Anger: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
by David Leaf

James 1:19-20
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

Introduction

There was nothing in Leo Held's life that could have predicted the end. Held, a 40 year old burly 6-foot, 200 pound lab technician at Lockhaven, Pennsylvania, paper mill, had been a School Board member, Boy Scout leader, secretary of a Fire Brigade, church-goer, and affectionate father…. To most of his neighbors and co-workers he was a paragon of a responsible, respectable citizen. But that image was shattered in a well-planned hour of bloodshed when Held decided to mount a one-man revolt against the world he feared and resented. After seeing his wife off to work and their children to school, Held, a proficient marksman, pocketed two pistols, a .45 automatic and a Smith and Weston .38 and drove his station wagon to the mill he had worked at for 19 years. Parking carefully, he gripped a gun in each hand and went into the plant. He started shooting with calculated frenzy that filled his fellow-worker victims with two and three bullets apiece, at least 30 shots in all… he was found in his doorway armed and filled with defiance. "Come and get me, I'm not taking any more of their bull."

………Puzzled officials discovered a tenuous chain of logic behind his actions. Mrs. Ram had quit a car pool, complaining of Held's driving; many victims at the paper plant were in authority over him or had been promoted while he had not. Held's outward calm demeanor had masked internal rage and resentment. Another neighbor…told of a spat over a fallen tree limb that so enraged Held that he beat the 71-year-old widow with a branch. She took him to court on assault and battery charges, but the magistrate threw out her case…If the jurist "had thought a little more carefully" said Mrs. Knisely, and had seen that "there was a man who was sick and had sent him to a psychiatrist, this thing could have been prevented." (Time Magazine, The Revolt of Leo Held, Nov. 3, 1967, cited in Jay E. Adams Competent to Council, p. 26-27)

In the time magazine caption under the photo of Leo Held, it read, "responsible, respectful, and resentful." NO, Leo Held was not sick; he was sinful. His true condition is described in Proverbs 26:23-26:
"Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. 24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; 25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; 26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly."

All emotions are from God; there is no bad emotion per se. They are all motivational forces that guide and drive us to various actions. The issue is: do :I use my emotions for God's honor and glory? Anger is one of the most powerful emotions we have. It is incorrect to label all anger as sinful. Anger can be used for good or it can be used to cause great destruction, personally, socially, and spiritually.

In verses 19 we are told to be quick in one thing and slow in two things. We are to be:
"quick to hear"... Hear what? In the context of these verses it is referring to hearing the Word of God. In verse 18 we are told that the new birth comes as the Word of God is planted in our hearts. Romans 10:17 says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." If we never hear God's Word we can never be saved. In verse 21 we are to "receive" the Word implanted in us by the New Birth. We are to seek to live out its precepts and believe its promises. Verse 22 says we must not only hear the Word of God but do it.

"slow to speak" ...If we are too busy speaking our thoughts and our opinions we are not going to properly hear God's Word. We must not import or read into the Scriptures our opinions and thus miss its real meaning. We must not allow our prejudices and traditions to interfere with God's speaking to us through His Word.

"slow to anger" ...This may refer to two things:
First, don't react in anger to what you hear in God's Word. If you will not allow God to contradict you at any point, you have no way of knowing the truth. Much in God's Word is counter-cultural and counter intuitive. If you become angry because God may at times disturb your cultural sensibilities, you will have no way of knowing God.
Second, don't lash out in anger at others, particularly those bringing you God's Word. You cannot focus on the truth if you are angry, bitter or resentful. Righteousness is never attained by means of sinful human anger. That is why verse 21 says to receive the Word with meekness, i.e., humility.

