Righteous Anger
“And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don?t let the sun go down while you are still angry.” -Ephesians 4:26
What makes you mad? Often we don’t talk about getting angry in Christian circles because it’s an uncomfortable topic. But, if we’re true followers of Christ, isn’t it true that certain things should make us angry?
I’m not talking about the kind of anger where we didn’t get our way. I’m talking about things that really get you – injustices like child trafficking, a lack of ethical business practices, corruption, abuse in relationships, bullying, an inaccurate view of God – these are the types of issues that need solving in our society. I think when we recognize what angers us, it is a big key to our destiny and calling.
Jesus got angry. Jesus actually got angry at several things. This most notable example is when He entered the table and ran out all the money changers. He said, “The scriptures declare, ‘My temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” (Matthew 21:18&19) The money changers didn’t care about people’s spiritual growth. Jesus was angered by their greed.
But Jesus was probably the most angry with the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day. He said to them, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.” -Matthew 23:13
We never see Jesus angry with sinners. But He was angry with the Pharisees. He was angry with them for misrepresenting God, for seeking out man’s approval more than God’s, for failing to recognize the kingdom of God among them, and for their overall corruption and failing to look after the poor and the widows.
What in today’s world makes you righteously angry? It could be a clue to connect you to a problem that you are called to solve.
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