ANGER MANAGEMENT

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph.6:12

     The Bible has much to say about controlling our anger. What our study will emphasize is the wisdom of GOD in how He defines anger and provides the means whereby we may disarm its control over us. We will give several verses from the Bible and provide a commentary on each. First and foremost are the Words of Jesus:

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you… the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Jn.14:16-18,26,27

     To the believing Christian, these words are as sweet as it gets. Here is the LORD Jesus Christ promising to us, the weakest of the weak His accompanying Presence through the power of the Holy Spirit. This simply teaches us how Jesus is closer to us now than if He were standing beside us. Through the creative power of GOD He takes up residence in the willing heart: to reside on the throne of our heart and speak His tender words at the very fountain of our thoughts. We invite Him to guide us home: in our decisions, to give us comfort when we are hurt, wisdom when ours is lacking, and perseverance to overcome sin as Jesus overcame (Rev.3:21).

“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil…Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” Lu.6:35, 37.

     Both Jesus and His disciple Stephen prayed for GOD’S forgiveness to be given to those who were murdering them. As the Apostle Paul was being led to the scaffold to be beheaded he spoke tender words to the axe man. How profound is this! To work redemption in every event of our lives gives honor to our GOD and Saviour. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Pet.3:9.

     Among the most precious fruits of the love that comes from above is forgiveness. As we realize the dilemma facing the entire human family, and how Jesus has made a way for all men to escape the clutches of sin and death, it opens the heart to appreciate the corporate nature of the condemnation that we all face and need deliverance from.

     Of the poor, the destitute, and those condemned to public execution, the great Protestant evangelist/martyr, John Bradford said, “There but for the grace of God goes John Bradford.” This principle applies to everyone who has ever lived. Any of us could have been born anyone throughout Earth’s history. And if we were born in their shoes we would have lived the life they lived. Far too often people take glory to themselves for the character strengths of their lives, which they received by inheritance and their upbringing. Seeing character weaknesses in others that they are not bound by, many view themselves as superior, not realizing the blindness of pride and the equally odious flaws in their own character. Of this, Jesus said, “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” Matt.7:3. The “Lord of heaven and earth” warns of every prideful tendency (Matt.11:20-26).

     All of us came into life without our consent to be where we are, who we are, and what we are. Our inheritance with its strengths and weaknesses, combined with the environmental influence of our upbringing determines much of our character. And many struggle much more than others to honor the voice of conscience based on the circumstances of their inheritance and environment.

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” Jn.7:24

     The word, ‘paradigm’ provides valuable illustrations on these words of Jesus. There is the story of a man with his three young boys riding on the subway. The children are running around and yelling at each other, disturbing the other passengers, while their father just sits quietly with his hands folded and his head down. In anger one of the passengers walks to the man and with a scowling face and violent voice tells him, “Haven’t you ever learned how to raise children? Its people like you that let our youth do whatever they want! You should be ashamed!” The man responds, “I’m sorry. You’ll have to forgive me, and my three sons. We just came from the hospital where their mother just passed away.” To give consideration to the cause and effect of situations is imperative to the Bible believing Christian. As Christ will speak through the lips of his servants Satan also works to speak his tainted character, infusing words into our conversation that at times deeply wounds the hearts of the listeners. This is why James sharply warns of the untempered tongue. And Jesus gave the most severe warning for us to guard the words that leave our lips: “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt.12:37

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matt.24:12

     With the rising evils comes a corresponding rise in anger. Many Christians are in grave danger here. What Christians far too often call “righteous anger” is, in the eyes of GOD, a serious threat to their salvation. A loveless religion is a Christless religion. In the first of the seven churches Jesus addressed in the book of Revelation He gave the church at Ephesus a serious warning: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Rev.2:4. This “love” (as in the above verse in Matthew) is the word ‘agape.’ Jesus used this word to define heaven’s love, in contrast with man’s word for love, ‘phileo.’ Man’s love is limited, selfish, and ultimately failing. While GOD’S love is unlimited, unselfish, and ultimately faultless.