The Greek word for "anger" in James 1:19-20 is orge (ojrgh). Another word, thumos (qumos), used elsewhere, refers to "an outburst of wrath from inward indignation, while orge suggests a more settle or abiding condition of mind, frequently with a view to taking revenge. Orge is less sudden in its rise than thumos, but more lasting in its nature. Thumos expresses more the inward feeling, orge the more active emotion. Thumos...quickly blazes up and quickly subsides. (W.E. Vine)
"Thumos differs from orge in that thumos is anger [orge] rising in vapor and burning up, while orge is a yearning for revenge." (Origen)
"Thumos is incipient anger and displeasure fermenting in the mind, orge however, when thumos has subsided, is that which longs for revenge and desires to injure the one thought to have caused him harm." (Jerome)
"Thumos is the sudden boiling of the mind, / orge is enduring thumos." (Gregory Nazianzene)
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.　Prov. 16:32

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.　Eccles. 7:9

As we explore the topic of anger, we need to keep things in balance. Not all anger is sin as we see laid out before us in the Word of God.

GOD'S ANGER

"The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,"　Ex. 34:6

"'The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'"　Num. 14:18

God never loses his temper. He never holds a grudge. He delights to pardon sin.

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. Micah 1:18 "

"He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever." Psa. 103:9

"For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime." Psalm 30:5

But God's anger and wrath is to be feared more than anything else.

"God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day." Psalm 7:11 (NIV)
"God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day." Psalm 7:11 (KJV)

Romans 9:22 "What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,"

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." Rom. 1:18

"he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb." Rev. 14:10

CHRIST'S ANGER

And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." Mat. 17:17 (The demonized boy after the Transfiguration)
The 7 woes to the Scribes and Pharisees…Mat. 23

"And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored." Mark 3:5

"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." Mark 10:13-14

"The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." John 2:13-17

John 11:33, 38 "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved [outraged] in his spirit and greatly troubled. 38 Then Jesus, deeply moved [outraged] again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it." (The Greek word for "moved" is embrimaomai, which was used outside the bible in Greek literature for the snorting of horses; as applied to human beings, it suggests anger, outrage, or emotional indignation...D.A. Carson Gospel according to John, p. 415)

2 Thes. 1:7b-9 "...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,"

"Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Rev. 6:15-17

GOOD HUMAN ANGER

"I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them" Neh. 5:6-7

"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil." Eph. 4:26-27

BAD SINFUL ANGER

"The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them."　Job 36:13

"Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil".　Psa. 37:8

"because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me."　Psa. 55:3

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' 22 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. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Mat. 5:21-24 (*Raca: A Hebrew Colloquial expression of contempt... "stupid")

"For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish?that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder." 2 Cor. 12:20

WORKS OF THE FLESH "idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions," Gal. 5:20

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." Eph. 4:31

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Eph. 6:4

"But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth." Col. 3:8

"I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;" 1 Tim. 2:8

"Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James 3:13-18

"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask."
James 4:1-2

Righteous, holy anger can become sinful in two ways: (see the chart in the back...it was adapted from a chart by Jay Adams.


1. Ventilation of anger... blowing up
This happens when we lose our temper. It is anger out of control. It is giving full vent to our anger. Ventilated anger is usually aimed at another person. It is expressed in unkind works, cursing, and violence. It is devastating to human relationships: marriage, family, friendships, or church. It is DESTRUCTIVE!

?Some psychiatric methods and group therapy encounter groups encourage this open expression and ventilation of anger. Pillows from sofas are used as props to be beaten, pounded, and abused by people who imagine them to be whatever or whomever it was that made them angry. But this type of "therapy" is nothing more than ritual murders. Jesus' words in Matthew 5 clearly identifies such anger as murder. God's word is definitely against such ventilation:

Proverbs 14:17, 29 "A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. 29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly."

Proverbs 15:18 "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."

Prov. 19:11, 19 "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. 19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again."

Prov. 22:24-25 "Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare."

Prov. 25:28 "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."

Prov. 29: 11, 20, 22 "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. 20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 22 A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression."

Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,　but who can stand before jealousy?　Prov. 27:4

There was a man who paid his alimony payment to his divorced wife every month in 160 pounds of nickels. That is one way of expressing his anger.

