Home | About Us | Past Featured Subjects | Bulletins | Sermons & Audio | Studies In The Cross Of Christ

Click Here for the Latest Edition of the Charlottesville Beacon
 

Planning to Visit Us?

What to Expect
Current Class Information

Past Articles

D-anger

By P. I. Sabbathi

 "The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" James 1:20. 

Definition 

Anger, a temporary negative emotion, is one letter short of danger. Aggression is a verbal attack or physical assault often motivated by anger, hostility is a chronic state of anger, and hate is the most intense form of anger. Though not everybody has a short fuse, usually at one time or other everyone flies off the handle, because anger is classically a way of passing psychic ache on to others. Blowing off or venting fury is called “catharsis.” 

Causes 

Anger is mostly an automatic retort to some kind of agony or anguish. It also occurs when one feels unwell, dejected, rejected and threatened.  It never happens in isolation, but rather is often characterized as a recycled emotion. Thoughts that initiate and ignite anger include decisions, suspicions, failures, unfulfilled desires, assumptions, flawed assessments, erroneous evaluations or misinterpretations of circumstances that make you think someone is trying to hurt, harm, make loss of, or spoil your opportunities.  

Analysis 

Anger influences your manner of thinking, attitude and behavior; it also terribly damages the highly valuable human relations in your life. Modern psychology teaches about many kinds of anger but it fundamentally classifies anger into three prominent categories – Anger, Aggression, and Hostility.   Paul distinctly expressed this analysis long ago: 1. Anger - "Be angry", 2. Aggression - "Do not sin", 3. Grudge or Chronic Anger or Hostility - "Do not let the sun go down on your wrath" (NKJV - Ephesians 4:26). 

Influence

Anger typically boomerangs, and eventually you have to face the ferocious consequences as the range and degree of anger is aggravated. Appropriate control and management of anger reduces the risk of reprisal and violence toward others as well as psychological and physiological hazards to yourself.

"A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them. Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?" (NKJV - Proverbs 27:3, 4).  "Anyone who burns with anger must pay for it. If you save him, you will have to do it again" (NIRV - Proverbs 19:19). "But anyone who gets angry quickly shows how foolish he is" (NIRV – Proverbs 14:29). Anger simply breeds quarrels if you don’t heed the creed.

Ten Illustrations 

1. Cain: The reason for the first murder in the history of the world was jealous anger: "But he wasn't pleased with Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry. His face was sad" (NIRV - Genesis 4:5). 

2. Naaman: "But Naaman went away angry … So he turned and went away. He was burning with anger" (NIRV - 2 Kings 5:11, 12).

3. Uzziah: "Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar" (NKJV - 2 Chronicles 26:19).

4. Haaman: "Haman noticed that Mordecai wouldn't get down on his knees. He wouldn't give Haman any honor. So Haman burned with anger; but he had found out who Mordecai's people were. So he decided not to kill just Mordecai. He also looked for a way to destroy all of Mordecai's people. They were Jews. He wanted to kill all of them everywhere in the kingdom of Xerxes" (Esther 3:5, 6). "And they used the pole Haman had gotten ready for Mordecai. Then the king's anger calmed down" (NIRV - Esther 7:10).

5. Older son: "The older brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father went out and begged him" (Luke 15:28).

6. Jews: "When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him ... At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him … he fell asleep" (NIV – Acts 7:54-59).

7. Moses: "… Moses came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses' anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain" (NASB – Exodus 32:19).

8. Balaam: "When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick" (NASB - Numbers 22:27).

9. King Saul: "Then Saul's anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him … Then Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down; so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death. Then Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did not eat food" (NASB - 1 Samuel 20:30-34). 

10. David: "Then David's anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, as the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die" (NASV - 2 Samuel 12:5).

Ten Exhortations

You must view your anger as a silent signal before a violent storm. This   symptom has to be treated with your own careful attention. You should be able to tackle and uproot your misunderstandings that lie beneath your fierce emotion. Try to convince yourself that life sometimes seems to be unfair and unjust, then you can effortlessly transform your wild anger into mild passion.  

Unless you govern your anger properly, you will be at its mercy. Controlling anger does not mean ignoring or suppressing the emotion, but, as anger is a learned emotion to annoying situations, you can also gradually unlearn it.

