So it became needful to write on this, hopefully to bring some balance on the matter relating to Christianity and anger, in our world of today where many often tend to have very 'high and holy' standards for those who profess to be Christians; especially those who tend to use the same as a bait to 'guilt-trip' the Christian into accepting and abhoring injustice; As if to say that Chritianity and stupidity are synonymous, or that meekness and foolishness mean the same...
In Christianity, and in all matters relating to what is written in the Bible, a proper and correct balance is always vital; So as not to push any teaching or doctrine to an extreme, either to the right or to the left...
No doubt! Jesus Christ is and remains our standard, and the greatest goal of any true Christian on Earth is to grow daily in Christ-likeness in their behaviour, character, and conduct...
So, let me start this way: If you are a Christian reading this (a true and sincere Christian); please do not get guilt-tripped into believing that you are never meant to get angry, especially at injustice or ungodliness... Know it ahead of time that no matter how nice or kind you are, someone may say of you some day: "...and he/she said he/she is a Christian!"...
What do you think they said of Jesus the day He overturned the tables of those doing business inside the Temple? - "...and He said He is the Son of God! The Prince of Peace!"... Or what do you think they said of God Himself in the days of Old when He blows out in His wrath and people literally died because of His anger? Or even till this day as He sits and watches people drop into Hell? - "...and He said He is a loving and merciful God!"...
So! You will not be the first, neither will you be the last...
On the matter of anger, the Bible's guidance and instruction for the Believer is quite clear...
Anger is an emotion created and built into us by God for a purpose... God Himself gets angry, Jesus His Son our greatest role model also got angry while He walked on Earth (though recorded only once or twice to clearly indicate that it was not His default character or normal way of life; and the reason for His anger was also clearly stated as nothing selfish)...
Anger in itself is not evil. Anger becomes detrimental when it is allowed to grow into other devastating emotions or actions, such as revenge, hate, bitterness, unforgiveness, or even murder... Which is why the Scripture verse below instructs us not to allow our anger linger into the next day, so that Satan doesn't take advantage of that double-edged emotion to cause us to step out of the boundaries of a true "holy" anger...
Thankfully, every true Christian has the Holy Spirit of God living within them, and He will always speak up and convict the Believer once the Believer is about to step out of line... At such points, it is then the Believer's responsibility to apply the brakes, so as to avoid negative consequences...
📖Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NLT) says "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools."... And 📖Ephesians 4:26 (AMP) says: "Be angry [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behaviour], yet do not sin; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down."
So the point is - a Christian may react in anger occasionally, but a Christian should not be known for anger consistently!... The difference is in how easily a Christian reacts to provocation, the nature and motivation for the reaction, and the duration of the reaction... So, except in over-reaction, a Christian should not feel "un-holy" or "un-Christian", just because he/she once reacted in anger; Jesus once did too!
A disclaimer however: This is not an argument for uncontrolled anger or a justification for any form of destructive wrath or acts of violence in the name of "holy anger"... Anger is not God's default nature; Jesus was not known as an angry Man, His natural disposition was always love and peace, and so should ours!...
And if, by any means, you find yourself struggling with the 'evil' kind of the spirit of anger, please, your priority is to work on yourself prayerfully along with the Holy Spirit to overcome, as He helps you imbibe and grow in His fruits of gentleness and self-control...
The Bible admonishes us that:
📖"Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near." Philippians 4:5 (AMP)
Thank you for reading! Please feel free to share to help someone. God bless you!
