Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. James 1:19-20
On a few different occasions I've heard a Christian justify their bursts of anger with, "Well, even Jesus got angry at the Teachers of the Law." That is true. Jesus DID get angry, and overthrow the tables, of the obviously sinful and hypocritical Pharisees whom were at that moment turning God's "house" into a market. And on a few other occasions he even called them names! That's a fact.
But we must be clear. Christ did NOT get angry with anyone for disagreeing with Him; nor did He yell at anyone because they just could not see His point, or understand His purpose. He never lost His temper with a child, a friend, a female, or an animal for that matter. If we are clear here I think it is probably fine to be angry at the religious legalism and deceptive practices of the Pharisees. I know I sure am mad at those who do the same thing to people today. And given the chance I'd probably yell at them about their legalism and the bondage in which the keep people. But that's as far as we are to go, I think. Everyone else deserves the directive of James above -- quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
"Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires." Think about it for a second. The anger which Jesus demonstrated in the temple court that day was not a human anger. Thus it did produce righteousness, specifically in the lives of those onlookers, some of whom probably knew what was going on was wrong but lacked the capacity or courage to face it.
Thus Jesus even modeled for us what we should do in cases where proud and arrogant men are turning God's Holiness into a place of sin and personal profit. Anger. And action. But human anger is something entirely different. Human anger does NOT produce righteousness. It in fact produces the opposite -- division. I think of the times I lost my temper and the net result was not righteousness. Fortunately God's Spirit pricked my conscience and made me go make things right again.
But what about other times? Have we lost it with someone only to leave it there? And where is it now? Did it produce righteousness? Unity? Did it yeild fruit?
The scriptures even strongly warn us against men who easily loose their tempers.
Proverbs 22:24 Saying 3 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,...
And more>...1 Corinthians 13:5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
James 1:20 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.
1 Corinthians 13:5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”
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