speaks a lot about anger, actually the words anger and angry are use a combined total of 271 times in the KJV of the bible.
A lady once came to Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. "There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper," she said. "I blow up, and then it’s all over."
"So does a shotgun," Sunday replied, "and look at the damage it leaves behind!"
The Bible teaches us that God himself experiences the emotion of anger. It is a natural human emotion. By looking at Gods word, we are going to distinguish between righteous and unrighteous anger.
Ephesians 4 teaches that it is possible to be angry without sin
Exodus 4:14 (KJV) And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
Numbers 12:9 (KJV) And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed.
Righteous anger is anger under control
Ephes. 4:26 (KJV) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Genesis 4:5-6 (ESV) but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. [6] The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
Cain refused to bring his anger under control God even gave him the chance by asking him why he was angry. Anger is no excuse for wrongdoing. God still punished Cain for killing his brother Abel out of Anger.
Proverbs 14:17 (ESV) A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
Proverbs 29:22 22 A hot-tempered person starts fights and gets into all kinds of sin.
Although all the gospels record this story none actually say that Jesus was angry but we can tell by his actions that He was motivated by strong emotions
John 2:14-16 (ESV) In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. [15] And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. [16] And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade."
Notice that Jesus kept his anger under control when Jesus became angry He remained the same person, He did not loose control. His anger did not have a negative impact on His character or cause Him to say the wrong things. He went from anger to mercy in the same day. His anger was motivated by His love for people and never became a vehicle for harboring resentment. Anger must be resolved.
Righteous anger is God-like anger, it is an expression of the anger which has toward the actions of men. Godly people are angry when God is angry. It is anger which is consistent with the holy and righteous character of God.
When Abraham Lincoln had to write a letter to someone who had irritated him, he would often write two letters. The first letter was deliberately insulting. Then, having gotten those feelings out of his system, he would tear it up and write a second letter, this one tactful and discreet.
People are watching the example that we set with our behavior especially our children.
Col. 3:21 (KJV) Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
An author for Reader’s Digest writes how he studied the Amish people in preparation for an article on them. In his observation at the school yard, he noted that the children never screamed or yelled. This amazed him. He spoke to the schoolmaster. He remarked how he had not once heard an Amish child yell, and asked why the schoolmaster thought that was so. The schoolmaster replied, "Well, have you ever heard an Amish adult yell?"
Righteous Anger is motivated by the right reasons
Most of our anger is motivated by pride, insecurities, or unrealistic expectations that we place on others.
Mark 3:1-5 (ESV) Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. [2] And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. [3] And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." [4] And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. [5] And he looked around at them 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.
Righteous anger is motivated when others are mistreated and taken advantage of
Exodus 22:22-24 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. [23] If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; [24] And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
Righteous anger is motivated by people who preach a false gospel
Deut. 32:16 (ESV) They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger.
Righteous Anger is slowly provoked
Psalm 145:8 (KJV) The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Joel 2:13 (KJV) And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
James 1:19 (ESV) Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