Discern your thoughts and emotions meticulously: what you want to do, or what you do when you become angry or infuriated. Indeed, many people do not know that anger is an option, hence learn to master your anger; never be a servant to it. Whenever you are in dire need of bridling your own ire and taming your anger, heed and practice the Scriptural exhortations:

1. Do not sin:  "Scripture says, "When you are angry, do not sin" (NIRV - Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:26). " … not soon angry … no striker" (Titus 1:7). "When Jesus saw this, He was angry. He said to his disciples, "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. God's kingdom belongs to people like them" (Mark 10:14). "Jesus looked around at them in anger. He was very upset because their hearts were stubborn. Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was as good as new" (NIRV – Mark 3:5). Indeed, Jesus helped them in these two instances.

2. Don’t be angry without a cause: "But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (KJV – Matthew 5:22). "Do not contend with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm" (NASB – Proverbs 3:30).

3. Don’t hold a grudge: "… Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (NIRV - Ephesians 4:26). "… Anger lives in the hearts of foolish people" (NIRV - Ecclesiastes 7:9). "You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD" (NKJV – Leviticus 19:17,18). "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (NASB - Romans 12:19-21).

4. Slow to anger: "… But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (NASB – James 1:19, 20). "Don't become angry quickly …" (NIRV - Ecclesiastes 7:9). "… not soon angry …" (Titus 1:7). "Anyone who gets angry quickly does foolish things" (NIRV – Proverbs 14:17). "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city" (NASB - Proverbs 16:32). "He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly" (NASB – Proverbs 14:29). "… But the slow to anger calms a dispute" (NASB – Proverbs 15:18).

5. Control: "A foolish person lets his anger run wild. But a wise person keeps himself under control" (NIRV - Proverbs 29:11). "Like a city that is broken into and without walls, is a man who has no control over his spirit" (NASB – Proverbs 25:28).

6. Don’t stir up: "A gentle answer turns anger away. But mean words stir up anger" (NIRV – Proverbs 15:1). "Those who make fun of others stir up a city. But wise people turn anger away" (NIRV - Proverbs 29:8). "A man who burns with anger stirs up fights" (NIRV – Proverbs 15:18). "If you churn cream, you will produce butter. If you twist a nose, you will produce blood. And if you stir up anger, you will produce a fight" (NIRV – Proverbs 30:33). "An angry man stirs up fights. And a person who burns with anger commits many sins" (NIRV - Proverbs 29:22). "Do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (NIRV – Ephesians 6:4).

7. Don’t argue: "I want men everywhere to pray. I want them to lift up holy hands. I don't want them to be angry when they pray. I don't want them to argue" (NIRV – 1 Timothy 2:8).

8. Don’t associate: "Don't be a friend with anyone who burns with anger. Don't go around with a person who gets angry easily. You might learn his habits. And then you will be trapped by them" NIRV - Proverbs 22:24,25. "Love … does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people's wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13:5).

9. Stay cool: "Suppose a ruler gets very angry with you. If he does, don't quit your job in the palace. Stay calm. That will overcome the effects of your big mistakes" (NIRV) - "Don't give up your job when your boss gets angry. If you stay calm, you'll be forgiven" (CEV - Ecclesiastes 10:4).

10. Forgive & Shun: "Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing" (NASB – Psalms 37:8). "But now here are the kinds of things you must get rid of. You must put away anger, rage, hate and lies. Let no dirty words come out of your mouths" (NIRV - Colossians 3:8). "Get rid of all hard feelings, anger and rage. Stop all fighting and lying. Put away every form of hatred; be kind and tender to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done" (NIRV - Ephesians 4:31). "Be loving in everything you do" (1 Corinthians 16:14). 

Are you angry?

You must always be in a position to listen carefully, trying to understand the other’s point of view. Sometimes you might be correct, but there may be many reasons why someone is doing something that stimulates your anger besides intentionally trying to make you angry. Learn to express angry feelings in a calm manner, with an attitude of respect, and without blaming or attacking others. 

The great Greek philosopher and father of modern science, Aristotle, said: "Anybody can become angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way, that is not within everybody's power, which is not easy." Does the question, which the Lord posed to Cain in Genesis 4:6 – "Why are you angry?" – apply to you? 

(Editors Note: This article was submitted by one of our readers in India. I commend it to you!)     

Dial-A-Bible-Study

(434) 975-7373

Free Bible Study Materials

Call Anytime!