Two “A’s” plague us: Anxiety and Anger. 

I wrote briefly about Anxiety yesterday here. Today I’d like to say a little about Anger (but certainly not exhaustive).

Anger is a curious thing to me. It’s like a double-edged sword. There is good Anger and there is bad Anger. We have all experienced both, but perhaps recognize anger gone wrong with more insight. We’ve dished it out; we  have been dished on. We have seen what it has done to others (by our hands or another’s); we have seen/felt what it has done to us. Sometimes it is mild-frustration, complaining, irritation. Sometimes it is veiled-judgmental thoughts, for example. Sometimes it is “hidden” from view-painted over with a plastic smile, busyness, or an addiction. And sometimes-WHOA LOOK OUT!-everything breaks loose. Words fly. Emotions erupt. Physical manifestations overtake us. Not a pretty sight. 

Anger, to be sure, is not always bad or destructive. While I have mostly described the destructive kind, there is good anger. Anger against sin and injustice. Anger vs prejudice (I am currently reading “Night” by Elie Wiesel, his account of being in a concentration camp). Anger vs sin and false information (abortion, trans mutilation, for example). 

The tricky part is navigating it and confronting it correctly. Not kidding ourselves by saying, “I’m justified in this” in order to curb or salve our guilt. Blaming others, as though our reaction is justified because it is “their fault.” 

The Bible tells us “And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” (Eph. 4:26-27 NLT) So there is the admonition to deal with it and not let it stick around. There is justified anger over sin and unrighteousness and blatant disregard for God and others. But even that is to dealt with and not left hanging around.  We must, no need, to be careful that anger does not grip our heart. 

I’ll echo the Bible again: “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Other translations say, “Be angry, but don’t sin.” No matter how you shake it it all means the same: don’t let sin hang around in the form of anger. Slam the door.  Or to paraphrase the last part of that verse from Ephesians: “Kick that ladder out from underneath the devil” or “Slam that door in his face.”