by Pastor Glenn Layne

August 11, 2002
This Week's Message:

Sixth Message in the Series
The Seven Deadly Sins

(Matthew 5:21-22)

A Personal Word…

Of all these messages, I think that this message has been the hardest for me to prepare. The reason is simple: I have a temper. I can get mad. I could give you eighteen self-justifying reasons, lame excuses each one, (it's my background…my upbringing…the banana I had with breakfast) but it'd just be a ruse. This is a room of my life that God has been banging away at me for years and one of the spiritual landmines that I step on, on a regular basis. I'm just a fellow traveler on this road, but maybe together we can make some progress. When I had small group training with Lyman Coleman several years ago, he would often cite Sam Shoemaker (a profound Christian man who was the driving force in the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous) who often said, "There's nothing that you and I and God when together can't beat."

I have noticed that as time has gone on that "angry buttons" are fewer and smaller. I guess that's progress. But it's amazing how the world and the devil know just where your buttons are and how to push them. I could list on one hand my angry buttons. (Not that I'm going to.) Funny thing, the devil seems to have the same list.

99% of the time when we're angry we are convinced at the time that we are justified. It's not often we say, "Hey I'm really over the top here." Instead, they (whoever "they" are) have it coming. "They asked for it!" we say.

Larry Crabb, an outstanding and insightful Christian counselor, says that most of the problems he sees with people can be boiled down to anger or fear or some combination of the two. That in turn, he says, reflects a faulty view of the reliability of God. My fear is because I'm not sure God is reliable; my anger is because I think He needs my help!

We try to justify our anger…BUT:

We say our anger is justified. It's "righteous indignation." But consider this:

• "Righteous" anger is only 20% of the examples of anger we find in the Bible. The vast majority of expressions of human anger we find in the narrative portions of the Bible are destructive.
• God's word repeatedly warns us about the destructive nature of anger-to others, to groups of people and to ourselves. In the teaching sections of the Bible-especially the Book of Proverbs and the letters of Paul-anger is overwhelmingly seen as a problem and most often an expression of sin.
• We fool ourselves into believing that we can be "righteous couriers" of God's holy wrath (James 1:19-20)

19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Sure, the Bible teaches about the anger-the wrath-of God. But this is walled off from human anger. God's wrath is His settled hostility to all things sinful. It is an expression of His holiness. It is not a hotheaded, unpredictable emotion.

While God's wrath is a sober reminder of His nature, thus reminding us of His holiness, human anger cannot make anybody righteous. Sometimes we think it can. ("I'll show her what's what! He can't get away with that! I'll show them!")

We think anger can be corrective. It rarely is. Instead, anger just gets bounced back at us-or at some other hapless person. The road rage guy probably just got fired or chewed out by his wife. That "corrective anger" didn't work, did it?

What Jesus Taught About Human Anger
(Matthew 5:21-22)

21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

• Anger (expressed in words and/or deeds) is "mental murder" and is a sin against God and man (5:21-22a). As far as God sees, this kind of anger is the same morally as killing someone. The Pharisee attitude was that what was not done, only thought about, was spiritually and practically irrelevant. The revolution of Jesus was this: who you are in your heart is the real you, not who you are in public. That kind of anger is sin. Remember the old newspaper comic that always featured an outrageous situation with the image "urge to kill" floating over someone's head? That "urge to kill" itself is wrong. Just because you don't actually poison their Kool-Aid doesn't mean that it isn't wrong.
• Anger expressed in words is the spiritually same as an act of violence against a person (5:22b) "Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." Words mean things. It's a spiritual issue to call somebody a nitwit or a dummy or a moron or whatever. ("Raca" is Aramaic for "empty"-the 1st century AD equivalent of "airhead.")

The Root of Anger

Where does anger come from? Well, it'd be tempting just to say "sin", but let's probe deeper.

• Egotism: Back in the 70s (what a silly decade the 70s were-and those were my High School and college years, I know) a big book was I'm OK, You're OK. (Nobody really believed that, but made you look trendy to have it on your shelf.)
  
  Actually, most of us have egos the size of San Diego. Anger says, "I'm OK, but you're a real jerk!" Seen this way, anger is an expression of pride.

• Frustration: You're in some situation that, from your point of view, has gone out of control. The definition of "gone out of control" is most often "people are not doing what I want them to do"! Or some totally crazy thing frustrates your plans or expectations. (Car batteries are good at this.) "This is NOT what I had in mind!" That is the essence of frustration. "Why did the stupid car do that stupid thing I only have a hour to get all this stuff done and I don't need this!"
• Threat/hurt/desire for vengeance (Romans 12:17-19)

This is a heavy one. Anger can be a response to threat, being hurt and/or a desire for vengeance. And I know that you want me to tell you that that's OK ("I'm OK, You're OK"-not OK.) Instead, look at what Paul writes in Romans 12:17-19:

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

Get out of the way and let God be God!

