The Anger Filter

Anger is one of the most commonly misunderstood feelings we have as human beings. We find ourselves face-to-face with intense emotions every day. The world’s answer to issues and problems is to get angry and, if warranted, get revenge. Anger is a destructive filter for our souls when we don’t understand its purpose or justifiably use it. We often see children mimic their parents’ anger when dealing with their children. Generations can pass without ever understanding this ever-important feeling. Today, we will dive in and better understand anger and its real purpose.

Let’s dive into today’s lesson.

If anger is a sin, why does God get angry? The simple answer? There is a violation of God’s perfect character. God is a Holy God. He is perfect. Anything or anyone who is an indirect violation of his perfection initiates God’s anger and wrath. 

A fantastic example of this is located in 1 Samuel 5.

When the Philistines captured the ark from Israel, they set it next to their fake god, Dagon. The next morning, they found it on the ground before the ark. The Philistines set it back up next to the ark. The following morning, they found their god Dagon fallen with its head and arms removed on the threshold of their temple. When they saw that, the Bible says they never stepped foot on the threshold of that temple again.

Was God angry? Yes! God is the only God. Anything and everything else doesn’t even come close. When we worship God’s creation, it is as if we are saying the things that God made are more significant than He. That’s a FAT NO-GO.

James 3:18 says peacemakers who sow in peace…

Jesus is the Prince of Peace -Isaiah 9:6. Yet Jesus, for example, got angry at the temple in Jerusalem. He even fashioned a whip out of cords, driving the money changers’ animals out of the temple and scattering money all over the ground. Jesus got very upset, yet he did not sin. Why is Jesus’ anger justified?

He knew his own Word. Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17 He said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ’a den of robbers.’”
Jesus remembered two different passages from the scriptures.

These I will bring to my holy mountain
    and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
    will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
    a house of prayer for all nations.
Isaiah 56:7

&

Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! Declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 7:11

Interestingly, the passage in Jeremiah is when you keep reading a little further down in the chapter.

While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you repeatedly, but you did not listen; I called you but did not answer. Therefore, I will now do what I did to Shiloh to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, and the place I gave to you and your ancestors. I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.’
Jeremiah 7:13-15

God has already shown us that people get bold enough to take advantage of people in his house through prophecy. His temple. When he walked into the temple and saw the same thing happening, he remembered his own Word. Jesus knew exactly what to do. Jesus had zero hesitation all kinds of confidence, and flipped the script on those taking advantage of the foreigners within the House of the Lord.

What can we learn from this? How does any of this help us control our Anger?

We learn through Jesus’ example that anger is a feeling that arises when an injustice demands to be set right. Therefore, anger is not a sin; it’s how we are angry and what we do about it.

Romans 12 & 13 are monumental in seeing the difference between us getting angry for selfish reasons versus getting mad in a righteous way. At some point, I would like to dive very deep into these two life-changing chapters. Let’s look at some examples that correlate with scriptures to help us see how to use our anger correctly.

The Setup

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good -Romans 12:9.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves -Romans 12:10.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord -Romans 12:11.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer -Romans 12:12. 
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality -Romans 12:13
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse -Romans 12:14. 
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn -Romans 12:15. 
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited -Romans 12:16.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone -Romans 12:17. 
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone -Romans 12:18. 
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord -Romans 12:19. 
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” -Romans 12:20.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good -Romans 12:21.

Love one another, but hate sin? Don’t lose your drive to serve the Lord? The question is, How?

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. – James 3:18

What is a harvest of righteousness? Check out James 3:17 below.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

The thing that sticks out to me the most is submissive, full of mercy and good fruit. Didn’t God say be fruitful and multiply?

Let’s put it all together:
Anger is a mechanism that initiates a process to correct a wrong. Now, we can see what God sees as unfair. Just because another persecutes us doesn’t mean we fly off the handle. We must learn to talk to a persecutor to forgive and bless them. We have no right to take revenge on another person. We let go and let God deal with that person. v.9 states that he will repay, but we have to let the issue go so that he can.

As we learn to practice God’s way of life, we reap righteousness full of good fruit. When we sow into self-righteousness, we reap pride.

Pride goes before destruction,
    a haughty (Scornfully and condescendingly proud) spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18

Thank you for reading my blog. Please comment and let me know how God has blessed your Life. We currently have a group called Christ Seekers on Facebook if you need prayer. We have prayer warriors who will not only pray for you but help if you need help, even if to point you in the right direction.

God bless you and yours. Stay Salty!

Amen