There was an article in the paper last Sunday entitled, “What’s The Point Of Being Angry?” It was two dads talking to other dads about teaching their children about anger.

I thought this was a very timely article since many things we encounter in our daily lives contribute to becoming angry. We see it (and feel it) as we drive from place to place. We see it in the impatience people show as they wait in lines from groceries stores to coffee shops and malls.

We see it at Office Depot, at the dry cleaners, and at our favorite restaurants. The poor clerks and servers are yelled at because the store is out of something, food is cold, or because it took too long, and most of the time it isn’t their fault.

But we don’t care. We get angry, and we show it with our loud voices, our angry looks, and our hateful attitudes.

In the article I mentioned, the writers assert that we say things we really don’t mean; and we do things that hurt others. Later, we regret what we have said and done, but we tell ourselves we need to get those feelings out in the open.

When we show our anger, we often feel a release of our frustration, but we do it at the expense of the recipient.  It reminds me of what Jesus said, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12 ESV).

I know this refers to behavior based on the Old Law, but is it any less applicable to us today? I think the teachings in New Testament scripture show us that an angry spirit is not what God wants us to have today.

Remember the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21-22).

The article made a practical observation about anger. “Other people don’t make you angry. You make yourself angry. If you allow other people and situations around you to make your blood boil, then you are allowing outside forces to control you. If what another person says or does makes you angry enough to explode, then you are allowing that person to have incredible power over you.”

Anger changes us. It makes us say things that hurt others, causes some to use profanity, and hurts our Christian influence. Paul said, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Colossians 3:8). Do you see how anger is connected to other sins of the tongue?

Paul told the Ephesians, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:4). Truly, there can be no thanksgiving with anger on our faces and in our hearts.

Some may say, but Jesus was angry. He was angry when He threw the moneychangers out of the temple. Remember that Jesus was sinless. He did become angry, but He did not sin. His anger was because of the disrespect the people were showing God. They did not honor His place of worship as they were commanded to do.

Scripture says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). This is a quotation from Psalm 4:4. The idea is do not sin through anger. We are not to be led away into sin because of our anger. A person under the uncontrollable influence of anger is a prime target for the devil.

This passage also tells us not to stay angry. We need to settle our differences and make things right before we lie down at night.

The article ends with these thought-provoking questions:

• How does putting more hostility into the world help?
• What am I afraid will happen if I don’t get angry?
• Do I have to get angry to show someone else’s behavior bothers me?

I suppose anger is inevitable. Crazy drivers, misplaced garments at the dry cleaners, slow service, and people just taking advantage of us all seem to create hostile feelings. We should keep in mind that human error is probably responsible for a portion of what makes us angry. Anyone can make a mistake, even we can.

For those injustices that create anger in us, we need to remember what Paul said, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ …Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:19, 21).

Sandra Oliver