Anger. It is without question one of the most destructive forces in human nature—one that devestates marriages, tears apart families, fractures friendships, organizations, countries, and threatens to consume humanity altogether. Anger isn’t pretty. But is it ever justifiable? Does anger have value? Yes. And no.
Anger comes in two forms: righteous and self-righteous.
There are things in this world that demand our anger. An innocent young girl being kidnapped, murdered and tossed like garbage into a field is something that demands anger. Giving children automatic machine guns and brainwashing them into killing their families and members of their village, that demands anger. Cooking the books in such a way that unsuspecting elderly widows are defrauded out of their life savings while someone else lives a life of luxury on stolen money, that demands anger.
Righteous anger is one that abhors injustice, immorality and all forms of evil. It can be—and should be—the impetus for purposeful action that brings correction and positive change. To be righteously angry is to be compassionate and just. Sadly however, rather than using this type of anger as fuel for virtuous action, we far too often let it solidify and harden until it turns into hatred, resentment and evil itself. If the sun goes down on this anger, we risk being overcome by evil rather than overcoming evil with good.
“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Romans 12:17
Self-righteous anger, on the other hand, is nothing more than a selfish, self-defensive, self-serving resentment of what others have done to us. Not to be confused with anger that comes from a grievous trespass made against us (such as deceit, emotional harm, physical abuse and the like), this type of anger is soiled with bitterness. It is undisciplined and vindictive. It grows and festers and seeks revenge and destruction. It demands obliteration instead of reconstruction and reconciliation. There is no value in self-righteous anger.
“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:20
One of my personal struggles is with this misguided, self-righteous anger. I sometimes focus on the smallest, most stupid things—allowing myself to obsess over them. I only become more jaded, frustrated and miserable. I’ve had anger with others which I have allowed to sit around far too long, watching it become putrid and noxious. Only after getting rid of it did I realize just how toxic and useless it really was.I also struggle with personal anger toward myself—often righteous, corrective anger—but instead of using it to recalibrate my behavior and reorient my heart, I too often rest my head on it night after night until it becomes so uncomfortably hard that it crushes my spirit.
My hope for you is that you will take a moment to consider what in your life is really worth getting angry over. Throw out all of that which is selfish, harmful and shameful. I also hope that the anger you have toward injustices you see will move you to be the spark for positive change in your families, in your relationships and in your neighborhoods. One person’s actions can bring about unthinkable anger, but another person’s actions (often counter-intuitive to what society says is normal) can bring about unimaginable good.
“Be angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun set while you are angry.” Ephesians 4:26
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