     This love only comes from above. And it never imposes itself, for that denies its purpose to never interfere with our freewill. This is why we are called to give the LORD permission and invite Christ's Presence to lead our lives (Lu.11:13). The “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit always tugs the heartstrings through love. And it is the conviction of heaven’s love that will be the core of the final witness of Christ’s Apostolic Church to the nations as the world divides into the two classes of men: those with “the mark of the beast;” and those “having the seal of the living God.” Rev.7:2. At this pinnacle moment of human history, Jesus admonishes: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Rev.3:11.

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Eph.4:26

     Being angry is not a sin. It’s just a matter of tempering it in accordance with Gospel guidelines. Anger is an emotion that GOD Himself feels. To be made in the image and likeness of GOD means that He shares our emotional constitution that centers on our desire for justice, mercy, and love. But the difference between His anger and ours is that sin has severely marred both our judgment and ability to display Christ's character. So, in dealing wisely with our anger, we must prayerfully consider the cause and effect of whatever it is that antagonizes us and allow the Scriptures to provide the remedy.

     When Adam and Eve sinned against GOD’S Holy Law, from that moment forward, they were incapable of being good stewards over the life of Earth. Their moral judgment under Satan’s temptations was thoroughly corrupted. And without GOD’S intervening with His Holy Spirit to draw from their hearts the desire for heavenly virtue, our world would’ve been lost to Satan’s total jurisdiction (Gen.3:15). And this fundamentally immoral character has been man’s legacy throughout our history. But “thanks be to God” when Christ dwells in the heart a reformed sensitivity takes place: a holiness of the heart that transforms our relationship with each other and with our world. His Presence molds the heart into a virtuous temperament. In effect, the saints are being educated for a life with GOD and holy angels “in the new earth.”

“But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes… Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” I Jn.2:11; 3:15.

     These words of the Apostle John illustrate the condition of our world today. Satan’s temptations through weak-minded men have caused all the foolish impulsiveness that always brings harm in its wake, especially to the innocent. The atheist is so blind in pride to the controversy between Christ and Satan that this spiritual warfare is sheer idiocy to the unbeliever, as Paul said: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” I Cor.2:14; Rom.8:7; II Cor.4:4; 10:12.

     “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Jud.21:25. In the midst of the plethora of opinions every wind of doctrine is blowing. Within this cacophony of carnal man's commentary on the world’s many problems, it should be noticed how lasting solutions are never made or implimented. There are so many views on why things are the way they are, and with all the voices declaring theirs to be the right way (most of which stands outside the counsel of Jesus Christ), the Christian can take heart. The Bible gives an answer to every perplexing question as it relates to our life in a sinful world. Even in every temptation of devils the Bible provides the perfect verse to meet and repel the temptation.

     In the midst of this quagmire of man’s tampering and corrupting every aspect of life on Earth, it should be seen how the ruling religions (including Christianity) fare no better in their relationship with GOD’S established laws that perpetuate life in a world inundated with sin. This is because man has perpetuated sin throughout history and has no intention of living without it. The saints are given precious counsel to guard against standing with the world in its demarcation from heavenly virtue: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” II Cor6:17,18.

     The leading doctrine of the Gospel of Christ to remind us in our relationship with this world is that this is not our home, as Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Therefore, the saints are called to be “ambassadors for Christ,” for their citizenship is not in this world. An ambassador never interferes with their country of residence, but are only to represent the country of their citizenship. “As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.” I Cor.15:48. GOD has redeemed “a peculiar people for himself” “and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Eph.2:6. “They desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city…the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… [where they will be joined by] an innumerable company of angels.” Heb.11:16; 12:22.

     In closing: The injustices that are perpetuated generation after generation; the total lack of reformation of unethical behavior in government, business, and law (not to mention religion) riles people up to full-blown hatred. And the Christian needs to know the spiritual danger to their soul when they team up with this worldly spirit. To live in a world where righteousness has no voice, it should be obvious that our rulers will never bring any lasting solutions to our many problems. Therefore, we must conclude that man is unfit to govern himself. And as a result, “the fashion of this world passeth away.” I Cor.7:31.

     So, as we are tempted daily by devils, and with the carnal world constantly taxing our love and forbearance, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Heb.12:1,2; Eph.4:30.