Grace Vineyard Christian Fellowship

Pastor Bob spoke last Sunday about anger.  It was the second message on anger in his series about the wisdom of Proverbs, and a lot of people are discussing the implications of this biblical perspective on the purpose and proper outlet for antagonism.  I wrote down some thoughts I had on this issue, and I thought it might be helpful to share them.

Pastor Bob talked about how anger is a natural emotion that fuels action (Eph 4:26).  When there is a situation that is painful or intolerable, anger fuels the desire to change things, right wrongs, and fight injustices.  Anger isn't the enemy to a healthy spiritual life, but an important tool in our spiritual arsenal.  The Bible says, "Be angry, and yet do not sin."

Really, anger is like gasoline.  It is a fuel for action...when it is controlled and expressed in a godly way.  But when it is unhealthy it can be spewed out and poison everything around you.  Or turned inward, it becomes a pressure bomb ready to explode. 

The problem with anger is that when you respond with rage, though you feel very empowered, you are actually responding with weakness and being controlled.  When you are responding the way Jesus commanded in Matthew 5 ("turn the other cheek"), though it seems weak, you are actually acting in strength.  You are refusing to be controlled by the provocation. 

We can see this in action all the time.  Someone loses their temper and shouts, "You make me so angry!"  What they are really saying is, "Your actions forced me to do this.  I have no control."  Of course, this is not true.  They are responsible for their own actions, but what they are saying is correct in that they have lost control of themselves.

Conversely, when we refuse to go into a rage, we are saying exactly the opposite.  "I am provoked by you, but I will not allow your wrong to cause me to lose control of myself and commit my own sin."  Which statement sounds stronger?

When Jesus was on the cross, he was being unfairly persecuted by the people whom he created.  They were mocking God (Galtions 6:7).  They had convicted him unfairly even according to their own laws.  They had nailed him to a wooden cross, and teased him with calls for him to use his power to free himself.  Of course, he could have done this.  He had the power.

He chose not to.  He had every right to be angry and I think he probably was in some way.  But, his reaction was empowered.  Though he had every power and every right, he reacted according to his purpose.

That is what we are called to do.  Jesus did not tell us not to be angry.  He told us to react in an empowered way according to our calling.  Turning the other cheek is not an act of weakness.  It is a show of strength and refusal to be controlled by the provocation with our own fleshly nature.