Anger is a weird thing in humans. Occasionally it’s righteous (see Jesus turning over the money changer’s tables on the temple grounds Matt 21:12-13.) But anger guided and controlled by truth is rare. Anger itself isn’t bad, it is a God-given emotion and one that God himself knows and feels. “They abandoned the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem” – 2 Chro 24:18.
Anger is a normal response to pain. If a person gets hit, first they feel hurt, then anger springs. But anger can spring as a response to many things; the sound of someone chewing loudly or dragging their flip flops as they walk by, careless people leaving the lights on, the toilet seat up, or being too lazy to clean up their mess, drivers cutting in front, distracted by their phone, or going too slow.
All human emotions give clues to help people know what is going on inside of them, but sometimes humans are not good at reading the clues. This can be especially true and harmful with anger. Anger can be a weapon people employ in an attempt to protect themselves.
Once a student in 8th grade and his friend were intentionally trying to throw basketballs across the church’s gym to hit one of my older (she was in her 70’s) Wednesday night leaders on the head. I didn’t see it the first week, but she told me basketballs were flying at her while we were in the gym. I told her to stay away from the hoops because students tried to make half-court shots and they can bounce a long way. But the next week, I saw one of the boys intentionally shoot it toward her when she was in the corner of the gym, nowhere close to the basket. It landed right on her poor head. I was instantly filled with anger at this boy for his foolishness and disregard and I confronted him about it and had him step outside. Rather than confess or apologize, he got angry at me, claiming I falsely accused him. He tried to use anger to hide from accountability.
Like cornered animals, people lash out with anger when defensive. This is how the Pharisees responded to Jesus turning over the tables at the temple, “they were indignant” – vs 15. They were mad; angry, attempting to cover guilt.
Jesus warned that anger with the folks we are close to can be a problem. “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment” – Matt 5:22. He doesn’t say guilty, but “subject to” because it could (and probably is) a sign that something is wrong with you, not them. What does your anger reveal about you?
Pastor John Riley