Just last night, I was discussing anger with a friend from my church life group. We agreed that when it’s enacted as God designed, it’s righteous, even useful.
Sin, injustice, and abuse should stir a holy anger in us. Anger can be a tool to catalyze our boldness to create effective change.
It’s important to recognize that God made our emotions. They are part of our biology and hardwired for a specific purpose. God granted them to us as indicators of our heart posture and to the needs of those around us—and that’s such a gift!
Anger and Our Sin Nature
Unfortunately, though, in our fallen nature, we often allow anger to control our hearts in a negative way, creating destructive thoughts, feelings, and actions that have the power to dismantle relationships and even souls.
My therapist once told me that anger is never our primary emotion. Rather, it’s a reaction to either sadness or fear. Thus, it’s important that we recognize the root of our anger and analyze whether it stems from a place of right or wrong.
That said, let’s look to the Bible and discover eighteen verses that offer wisdom, guidance, and heavenly insight into the purpose of anger (and the warnings for when we abuse it):
How Do We Have Righteous Anger?
As we discussed, anger has its place. However, it’s imperative to recognize when it is coming from a healthy place rather than a place of judgment, resentment, bitterness, or revenge. I challenge you to hold your anger to the light as you consider these verses that exemplify anger that is righteous and just:
- Matthew 21:12-13: “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
- Mark 3:5: “He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.”
- Psalm 139:21-23: “Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
- Proverbs 16:28-29,32: “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends, A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good… Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”
How Do We Control Our Anger?
Patience, discernment, and self-control are essential as you determine the root and reason behind your anger. These tools grant you the head and heart space to rightly control your anger. Consider these Scriptures your guide:
- Ecclesiastes 7:9: “Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.”
- Proverbs 15:1-2: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.”
- James 1:19-20: “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.”
- Colossians 3:8: “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
- Proverbs 22:24-25: “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.”
- Psalm 37:8: “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.”
- Ephesians 4:26: “‘In your anger do not sin:’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry…”
- Matthew 5:23-24: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
- Ephesians 6:4: “ Fathers, do not exasperate your children;instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
- Psalm 103:8-10: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not only accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”
- Romans 12:19: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
- Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
- Psalm 4:4: “Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.”
- Proverbs 19:11: “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
The End Goal of Anger
Reread Proverbs 19:11 and notice the last phrase: “…the wise bring calm in the end.”
As with any gift from God, its end purpose is to glorify Him. Jesus’ anger in the temple brought God glory, as it forced others to recognize their sin, repent, and turn their heart’s devotion to God. The end goal of anger will always be to show others God’s good, sovereign righteousness.
I encourage you to consider the places where anger most easily reveals itself in your life. Take time to truly evaluate your heart to decipher if your anger is triggered by your desire to gratify your sin nature or to destroy your sin nature for the sake of God’s righteousness.
Not sure where to start? Ask yourself these questions:
1. Is there a certain person who automatically stirs anxiousness, frustration, and agitation inside you? Whether it’s simply hearing their name or being in forced proximity with them, is your relationship with them a constant source of anger?
If so, prayerfully ask God to search your heart and see where you can make amends with this person or healthily find a way to let their presence no longer cause you to sin in anger.
2. What does your anger typically produce? Is it arguments, hateful words, or even violence? Or does it result in bringing truth to the light (in love) or challenging others to pursue Christ?
Test your heart to see whether your anger is producing goodness or not. Repent of any sin and find freedom in using anger for its God-given purpose.
Remember, anger doesn’t always have to be negative. Anger, in itself, doesn’t have to be bad. Instead, let anger be what it was always intended to be: a mechanism for discernment, a gift from God to ensure that His goodness wins.
“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
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