2. Internalization of anger... clamming up
A second way that anger can become sin is by clamming up. Anger, rather than being aimed at another person in an explosion of emotion, it is released inside. But just because a person doesn't lose their temper, doesn't mean that there isn't an anger problem. Like Leo Held, the internalized anger may eventually explode like a volcano. Such anger turns into irritability, tenseness, sullenness, bitterness, resentment, and even boredom. At root is a resentful spirit of envy and unforgiveness toward a person.

Acts 8:23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

Romans 3:14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."

Heb. 12:15 "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;"

Mat. 6:12, 14-15 "and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Gal. 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,  drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

WHY DO WE BECOME ANGRY?

People who have an angry spirit demonstrate dissatisfaction with God's sovereign control of their lives. People become angry and bitter when people or circumstances dash their dreams and ambitions; become obstacles to their goals; violate with their perceived rights; and when others succeed or are promoted and they aren't...etc.

CONSEQUENCES OF LINGERING ANGER

We are spirit, mind, and body totalities. There is an interrelation between the parts that can effect the whole.

1. Physically
   High blood pressure, heart attack, stroke…
   Harry Mills, PhD says:
   "Angry people's tendency to easily become aroused keeps them stressed for prolonged periods, and causes significant and cumulative damage to their bodies...
   The evidence from numerous studies is clear: constant chronic anger, hostility, and aggression raise your risk of developing various forms of heart disease by as much as
   five times the normal rate. The more hostility you tend to express, the more prone to heart disease you are likely to be. If you find that you immediately get angry when you have to wait in traffic or when confronted with a long line at the grocery checkout, or if you find yourself constantly yelling at your loved ones, you may be slowly killing yourself." (www.mentalhelp.net)
2. Mentally
   Fear, anxiety, unhappiness, guilt, danger of drug and alcohol abuse...
3. Socially
   Broken friendships, divorce, loneliness, physical danger, domestic violence, child and wife abuse…
   Harry Mills says, concerning the social costs of anger:
   "In addition to physical health costs, there are significant social and emotional costs to being angry all the time. Hostile, angry people are less likely to have healthy supportive relationships than are less hostile people. Because they are constantly angry, hostile people tend to have fewer friends. Hostile people are also more likely to be depressed, and they are more likely to become verbally and/or physically abusive toward others. Most importantly, chronic anger reduces the intimacy within personal relationships; partners and other family members tend to be more guarded and less able to relax in their interactions with hostile people.
   "Angry people frequently have cynical attitudes toward others and are unable to recognize or utilize support when it is available. Because hostile people don't realize the impact their behavior has on others, they don't realize that they are pushing people away when they refuse or ridicule genuine attempts at helpfulness. Angry people also tend to drink, smoke, and eat more than their less angry
   counterparts. Without a social network of people to dampen these tendencies, the probability of serious health consequences is high." (www.mentalhelp.net)
4. Spiritually
   Lack of joy and peace in the Lord…

But Jesus' offer still stands: Mat. 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

James 1:20 says, "for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." The fullest expression of God's righteous character is found in the list of the "Fruit of the Spirit."

The Fruit of the Spirit and sinful anger are antithetical. They cannot co-exist.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

LOVE: Anger, which Jesus connects to murder is the opposite of love.
JOY: Angry outbursts and resentment in the heart are expressions of a lack of joy.
PEACE: A heart that is bitter, resentful, or envious is not in a state of peace.
PATIENCE: Usually angry outbursts occur because of a lack of patience.
KINDNESS: Anger is an unkind attack on someone.
GOODNESS: Anger is malevolent and malicious, not good.
FAITHFULNESS: Outbursts of anger can be compared to betrayal.
GENTLENESS: The venting of anger is the opposite of gentleness.
SELF-CONTROL: Uncontrolled anger flows from a lack of self-control.

1 Cor. 13:4-7: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

LOVE, therefore is the antidote to ANGER.

There are two common ways that people use to deal with their anger: First is to deny that they are angry, and second to blame shift - it is someone else's fault.

