Speaker: Bro. Bobby Rodriguez ,Elder, The Lord's Flock Catholic Charismatic Community

“ Controlling Anger ”

I ntroduction : Anger is a strong feeling of resentful or revengeful displeasure resulting from injury, mistreatment and other causes.

A nger is also feeling of irritation that arises when one does not like something taking place. It may occur in different intensities from mild indignation to rage (outburst of anger) to wrath (deep indignation with desire to punish or get revenge). Anger may last for only a short time or it may remain as deep-rooted bitterness and resentment. Some people can easily let anger go off; others harbor anger for a long time.

P eople get angry for many reasons. They get angry when they are late or when they make stupid mistakes. They also get angry when they are betrayed by other persons, or when they see innocent people suffer, or when they feel they are being treated unfairly.

A nger itself is not necessary bad. It can be either constructive or destructive depending on how it is used. The anger of God, who is perfect, and holy, is constructive and just. Man's anger is oftentimes destructive.

God's Anger

J esus himself got angry as written in the Holy Bible. He was moved with compassion (whose Greek word means experiencing gut-wrenching sensation). His heart broke when He saw people in desperate need, unfairly oppressed, and grossly mistreated. The injustices that He witnessed made him angry.

1) J esus was angry when the Pharisees wanted to accuse him for curing a man with a withered hand. “Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart…..” (Mark 3:5).

2) J esus was indignant when He saw the disciples rebuke the people who were bringing little children to him. (Mark 10:14 ).

3) “T hey came to Jerusalem , and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.” (Mark 11:15 ).

T he anger of Jesus is justified anger. Why is God's anger just and constructive?

1. G od has perfect understanding. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!” (Romans 11:33).

2) H is anger is directed at sin. Hate the sin, not the sinner. “God is a just judge, who rebukes in anger every day.” (Psalms 7:12).

3) H is justice is fair. “We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.” (Romans 2:2).

4. His anger is patient and controlled. As God is perfect, his anger is just and constructive. “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger, abounding in kindness.” (Psalms 103:8).

5. He want his transgressor restored. Even if people offend God, He wants them to repent and return to him. “He is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

Man's Anger

M an's anger is different from God's anger. “Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20).

O ur anger is often dangerous and destructive.

1. We have limited understanding. Sometimes we do not have any understanding of the behavior of others. We often do not care and we see only part of the picture of the situation. Our own frustrations cloud our understanding.

2. O ur anger is directed at the wrong done to us. Our reaction comes from our personal hurts rather than from a concern for righteousness and truth. We feel fighting back: “An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth.” Let us remember what Jesus taught: “When someone strikes you on your right check, turn the other one to him as well.” (Mt 5:39).

3) Our sense of justice is wrong. When anger is on the judgment seat, we think anything we do is the right way to react to the wrong. It is only when we are in the right frame of mind and not angry that we can judge correctly.

4) W e quickly lose control. We act based on emotions rather than reason. We seek vengeance and strike the person who has offended us.

5) W e seek to hurt rather than restore. Due to our imperfect love, we want revenge instead of restoration. We want to get even with our enemy.

Biblical Warning About Anger

T he Bible has warned us about anger: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

L et us be careful about being angry. Anger can lead us to sin in the following cases:

1) S eeking vengeance. We can commit sin when we seek vengeance for ourselves. Let us leave vengeance to the Lord. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19). Let us love our enemies. (Matthew 5:44). Love conquers all.

2) V erbal abuse of others. When angry, we might start chattering and verbal abuse of others. We are already committing sin. “The prating of some men is like sword thrusts.” (Proverbs 12:18).

3) C oncealing ill will. We will be led to sin when we conceal ill will against others with whom we are angry. When we suppress our anger, we are led to lie and to sin. “It is the lips of the liar that conceal hostility.” (Proverbs 10:18).

How Our Anger Can Be Constructive

O ur anger can be constructive.

1) Do not avenge ourselves. God has promised to depend those who are treated unfairly. Vengeance is the Lord's. (Romans 12:19).

2) Direct our anger towards sin. Solutions will come when we focus on the sin (problem) rather than the sinner (people).

3) Desire to see the offender restored. We should approach the person who committed something wrong with a spirit of meekness and desire to restore. “Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit.” (Gal. 6:1).

4) Discipline must be according to scriptures. Some offenses require discipline and Christian correction. “If your brother sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Matthew 18:15-16).

Results of Uncontrolled Anger

O ur uncontrolled anger can have devastating effects:

1) It ruins our testimony and reputation as a Christian witness.

2) It destroys the peace of the church and creates strife and division among members of the community.

3) It hurts our loved ones. Our homes become places of tension and fear instead of peace and love.

4) We suffer physical consequences. Anger, bitterness, and resentment produces stress, headaches, ulcer, hypertension and other sickness. “Envy and anger shorten one's life, worry bring on premature old age.” (Sirach 30:24).

How To Control Our Anger

O ur anger can be controlled. God holds us responsible for our anger. “But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.” (Colossians 3:8). How do we control our anger?

1) We must desire our victory against anger as an enemy. We focus our attention on anger as an area of sin in our own behavior rather than on the faults of others.

2) We must ask for God's help. We must confess a genuine need for God's help. Without God, we can do nothing. (John 15:5). “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22).

3) Identify the problem areas. What are the possible reasons for our anger problem: bitterness from a life situation; pride that produces impatience, insecurity, and fear, these in turn cause us to use anger as a protection.

4. Bring God into the situation. We trust God and “We know that all things work for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

Steps To Victory vs Anger

W hen we begin to get irritated, the first three seconds are the most critical. We are tempted to point our fingers at the faults of others or to focus our attention on the external cause of irritation. We must stop and apply the following steps:

1) Confess our angry thoughts immediately. “If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.” (1 John 1:9).

2) Control our response. “A mild answer calms wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prv 15:1).

3) Forgive the offender. “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:32).

4) Act in love . “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44).

5) Be patient with yourself. If we experience some failures on our way to victory, we must not give up. We must be patient until our anger completely fades away and we are victorious.