• A learned pattern. Some people are angry because that's just what they've been exposed to most of their lives-especially in patterns picked up from parents. Anger is simply seen as an acceptable response to any and all frustrations. Anger-especially in children-can be reinforced by violent TV. A steady diet of violent images cannot help but encourage an angry and violent response to life's frustrations. That is not to say that we are helpless victims of learned patterns. Learned patterns can be unlearned as well.

The Results of Anger

• Hostility (Proverbs 29:22; 30:33)

Proverbs 29:22

22An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

Proverbs 30:33

33For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

There's a vivid image for you!

• Physical effects

  The physical effects of anger are well documented. Here's a partial list: headache, ulcers, high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, tension, depression, accident proneness, and sleep disorders. Anger exacts a high price.

• The devil's foothold (Ephesians 4:26-27)

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.

This passage tells us that it's possible to be anger and not sin (Paul quotes from Psalm 4:4)-but also that anger is still a dangerous compound. Don't let anger hand around-"Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry." It's like having a bottle of nitroglycerin. You can have it, but be careful. One wrong move and you can blow yourself up.

Not only that, unsolved anger gives the devil a "foothold", literally a "place" in our lives (the Greek word is topos, where we get the word "topography"). Unresolved anger becomes a kind of loading ramp for the devil's work in our lives.

It kind of reminds me of the old Arabic story about a man who prayed to Allah, "Give me all the desires of my heart." Allah answered, "Are you sure that's what you want?" "Yes," he replied. "Give me all the desires of my heart!" "Alright, granted." At that moment there was a loud sound outside, and the man saw that his neighbor's house-a man he'd envied for years-had suddenly collapsed. As he went out into the street, people were running to see what had happened. A five-year-old boy ran into him; he glowered at the little boy who immediately fell dead. The man fell to his knees. "Please Lord!" he cried. "Never again give me my desires!"

The Solution to Anger

There are only so many possible responses to anger. Four in fact:

• Anger repressed ("I'm not angry." This person really doesn't understand that they are angry…although the reality of their anger keeps popping out in some other way. The classic is the so called "passive aggressive" who undermines others by promising one thing and then "forget" that promise, frustrating whatever they're supposed to be doing together-whether it's a business or a Vacation Bible School.) Obviously, this is no real solution.
• Anger suppressed ("You didn't see that, did you?" This person knows they're angry, but punches the wall in their bedroom closet instead of other people. No solution here.
• Anger expressed ("KA-BOOM!" This person lets it rip.) The anti-solution!
• Anger confessed. Obviously, this is the God-honoring way. Listen to Proverbs 29:8:

Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

If you're wise, you'll do something about anger. You'll deny it, you'll starve it, you'll confess it as sin before the Lord. Nothing else will do.

And this leads us to consider, once again, what is the alternative to anger? What is the living virtue that stands as the mirror opposite to this deadly sin? Let's review the list:

1. Pride and Humility
2. Covetousness and Simplicity
3. Lust and Chastity
4. Envy and Love
5. Gluttony and Self-control
6. Anger and Gentleness (Galatians 5:22-23)
7. Sloth and Faithfulness

Making Gentleness a Lifestyle

Gentleness is the mirror of anger. Anger is strength out of control; the very definition of gentleness is strength under control.

• Listen to God's command in Ephesians 4:31-32:

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind [gentle, meek, praus] and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

• There is a key question I want you to ask when you are in an anger-generating situation: Am I trying to "be God" or be godly in this situation?

What I mean is this: at the heart of anger is a desire to alter your world in a way that will be more pleasing to you, or the frustration that comes from being unable to change things. Anger comes when we assume that we should have God-like powers to reshape our situation.

But guess what-there's only one God, and the job is not up from grabs. Gentleness arises from a rest in God that He is truly sovereign over people and circumstances.

So when you are in a "anger producing" situation, a good question to ask yourself is, "Just who do I think I am? God?" (Do that and count to ten-it really is a useful practice!)

Am I God? No! Am I called to godliness-that is, a whole-hearted devotion to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus? Yes! Rest in Him.

• Forgive with the cross as the standard

Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Set aside anger for gentleness, even as God in Christ set aside His wrath for mercy through the cross of Jesus. Surely your standards aren't higher than God's!

• Putting on the Jesus suit (Colossians 3:12-14)

Paul often describes the moral and lifestyle transformation of Jesus followers like changing clothes. Remember those miners in Pennsylvania, how wet and dirty and filthy they looked when they were rescued from that hole in the ground? I saw them a few days later and they were transformed. They were clean, they were warm, they were neat. They took off the wet, cold miners' clothes and put on a new outfit. With that in mind, listen to this call from the word of God about our moral wardrobe.

12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

© Copyright 2002, Pastor Glenn Layne, www.templecitybaptist.org