Condensed version of this is at the end. So if you don't have time to read, just scroll down to the bottom of this post.
Anger is an interesting emotion. It's all throughout the Bible, whether it is the anger of the Lord or the anger of men. Of course, it's never good when either get angry. It's a negative emotion.
Other emotions are pretty clear cut. Most of our other emotions are positive, minus sadness. And when we express those emotions, there isn't really a way to wrongly express them (if there is it's awfully hard to do). Anger, however, seems to be in a class of its own.
Here's the thing. When the Lord is angry, He has a right to. He can only have righteous anger because He is nothing but righteous. Being perfect and having created us, He is very forgiving and slow to anger, according to the Bible. So when He IS angry, He has a right to be, because the very thing He created has outright betrayed Him.
You only really hear of God's anger in the Old Testament, not so much in the NEW. It does reference it from time to time, but you don't hear as much about God acting upon His anger in the New Testament as you do the Old. It's everywhere in the Old. Then again, that was the old covenant. Under the new, while God hasn't changed, have the terms changed? I mean, there is a day predicted where God will have enough and will unleash His anger. Once again, though. It's righteous, because God can't be anything else besides righteous.
When people are angry, I really don't know what to think. Of course, there are good reasons for us to become angry. And it DOESN'T say in the Bible we can't get angry. But when we as humans get angry, it's almost never fruitful. We may or may not do things that make us look like a completely different person.
What do you guys think about people and anger? Can humans have a righteous anger? I don't think being angry in itself is a sin, but I DO think we are in grave danger of doing sinful actions when we are angry. Our brains don't process things like they should when we are angry. We use the emotional part of our brain, not the thinking part. So should we just avoid getting angry? Not saying suppress it, because that is extremely unhealthy, and no one should do that. That's like the soda can or bottle getting shaken aggressively but never is opened. It'll explode off once its had enough. And it's messy. BUT! Maybe we can find ways to channel that anger into something else, something that won't harm ourselves or others?
I found a few verses in the Bible that mention anger (all verses posted are NASB). Well, I found a lot of them, but only will post a few.
James 1:19-20
This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Colossians 3:8
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
Galatians 5:19-24 (underlining added by me)
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
And if you want a little science to go with this, there's this link: How Does Anger Happen in the Brain?
CONDENSED VERSION:
Anger is a complex emotion, one that I don't really fully understand. When God gets angry, His is always righteous. But what about people? Are people capable of having righteous anger? When people get angry, it's usually not very righteous.
While anger itself might not actually be a sin, we often do sinful things when we are angry. Should we find a better way to channel our anger instead of simply letting all of hades break loose? Can you give some examples of when it's okay to be angry, when it isn't, and possibly how the bible supports your views on anger?
Hope to hear from all of you! This is a very unique topic, and so I'm eager to see everyone's answers on this.
Anger is an interesting emotion. It's all throughout the Bible, whether it is the anger of the Lord or the anger of men. Of course, it's never good when either get angry. It's a negative emotion.
Other emotions are pretty clear cut. Most of our other emotions are positive, minus sadness. And when we express those emotions, there isn't really a way to wrongly express them (if there is it's awfully hard to do). Anger, however, seems to be in a class of its own.
Here's the thing. When the Lord is angry, He has a right to. He can only have righteous anger because He is nothing but righteous. Being perfect and having created us, He is very forgiving and slow to anger, according to the Bible. So when He IS angry, He has a right to be, because the very thing He created has outright betrayed Him.
You only really hear of God's anger in the Old Testament, not so much in the NEW. It does reference it from time to time, but you don't hear as much about God acting upon His anger in the New Testament as you do the Old. It's everywhere in the Old. Then again, that was the old covenant. Under the new, while God hasn't changed, have the terms changed? I mean, there is a day predicted where God will have enough and will unleash His anger. Once again, though. It's righteous, because God can't be anything else besides righteous.
When people are angry, I really don't know what to think. Of course, there are good reasons for us to become angry. And it DOESN'T say in the Bible we can't get angry. But when we as humans get angry, it's almost never fruitful. We may or may not do things that make us look like a completely different person.
What do you guys think about people and anger? Can humans have a righteous anger? I don't think being angry in itself is a sin, but I DO think we are in grave danger of doing sinful actions when we are angry. Our brains don't process things like they should when we are angry. We use the emotional part of our brain, not the thinking part. So should we just avoid getting angry? Not saying suppress it, because that is extremely unhealthy, and no one should do that. That's like the soda can or bottle getting shaken aggressively but never is opened. It'll explode off once its had enough. And it's messy. BUT! Maybe we can find ways to channel that anger into something else, something that won't harm ourselves or others?
I found a few verses in the Bible that mention anger (all verses posted are NASB). Well, I found a lot of them, but only will post a few.
James 1:19-20
This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Colossians 3:8
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
Galatians 5:19-24 (underlining added by me)
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
And if you want a little science to go with this, there's this link: How Does Anger Happen in the Brain?
CONDENSED VERSION:
Anger is a complex emotion, one that I don't really fully understand. When God gets angry, His is always righteous. But what about people? Are people capable of having righteous anger? When people get angry, it's usually not very righteous.
While anger itself might not actually be a sin, we often do sinful things when we are angry. Should we find a better way to channel our anger instead of simply letting all of hades break loose? Can you give some examples of when it's okay to be angry, when it isn't, and possibly how the bible supports your views on anger?
Hope to hear from all of you! This is a very unique topic, and so I'm eager to see everyone's answers on this.
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