Sometimes someone else’s sins become the light of seeing our own.
Several years ago I was working with a particularly difficult young church staff member. His pattern was to do everything his way, and when negative consequences arrived, to be completely defensive. Insight into his own character wasn’t much of an interest. Finding others guilty was. His personal drama usually involved anger and outrage, always featuring his own innocence as the main character.
Keeping this young man placated became a full-time job. As his own ministry deteriorated, his skills at blaming others never lost steam. He was a master at claiming to be persecuted when, in fact, he simply was not doing his job.
On one occasion, one of his older family members (not from our church) passed away. During the visitation at the funeral home, this young man called me in his usual tone of practiced outrage, this time because only a few members of our church had come out to visit at the funeral home. He was right. Probably less than ten people had visited this relative, who wasn’t part of our church or community.
Why am I telling this story? Because of something I noticed in the middle of that young man’s outrage.
I had worked with him on staff for a couple of years, and I’d never seen him at the funeral or visitation of anyone. He was outraged about something he did all the time.
When I realized this, I thought about the hypocrisy of his outrage, but I soon found myself wondering about my own “outrages.” How many of them were conducted in the shadow of my own obvious sins?
James says that the anger of man does not create the righteousness God requires. (1:20) I think there’s another aspect to what the anger of man does (or doesn’t do): it masks and hides other obvious sins, and despite all the “insight” that we claim when we are angry, we’re often the blindest at that moment we’re most angry and most certain we’re not wrong.
Perhaps this is why the angry man is the fool in Proverbs and elsewhere. My young staff member was outraged and thought he saw an outrageous truth. What he didn’t see was the truth of his own life. He was the fool blinded to his own sin by his raging anger.
In playing the part of the “righteous” judge- which is required of the angry person- you must claim the mantle of correct insight. But a knowledge of sin comes in the quietness of humility; in those moments when God shows us what we usually do not see.
Is this why Ephesians 4:26 counsels us to not let the sun go down on our anger? Before the end of the day, we need to restore a truthful, humble view of ourselves and lose the self-righteous assumption that our anger guarantees that we are right.
When Jesus was angry at the moneychanger in the temple, he was insightful about the truth of the situation and the truth about himself. Put yourself in the same situation: would you have the combination of truthful humility and righteous anger that Jesus has at that moment?
What you are looking at in that answer is your own fallenness. It’s the difference between yourself and Jesus, and why you should be careful of thinking that your imitation of him insures that you are right.
What sins lie obvious to God and others, but invisible to me in the shadow of anger or other emotions?
In past months, I’ve learned that believing I am right has little do with the sins that may have taken root in the soil of my “rightness.” I’ve learned that I’m quite good at excusing sinful anger, cruel words, gossip and worse sins with my conviction that I am right about something that matters.
As I’ve seen this pattern in many, many others, I’ve learned to expect it in myself. Sometimes I feel that a creeping sense of conviction of my own rightness is a sure sign that I am sinking down into the deceptions of arrogance. I realize that all those times I, like so many preachers, have given an indulgence to my flock for their anger towards persens, groups and events, I have likely simply led them to sin with impunity.
These days, Christians are often a very angry group. (And so, btw, are their critics.) We’re certain we’re right on a whole catalog of issues, and I believe we usually are right on many of those issues. I’m also certain that in the shadows of our anger about cultural and political issues, there are many of our own sins, putting down roots and growing more powerful.
Jesus, I am not like you. It’s the enemy that leads me to believe my own “righteous anger” flies clear of petty sins and hypocrisies. Open my eyes to the duplicity and delusions attached to my sinful nature. Break those chains and give me true humility. Work in me so that conviction is not the enemy of humility. Show me the seductions of believing I am right and righteous in any way apart from you. Amen.
The Internet Monk Archives 
It’s probably too late to comment, and my comments are universally ignored anyway, but maybe I can add something of value. This is my experience.
