In June 2020, Elizabeth Chang’s comments were printed in The Washington Post. Sadly, her words still ring true over 4 years later. She wrote: “Americans are angry. The country erupted into the worst civil unrest in decades after the death of George Floyd, and anger about police violence and the country’s legacy of racism is still running high. At the same time, we’re dealing with anger provoked by the coronavirus pandemic: anger at public officials because they’ve shut down parts of society, or anger because they aren’t doing enough to curb the virus. Anger about being required to wear a mask. Anger at anyone who doesn’t see things the “right” way. ‘We’re living, in effect, in a big anger incubator,’ said Raymond Novaco, a psychology professor at the University of California at Irvine.”
Anger continues to intensify at break-neck speed worldwide. It is being bred, fed, and developed just like a chicken egg in an incubator. We may agree that anger is an understandable reaction to the uncertainty that is impacting the core needs of our family’s health and employment. And that getting angry allows a person to escape temporarily whatever the uncertainty is and puts self in charge. And self-confidence grows. But notice that there are no solutions in Chang’s information about the growing anger that continues to intensify.
We might ask, just how dangerous is this anger and the insane behavior associated with it? The history of humanity is largely a history of anger. It is a very common emotion and our planet is still is becoming increasingly angry and irrational worldwide. Individually we have little control over the direction of our nations and cities around the world. But we can individually address our anger with God and eradicate any harmful effects to us and to others.
The Apostle Paul informed Timothy about the end time characteristics of humanity. These traits are all over the news today: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” (2 Timothy 3:1–4). These character traits, when prevalent, exacerbate humanity’s tendency to anger.
Some may believe that God often expresses anger Himself. However, there is a difference in man’s anger and God’s. The motivations are miles apart. The anger that Christ has at His return is expressed for the good of humankind. It is expressed in love. He is coming to stop self-annihilation from the face of the earth: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24: 21-22).
God’s anger is directed at bringing humankind to a continual state of repentance so they can be changed into immortal spirit beings. His anger is outgoing for the benefit of others, not self-centered. It is a spiritual matter. One kind of anger comes from the Holy Spirit and one kind comes from Satan’s spirit. And we need to recognize our anger and deal with as soon as it becomes apparent. Allowing it to linger gives Satan an entry into our minds.
One issue with lingering anger is that it can easily become a grudge – that feeling of ill will, wanting to get back at, wanting to repay. A grudge demands vengeance. But God says: “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18). A grudge comes from the wrong spirit. Love is lacking when pride drives a grudge.
Initial anger often begins festering on an assumption. We assume something and we get angry about it instantly. King Solomon said. “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him” (Proverbs 18:13). It’s so easy to answer a matter in our minds without any communication. If we give ourselves a little space to think about it, the next thing we should do is communicate. Go to the person. Talk to them. Speak the truth in love. Forgive, apologize, correct whatever the truth requires.
We also need to meet anger coming at us with gentleness: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15.1). A soft answer is like putting water on a fire. We can have a powerful, calming effect on anger by answering calmly, by answering kindly, and by answering gently. That doesn’t mean condescendingly. It is about the genuine kind, gentle, soft answer. Such an answer can mentally disarm the other party. It can prick their conscience.
And we should not take ourselves too seriously. Solomon explains: “Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you” (Ecclesiastes 7:21). As sure as we are living and breathing, unfavorable words will be spoken about us that have the potential to make us angry. They frequently will be spoken by someone that we are close to. Yet, we have probably been that other person at times: “For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others” (Ecclesiastes 7:22). We need to see ourselves as we really are.
If our image of ourselves to others is that important, then we will likely have the same view of ourselves as a Pharisee that Christ spoke about: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:10–14).
We have said things that others could easily get angry over. Pride often allows us to take ourselves too seriously. However, love can offset our anger: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7).
We must practice God’s love. It will require thinking before reacting to anger coming at us. King David learned this and shared it with us in Psalm 4.4: “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. Selah.” David’s approach will alleviate the possibility of wrong words or reactions on our part. Instead of reacting with self at the forefront of our minds and on the tip of our tongues, we can simply shut our mouths and engage the mind of Jesus Christ.
Venting is not an option. Mentally, we need to shrink the self and not allow pride to loosen our tongue. Scientific research shows that venting one’s anger only makes things worse. It only increases aggression toward others. God inspired the apostle James to write: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19).
So, listen; take your time in responding. Think your way through the situation. How can I speak the truth in love? What is the truth here? Am I to blame? Am I concerned with my image or am I concerned with how I can best help this other person? What should my response be so that the righteousness of God can prevail here?”
We can ask ourselves what it is that will ensure the correct end product. We will need to be humbly minded as we look to the fruits of the Spirit for our answers: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
The answer will become apparent when we employ humility with the fruits of God’s Spirit. “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry for anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:8-9).
A humble mind is the only path by which the fruits of the Holy Spirit can be produced. Patience and self-control can come from a humble mindset. And it will be expressed for the benefit of others and not for self-exaltation, not for self-glory.
As we approach the end of the age, and unrighteous anger continues to escalate around us, we must separate ourselves from the anger of this world. We must discern the kind of anger that we allow into our lives because there are two completely opposite spirits that drive it.
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Marshall Stiver