LAST LESSONS #228 — REPEAT — ANGER

I wrote about anger more than twenty years ago in a little book I wrote called Living the Words of Jesus, but I think the thoughts are worth repeating now. There is so much to be angry about today. I am angry especially with the killing going on in the Middle East, with the abortions performed by the thousands, with the human trafficking, and with other wrongs in our world. The words I wrote years ago are the same words I would write today:

“God is angry with sin (war, abortions, human trafficking), and Jesus repeatedly expressed his anger over sin (Mark 3:5; John 2:14-17). I too may be angry at sin and over situations that arise as a result of sin, but I am not to be angry with my brother (Matthew 5:21-22).

How can I be angry with sin and yet not angry with the one who sins? I must realize that anger indicates a desire to destroy. Jesus rebuked people for their sins, but his purpose was never to destroy. Rather, his anger was always redemptive. Redemption, then, is the key. When my anger flares over someone else’s sin, do I want to destroy that person or do I want to turn that person from his or her sin? Destructive anger is wrong. Redemptive anger is Christlike.”

So that’s what I wrote, but today I wonder what I can do to have redemptive anger when I see the sins of war, abortion, and human trafficking? I feel so helpless, and I will admit that I want to destroy those who have, and still are, killing so many or ruining the lives of women and children. I must remember that Jesus forgave those who nailed him to the cross. Surely, I can do something about my desire to destroy murderers. In thinking about this I realize that there are some things I can do: I can pray, I can vote, and I can give to organizations that are combating these sins. But the greatest of these is prayer that those committing these horrendous sinful acts will turn to Christ.