BIBLICAL SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF ANGER

1. Focus your anger on problems; not people or self. (see chart)
Martin Luther said his book, The Bondage of the Will was his best book because he wrote it in anger.Can you imagine Martin Luther King Jr. engaged in the Civil Rights dispute and not being angry over the issue.Anger in this case is the opposite of "apathy" (not caring); indifference, disinterest, uninvolvement and unconcern, which George Bernard Shaw called the "worst sins towards our fellow creatures." We should be angry over injustice and error.
Sometimes people are the problem. See Gal. 6:1

2. Confess and repent of any bitterness or resentment.
Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."
Col. 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh (bitter) with them."

3. Forgive anyone who has wronged you.
No true Christian has any right to withhold forgiveness from anyone.
If it is a Christian that you have bitter feelings toward, remember you will spend an eternity of bliss with them...so why be angry now.

If it is a non-Christian that you have bitterness toward... you should have nothing but compassion. Because if they die without Christ, they will have an eternity of misery.

Mat. 18:21-35 "Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. 23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.  24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant  fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,  until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Prov. 19:11 "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.　
Prov. 10:12 "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

1 Pet. 4:8 "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
Mat. 5:7 ""Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

4. Make reconciliation with anyone you have had a conflict or misunderstanding with..
"Don't let the sun go down on your wrath." (Eph. 4:26)

Mat. 5:23-24 "So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

5. Always seek restoration
Gal. 6:1 "Brothers,  if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Mat. 5:9 ""Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

6. Always respond to hostility with gentleness.
Prov. 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."　

YOU CANNOT PUT A FIRE OUT WITH GASOLINE.

Prov. 30:33 "For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife."　

2 Tim. 2:24-26 "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."

Mat. 5:43: ""You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

Mat. 5:38-42 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

7. Pray for the object of your anger.
Mat. 5:44 "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"
It is hard to maintain angry and bitter feelings towards people you are praying for.

8. Maintain a realistic view of life.
We must not expect too much from this life in a fallen, sinful world. We will be hurt and we will hurt others. We will be disappointed, and we will disappoint others. There will be broken relationships, failed business ventures, failed health and death. If we view all of these things as hostile intruders into our lives, we will become easily bitter and resentful towards others and even God. They will make us either BITTER or BETTER, depending upon our expectations and perspective.

Our expectations must be chained to the Word of God.

Jesus promised　"Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy." John 16:20

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me."　John 15:18-21

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," 2 Tim. 3:12

1 Peter 2:21 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

We have unconditional acceptance from God. He promises that all things that come into our lives, whether good or bad are intended for our GOOD. We are promised heaven where we will experience eternal paradise, where sickness, sorrow, pain, and death will be forever banished. This should give us a joy in whatever circumstances we are in.

