Psalm 4:4
Be angry, and do not sin.
Is that even possible?
I've always been taught that anger was an undesirable quality, a lack of emotional control, and a sin, and yet here is the great psalmist saying anger is not always a sin.
So often, we get angry at people. Someone hurts us, someone offends us, someone sins against us, and we get mad. If we're not careful, anger turns to grudge, grudge turns to unforgiveness, unforgiveness turns to bitterness, bitterness turns to hatred, and now all of a sudden, the victim is the perpetrator. We have become just as guilty of sin as the person who wronged us, if not more so. It is said that most of the things we're mad about were forgotten by the people we're mad at almost as soon as it was done--not because they thought nothing of hurting us, but because they did not know they hurt us to begin with. And we're mad about that, and our anger becomes a sin. Jesus even said that anger directed at people becomes murder in one's heart.
But Christ's own example was one of anger toward the things that were displeasing to God. I can think of two instances, one early in His ministry, and one late, in which Jesus opened up a big can of whipcord on some folks, overturning tables and stampeding sheep as he drove dishonest money changers from the temple grounds. They had defiled the dwelling place of God, turning His house into a den of thieves. Yet when dealing with dishonest tax collectors in their own homes, Jesus sat with them and ate with them and let his love and compassion permeate the room. He seldom had to point out a person's sin, for they were always well acquainted with their short-comings, and His presence was convicting enough to produce change in people's lives.
Be angry, and do not sin.
Is that even possible?
I've always been taught that anger was an undesirable quality, a lack of emotional control, and a sin, and yet here is the great psalmist saying anger is not always a sin.
So often, we get angry at people. Someone hurts us, someone offends us, someone sins against us, and we get mad. If we're not careful, anger turns to grudge, grudge turns to unforgiveness, unforgiveness turns to bitterness, bitterness turns to hatred, and now all of a sudden, the victim is the perpetrator. We have become just as guilty of sin as the person who wronged us, if not more so. It is said that most of the things we're mad about were forgotten by the people we're mad at almost as soon as it was done--not because they thought nothing of hurting us, but because they did not know they hurt us to begin with. And we're mad about that, and our anger becomes a sin. Jesus even said that anger directed at people becomes murder in one's heart.
But Christ's own example was one of anger toward the things that were displeasing to God. I can think of two instances, one early in His ministry, and one late, in which Jesus opened up a big can of whipcord on some folks, overturning tables and stampeding sheep as he drove dishonest money changers from the temple grounds. They had defiled the dwelling place of God, turning His house into a den of thieves. Yet when dealing with dishonest tax collectors in their own homes, Jesus sat with them and ate with them and let his love and compassion permeate the room. He seldom had to point out a person's sin, for they were always well acquainted with their short-comings, and His presence was convicting enough to produce change in people's lives.
So where is the balance between anger and righteousness? How can we be angry without sinning? Here are my suggestions.
Be angry at the circumstances, but not at the people who caused them.
Be constructive, not destructive, in making efforts to resolve those circumstances.
Be honest with the people who hurt you and give them a chance to make it right.
Be forgiving toward people, whether they ask for it or not.
Be reconcilable to those who offend.
At the end of the day, let it go.
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