Define anger biblically. Describe
at least five ways people deal with anger. Describe both sinful and godly ways
of dealing with anger.
The
word anger is derived from the greek terms; “theumos” (anger/wrath, boiling
point, explosive), “epitheumia” (anger centered around a desire/lust), and
“paragismas” (irritability, exasperation, embitterment). Jay Adams wisely
defines anger as; “God given emotion to help me solve problems biblically, and
quickly.”1 Anger can lead to sin, but does not have to. There is such thing as biblical anger, and
biblical ways to respond when feeling angry.
Anger becomes
sinful when it is selfishly motivated (Matthew 16:24-25, Philippians 2:3-4, 1
Peter 2:23) and when we fail to maintain God’s goals in the matter. People deal with anger in a variety of
ways. Attacking people verbally or
physically is a sinful response (Ephesians 4:26,31, Proverbs 29:11,
14:17). Dwelling on frustrations with
others but refusing to try to resolve the issues biblically is common, and
another wrong way to deal with anger.
Ephesians 4:26 is a direct command to deal with anger, not allowing time
to pass and bitterness to fester; “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the
sun go down on your anger”. Revenge is
often fuelled by anger, an action in retaliation against someone who has
wronged us, this is sin and only compounds the problem, not providing
resolution. Fleeing and attempting to
leave the circumstance or person behind is another way that anger is
addressed. For example, an employer may
make someone angry, so rather than communicating and dealing with the issues at
hand, they simply quit, and move on to other work, hoping to find a better
situation. Though this may seem like a
resolution, the individual will face others in the future that make them angry,
running away is not a Biblical response to anger, we need to learn to deal with
the emotion properly.
The
correct Biblical response to anger would be to evaluate the cause of
anger. Does it simply require repentance
privately before God and a change of thinking (Phil 4:8)? Is confrontation required? Yes, if someone or
a group of people has sinned against you (Matthew 18:15-21). If your anger has caused you to respond
sinfully, you need to seek forgiveness from them, as well as confess to God and
seek His grace in the matter (1 John 1:9).
God wants us to seek reconciliation in relationships, and His heart for
us as believers is to live in unity and peace.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put
away from you, along with all malice. Be
kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in
Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31, 32)
1 “The Christian Counselor’s
Manual”, Jay Adams, page
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