Anger is a Choice

Dear Friends,

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

During a Men’s Bible study, the group leader used the above Scripture from Ephesians to kick off a discussion of anger. He was immediately interrupted by one of the men in the group.

“You are uniquely unqualified to discuss the topic of anger,” the man began. “You aren’t married. You don’t have children, you’re self-employed. You don’t drive in rush hour traffic, you don’t golf, and you don’t watch cable news channels. What could you possibly have to get angry about?”

In truth, each of us has a unique set of perceptions that can trigger our anger. At the core of our anger is what the apostle Paul describes in Galatians 5:19 as “sin’s control in our lives.” Pride, argumentativeness, and jealousy are feelings that can foster anger.

The antidotes: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:25-26 (ICB)

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Romans 12:3a (NIV)

Of course, there is something known as “righteous indignation,” which is a justifiable displeasure with anything that is contrary to the will of God. In these instances, it is wise to ask ourselves, “Is it God’s will or my will that I am getting worked up about?”

Have you ever considered this: Anger is a choice until we let it become a reflex — when just seeing, hearing, or feeling something can trigger a reaction?

The Bible offers several Scriptures that can help us short-circuit this reflex.

SLOW DOWN
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20

AVOID FOOLISH CONVERSATIONS
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:9

WALK AWAY
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:8

LOWER THE VOLUME
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 22:24-25

WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Colossians 3:8

CHOOSE FRIENDS CAREFULLY
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1Corinthians 15:33

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. Proverbs 22:24-25

TRUST GOD TO RIGHT WRONGS
‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished Numbers 14:18

BE GUIDED BY LOVE
It [love] does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:5

BE A PEACEMAKER
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

MAKE UP QUICKLY
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