Appendix

1. Anger is a natural defense reaction we all have, so, be sure you handle it as God calls us to. Resolve it quickly (Ecclesiastes 7:9; Ephesians 4:26)!
2. Anger can help you protect yourself, but, make sure it is not your fuel to rationalize yourself out of your responsibility (1 Samuel 31:4)!
3. It is OK to be angry; it is how you handle it that matters. Try to spend time in prayer, and read the Psalms to calm you down!Go for a walk (do not take a drive!) or exercise to help release your stress. Make sure you are praying for those causing you frustrations (Acts 24:16).
4. Focus on Christ, and His interests, not your own. Place your anger in His management (Philippians 2:4).
5. Focus on the root cause of anger, not the person, or situation (Proverbs 29:11)!
6. Ask yourself, have I analyzed the circumstances correctly, or am I overreacting? As a pastor, I would say that 95% of people overreact!
7. Ask for help from an impartial friend, counselor, or pastor, to help you through it. Make sure you do not aim your anger at them (Matthew 5:23-24)!
8. Ask yourself, why am I angry? Why do I feel this way? What I did I do to spur this on? Why am I threatened? What are my "hot buttons," the things that cause me to be excessively angry? Will my anger be a benefit, or a hindrance? Am I focused on God, or my expectations and comfort? How will my anger benefit my spiritual growth, my witness, and God's call in my life? There is a bigger picture and reason to life than what you may be feeling (Proverbs 15:18; 29:22)!
9. Seek what your part is in it, and resolve it. Do not rationalize everything as a personal attack upon you. You will do far better to focus on the problem, not the people, or yourself (Matthew 7:1-5).
10. Perhaps God is using you to confront someone; if so, do it with tact (Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:15-25).
11. Realize that sometimes, there is no outlet for your anger, because, it could hurt someone more than help. However, you can always go to God with it. You can also try to write it down in a journal (Psalm 10:1-18; I Peter 5:6-7)!
12. Do you have un-confessed sin? We all do, so, repent! Un-confessed sin will quickly become rationalized and projected onto others, which will fuel your insecurity and anger (Matthew 7:11; 2 Corinthians 5:7)!
13. Anger can teach us about ourselves, our weaknesses, and areas we need to improve on, as well as how we treat events and people around us. Anger will show real love. The key is being able to honestly look at yourself, at what you need to "put off" and, to "put on". So, seek Christ, and improve, with His precepts working in you (Proverbs 14:17; 29:11; Ephesians 4:22?24: 1 Peter 4:8)!
14. Anger can spur on Forgiveness, the essential component to healing relationships (Matthew 5:43-46; 6:12; Ephesians 4:32-5:2).
15. Let Scripture guide you in how you handle yourself, not the waves of your emotions (Matthew 18:15; Romans 12:17-21; Colossians 3:16)!
16. You cannot change people; so, keep your focus on the power of Christ, that can change lives and attitudes (Philippians 4:13).
17. Anger is no excuse to lose control of your emotions, or, to put others down. Learn how to react more slowly, and see the situation from a bigger perspective (Proverbs 14:29; Ephesians 4:32; Psalm 4:4; 103: 11-12).
18. Never let anger turn into hatred or bitterness. If you do, you will be far away from God's will (Proverbs 16:14; Zephaniah 3:8; James 1:19, 20)!
19. People will disappoint you, and, at times, be better than you! Be aware that jealousy, un-forgiveness, and envy will incite your anger. Expect it, and have a plan to handle it (Proverbs 3:31; 6:32-35; 23:17; 27:4).
20. When a bomb is dropped on you, do not hang on to it; let it go, or it will explode! You have to come to a point where you let the anger go. If not, you may repress it to explode at a later, inopportune time, or, it will fester inside you, building into bitterness (Proverbs 10:18).
21. You may not be able to change your situation, but, you can change yourself. Letting Anger go can only happen from a growing and or mature relationship with Christ. You cannot do it alone (Proverbs 29:11; Hebrews 4:12)!
22. How you handle anger is directly related to how you understand your relationship with Christ. This will shape your view of people and events, and build the maturity to handle all that life throws at you. Thus, time spent in His Word and in prayer will shape you greatly, and make you one who behaves as a wise person, and not the fool of Proverbs fame. If you want to change your feelings, then you need to change your thinking (Romans 12:2)!
23. A lot of times we become angry because we are selfish, or have skewed ideas or expectations of God. His concern is our growth and maturity, not our wealth or comfort. When we change our thinking, we will change our feelings (Romans 12; 2 Corinthians 5:16-19)!
24. Learn to trust and have confidence in God, and not in your situation. Our security is in Christ, and nothing else (Psalm 23:4; 27:1-14; Proverbs 1:7; 3:3-10; Hebrews 11:6; James 1:17)!
25. Remember this important point; God uses people and circumstances to improve your character. So, make the most of your harsh circumstances, and surrender yourselves to Christ as Lord (Galatians 2:20-21; 5:16; 1 Peter 4:12-16)!

Anger, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
James 1:19-20
by David Leaf

Overcoming ANGER

"Anyone can become angry. That is easy. But
to be angry with the right person, to the right
degree, at the right time, for the right purpose
and in the right way... that is not easy."
-- Aristotle.

"If you are patient in one moment of anger, you
will escape a hundred days of sorrow."
-- Chinese Proverb.

"Two things a man should never be angry at:
what he can help, and what he cannot help."
-- Thomas Fuller.

"Do not teach your children never to be angry;
teach them how to be angry."
-- Lyman Abbott.

"When I am angry I can pray well and preach well."
--Luther, Martin