I too was an extremely angry young man and an angry middle aged man. Working as a “full time Christian ministry” person my entire “christian” career (36 years).
Now I feel angry maybe once every 1-2 months. What happened?
Lots of things; I’m not sure which did away with anger (and fear by the way — I don’t remember the last time I was afraid).
Nearly complete rejection by a community of “good” Christians (ages 40-67, including my wife and 3 of my 5 children). Acceptance into several groups of younger people and non-christians.
Being crucified with Christ(Gal. 2:20).
Moving to Vietnam at age 67 with no “support group” to ease the cultural transition.
10 years in AA.
Not attending church for a long time. (Tried ’em all, including 20 years as a RC.)
Studying the Tao te Ching until I got it.
Or maybe something else.
But this I know for certain: everything is exactly the way it is supposed to be, and I accept that. (Cf. the serenity prayer — I learned that in AA which was my “church” for 5 years.) I may not like it or agree with it. But that’s the way it is.
The way that the world is is not my area of concern, but the way I am and my faithfulness to my Father is.
I hope that this will help an angry person.
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(skipping most of the comments)
It’s funny, even Carl Jung in the early 20th century discovered that this truth in the Bible of hypocritically calling others out was absolutely true. For those that don’t know, he was a psychologist who propagated the idea of projection, among other things.
That is, when somebody’s actions affect us so badly that we lose control of ourselves, it is evidence that what is really bothering us is something inside of us and not the other person. For, if the thing did not exist within us, would we not have self-control in that situation?
Oswald Chambers reminded us of the danger of not believing the Bible on this point.
We then get angry at hypocrites, saying that they are too hasty to judge others for the very same things that they do. But then we come back to this principle again (hopefully) and realize that, again, we are being the hypocrites hastily judging others for our own faults.
This takes us back to the face of the Almighty God, our Loved One, who alone can remove our guilt and shame.
And he doesn’t ask for us to make ourselves perfect. All that he requires is that we do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
I don’t think we realize that all our energy in trying to drive others to perfection is wasted energy that could be used upon our own walk.
May we all be humble and lovingly understanding towards others.
Amen, Lord. Amen.
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As I read that, my first (and major) thought was: how could you allow that man to remain on the staff of that church?
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It should have read “We need to not be angry at our brothers and sisters or rail against life’s unfairness.”
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Dylan Thomas wrote a poem to his dying father in which he implored him to “rage, rage against the dying of the light.” Some Christians have begun a slow slide and I would rather them rage against what ails them rather than “go gently into the night.” I want to “rage” against living a life that is less than what I have been made to be. I hope others also “rage.”
Imonk–thank you for your patience and responses. I have simply tried to present the other side of the anger coin. If we need to not be angry at our brothers and sisters or rail against life’s unfairness. However, if we are to truly represent God, then there are some things for which anger is a godly response.
To everyone else who provided sincere advice, I thank you.
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There’s a huge difference between being angry, and having passion.
James 5:20 – “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
My anger leads me resentment and bitterness. In contrast, my passion leads me to joy and excitement in the Spirit, and gives me resolve to do the work of the Father.
Anger is a secondary emotion that comes as a result of another emotion. Find the root, and deal with THAT.
Joe
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“Shouldn’t your interpretation of Scripture first give you joy, on account of what’s in it, that overwhelms this anger? Do other Christians see you as a joyful and cheerful person? My interpretation of Scripture does not lead me to believe the early Christians were dominated by an angry temperament on account of all the hypocrites around them, but by the joy of having the Spirit of God in their heart. Christians get angry, but their not to be angry.”
Excellent!!
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“Do you not believe that too many Christians are simply being herded by culture and doing whatever seems right?â€
I guess its God’s job to sort it out. Worrying about what others do and how they live isnt productive.
besides, we’d all like to think we are cleansed of ‘the system’, or above it, but even a cloistered monk is still part of a system and a culture; this planet is as closed a system as a hamster cage.
