Anger Issues?

Jesus speaks about anger in Matthew 5:21-26.

“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’  will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.

This anger Jesus is talking about is seething anger against someone. This type of anger is dangerous, because it puts us at odds with the love God expects from us. Jesus says anger is a sin that we will be judged for, just the same as we would be if we murdered someone. So, we should take every measure to avoid being angry and causing others to be angry. 

Image courtesy of Simran Sood via Unsplash

Thus, we should control no only our tongues but our thoughts and attitudes. If we don't say something out of anger but are still thinking the angry thoughts and have an angry attitude, it has the same effects on us - judgment, mental illness, stress. We need to train ourselves to NOT even have angry thoughts and attitudes as well.

Even calling someone "empty-headed" or "raca" is an angry outburst - and an angry thought. Gehenna is what most of us call hell. Calling someone a "fool" is the equivalent to cursing them in my NLT Bible. The whole idea is to not only not allow yourself to say it. Train yourself not to even think these things. Because when you so much as think them, you are angry and saying them out loud will eventually happen.

If there is someone in your life that is continuously angering you or knows how to push your anger buttons, maybe it's time to walk away for a season - or maybe forever. Pray about it, forgive for what has happened in the past, and let God help you figure out how to not let this person steal your peace and joy. Who knows? Maybe your absence will help them figure out their anger issues as well.

I know this is difficult, my friend, and I'm praying for you and the angry people in your life as well. Don't give up. Just follow Jesus' lead. If you think about this for just a minute you'll realize what a waste of time and energy it is to spend on being angry. 

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May God be with you,

Patricia