THE SIN OF NEVER BEING ANGRY

Many Christians have been taught that all anger is sinful, but the Bible teaches otherwise. Paul wrote, “Be angry, and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26).

Anger itself is not the enemy. There are times when anger is the proper response to evil. If we can witness injustice, abuse, corruption, or the dishonoring of God’s cause and feel nothing, something may be wrong with our hearts.

Indifference can be just as sinful as uncontrolled rage.

Jesus Himself became angry.

He looked upon hard-hearted men with anger and grief (Mark 3:5).

He drove the money changers from the temple because zeal for His Father’s house burned within Him (John 2:15-17).

His anger was not selfish or spiteful. It was a righteous response to sin and the mistreatment of what was holy.

A heart that never burns against evil does not resemble the heart of Christ.

The goal is not to eliminate anger but to redeem it. We must be angry at the right things, for the right reasons, and in the right way (James 1:19-20).

Sometimes silence is cowardice. Sometimes a holy indignation honors God. The Christian should not be known for a quick temper, but neither should she be known for a cold indifference toward the things that grieve the heart of God.

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Father, give us hearts that hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Guard us from sinful anger, but also deliver us from apathy and indifference. Help us to feel what You feel and to stand for truth with both courage and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD