You Can Be Angry, But...
“Be angry, and do not sin:
do not let the sun go down
on your wrath."
Ephesians 4: 26
What motivated William Wilberforce to campaign
against England’s participation in the African slave
trade? What propelled Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to
protest against racial injustice in the United States?
More importantly, how was Jesus feeling
when He cleared merchants and money
changers from the temple in Jerusalem?
Anger was the motivating emotion,but not
sinful
anger. Anger in itself is not sinful. It's one of many
emotions that will lead to good or evil
outcomes.
Anger at injustice can lead to reforms that result
in justice or to destructive behaviors that fuel
further negative outcomes.
The psalmist David warned against being
angry
in a sinful way. He advised meditation or stillness
to sort through the emotion (Psalm 4:4). And the
apostle Paul quoted David’s words with advice in
relationships: be angry but don’t sin by dwelling
indefinitely on your anger.
When you feel angry, ask yourself: Is my
anger self-centered or will it motivate me
to help others? Keeping anger on a
short leash will help you decide.
"When anger is present,
look for the pain."
R. C. Sproul