Practical Problems - Angry Christians
Practical Problems - Angry Christians
Anger is a widespread problem in our societies. It causes much disharmony and the breakdown of many marriages and friendships. A clinical psychologist specialising in the treatment of angry men, has said,
"I’ve seen many of my patients lose jobs, wives, and opportunities because they were simply not able to handle the normal frustrations and disappointments in life. They argue, they insult, and they sulk. They come to think of themselves as ineffective, unlucky, or just plain losers. They don’t admit this to anyone, but deep inside, they feel inferior. Others don’t like them and they don’t like themselves. Their anger gets in the way of their ability to be good bosses, good workers, and good family men. I have also spent a great deal of time evaluating men who have been charged with serious crimes, such as assault and murder. Many, many of these crimes were not premeditated. These men did not all start out with the intention of hurting others. They reacted impulsively - often out of anger”1
Unfortunately Christians are not immune from such problems. When a person plays a sport they accept the rules. When a person becomes a Christian they also immediately become subject to the commands of God. Jesus told his disciples,
“If you love me you will obey what I command.” John 14:15
This teaching is becoming foreign to many Christians in the West who deep down want to remain independent. Yet the same apostle John, in his second letter, reminds his readers what Jesus had taught and that all Christians are subject to the commands of God.
“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one that we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to hiscommands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” 2 John v. 4-6
Right through the Bible, from the first book till the last, this teaching is emphasised.
Cain
Since the earliest pages of the Bible we learn that our commitment, to the Lord who created us, is to follow his commands and so live to please him. Failure to do so can produce dire problems. Cain was a rebel against God who became jealous of his brother Abel, whose offering to God was accepted. This rebellion was expressed as anger:
“ . . . but on Cain and his offering he (the LORD) did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry and his face was downcast. . . . The LORD said to Cain ‘sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.’” Genesis 4:5-7
Clearly Cain’s anger was a problem and God commanded that he learn to control this.
Jonah
Jonah was another rebel against what God had commanded him to do. Eventually he was forced into going to Nineveh to preach a message of judgment if the inhabitants did not repent of their wicked ways. Jonah was amazed when the king and citizens did repent and, because of God’s mercy, the judgement was enacted. Jonah’s reaction was hardly that of a Godly man.
“But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.” Jonah 4:1
Unfortunately a predisposition to anger characterised this prophet of God. Jonah left the city of Nineveh and sat down outside to see what was going to happen. His Lord graciously provided a plant to protect him from the sun. A worm chewed the vine and killed it, with the result that Jonah found the sun’s heat oppressive. Jonah’s weak character showed itself again and God said to him
“Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” Jonah 4:9
It does appear that a propensity to selfish anger is a cause of relationships being damaged, both with other people and with the Lord. However it is also a symptom, demonstrating that our walk with the Lord is not in a good state.
God’s anger
It is not that a righteous anger is wrong. When we hear of someone abusing children we should have such righteous anger. If you use a word search for ‘anger’ in the first five books of the Bible most examples are of the anger of God at man’s rebellion against him. Yet on Mount Sinai the Lord gives Moses a beautiful summary of his character.
“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:6
God’s anger is always justified and under control. This summary of the character of God is frequently repeated by the Old Testament writers. (See Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalms 30:5, 78:38, 86:15, 103:8 and Jonah 4:2)
Man’s anger
The following passages from the Bible make it abundantly clear that most anger exhibited by men is contrary to the nature of God.
Old Testament
“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city” Proverbs 16:32
“A fool gives vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Proverbs 29:11
Unfortunately our anger can be the result of someone stirring us up either unconsciously, thoughtlessly or maliciously. We must all be careful not to deliberately irritate others.
“. . . as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.” Proverbs 30:33
Man has always recognised the divisive effect anger causes. It is not possible to be angry and happy at the same time. God’s wish is for his people to be happy,
“I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good while they live.” Ecclesiastes 3:12
New Testament
Here the effect of anger is clearly explained. Christians are under the Lord’s authority so must avoid becoming angry and showing our temper. Anger is so damaging both to ourselves and to our relationships. Our anger betrays a heart not really submissive to Christ and damages our witness for Christ.
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality . . .hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition . . I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
In contrast, what our Lord wants to develop in us are his characteristics,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control . . .those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature and its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:22-24
So it is our responsibility to develop these Godly characteristics in ourselves and fight against those of Satan.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.” Philippians 2:14-15
Clearly our demeanour is meant to show Christ to all around us.
“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3:8
The way we talk reveals how our walk with God is going.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:29-32
The apostle James considers anger to be a ‘moral filth’. He recognises that anger and the holiness God wants to develop in us cannot co-exist. He writes strongly,
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry., for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, . . .” James 1:19-21
Anger and humility seldom exist together. When we lose our temper we are really proclaiming how selfish we are. James emphasised this,
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” James 3:13-15
When Paul wrote to Titus and described the characteristics that should be seen in Christians he emphasised self-control. Self-control should be seen in older men (Titus 2:2) and younger women who are being trained (2:5), young men (2:6), and all people (2:12). It should especially be a characteristic of church elders who must be self-controlled and ‘not quick-tempered’.
Jesus himself was forthright about the seriousness of anger in his Sermon on the Mount,
“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” Matthew 5:22
Part of the power of Jesus was seen in the way he lived. He lived what he taught. Many people, prone to episodes of anger, will try to justify this by saying it is part of their personality, a product of the pressures they are under and of their upbringing. Undoubtedly anger is more of a natural problem for some, others may be prone to greed and selfishness, but we have now been given the Spirit of Christ and a major ambition of our life must be to allow Christ to take over what is worldly in our personalty. We must strive to be gentle, peace-loving people. Our daily walk with Christ is what matters.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. . . And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7
How we all need to remember the radical change that takes place when we become Christians. We become new people and gradually we change to become like Christ. Paul writes,
“You were taught, with regard to you former way of life, to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24
Jesus warned his people about the seriousness of anger against a fellow Christian,
“”But I tell you anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” Matthew 5:22
Other Factors
It is well known that after consuming alcohol or drugs there is an increased propensity to anger. This is one reason why drinking alcohol is associated with marriage and other relationship difficulties. Recent research has shown that consuming just two small drinks of vodka diminishes the activity in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain, an area that is involved in tempering a person’s level of aggression. How hard it is for those given to alcohol to control their emotions and behaviour. Brain damage to the pre-frontal cortex can also be caused by trauma or brain degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and these can also result in an increase in fits of rage or anger.
Summary
It has been said, “When you are angry count to ten, when you are very angry count to one hundred.” Better advice would be, “When you feel anger coming upon you, pray urgently for the Lord’s help.” Then the question comes, “Is my anger a chronic problem?” If it is then realise that the devil is playing on your weakness. Our real enemy is not those problems or that person who is so annoying, it is Satan who wants to separate us from Christ.
All Christians have the power of God’s Spirit within us, we have the motivation to become like Christ, what is needed is the daily determination to become what Christ has taught us to be both by his words and his actions.
BVP
April 2018
1Thomas Harbin, ‘Beyond Anger, A Guide for Men’ p. 3