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at least some, I meant to write, in the second sentence
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I think that Theophilus has some valid points. I’m not sure that for least *some* of the things that he has mentioned, anger is not an appropriate emotion.
However, *where* do we direct our anger? Is it primarily at other other people, or is it at Satan and at our *own* spiritual complacency, which exists in us, just as it does in others?
I’m not saying that anger should ever be a primary, dominating emotion in the lives of Christians. I do think it can sometimes be appropriate. We have to willing to look at ourselves though and especially, willing to ask the Spirit to search our hearts *about* our anger and show us what is truly there.
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Theophilus,
I’d say anger is the wrong emotional response to ALL of the things you’ve mentioned so far. You could be compassionate. You could be somewhat sad that they don’t share your particular theological passions (but among the saints, they’re in good company), but really, your frustration with “the world” is an idle and misplaced judgment and should be seen for what it is and retired.
Theology doesn’t impress God. Tiresome critiques of “American culture” don’t impress anybody. Most people find both a boring distraction from lives which are better spent in pursuit of whatever it is that they want, just like you. An be honest: why should anybody waste their time pursuing your agonal double-standards about how to be introspective JUST the way you want them to, when you seem so tense in spite of all the God-talk? Let ’em live and get a life, dude. It’s God’s business.
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Who was Jesus upset at when He cleansed the Temple? Those who were profiting off of people’s desire to worship.
But remember that Jesus also mourned over Jerusalem because they did not accept Him. He said that He longed to gather the people of that city to Himself as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings.
I don’t see anger in that response.
Monk, I too must echo others on this forum who have shared that this article has convicted them. I too am convicted, and to be honest with you I never thought of this particular aspect of anger and the sin that comes with it.
My Father has always said that a person who gets angry really easy, and “flies off the handle” struggles with a lack of self-discipline.
Keep up the good work, Monk
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Theophilus seems to be advocating the approach of “if you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention!”
All well and good, I suppose. Those things that Theophilus describes as good reasons to be angry are all deplorable to the extent that they are actually true. I think, however, a more appropriate and Christlike response is that of weeping tears of compassion. Such a response is more likely to drive us to our knees than it is to drive us to a shouting match.
“Do you not believe that too many Christians are simply being herded by culture and doing whatever seems right?”
Jesus’ response to people like this was to be moved with compassion “because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” You could argue that Christians are supposed to be different because they have a shepherd, but the verse in Matthew is talking about the multitudes of people who in fact had sought Jesus out. In other words, you can be chasing after Jesus and still be like a sheep without a shepherd. Anyway, the bottom line is that when someone you love is doing something you hate that is destructive to himself or herself, you might have some anger, but you have a lot more compassion and grief (if you truly love them, mind you). If you don’t love them, then your anger will far outweigh your compassion. Love is the only measure against which one’s own anger can rightfully be viewed.
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Telling someone a behavior must stop or is a problem needs to be done, as much as possible, without abusive or hurtful anger. I agree a victim must sometimes get angry to avoid abuse, but is that what Theophilus is talking about? My point is that many people who say their anger is justified are often not owning up to the fact that they aren’t like Jesus.
Let’s be honest: a lot of abuse and violence goes on in evangelical households and from evangelicals in general. Many evangelicals feel they are entitled to be as angry as the angry gays and atheists they read on the internet.
In fact, our anger is almost (almost, not all) accompanied by sin. And I’m especially concerned about abusive anger in parenting, marriage, church and relationships to unbelievers. So I agree with you, but I’m concerned about someone like Theophilus wanting me to say “Sure, be angry. It’s healthy.” In my marriage, it wasn’t healthy. In churches, it’s not healthy and in relationships/communication with unbelievers, it isn’t healthy.
peace
ms
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iMonk,
Regarding Theophilus point:
It is perhaps not the message that all of us need to hear, but isn’t being “overly nice” a problem? A husband must be nice, but the husband who never disagrees with his wife is a pushover, and will hurt her. The husband who never lets his wife do anything difficult for her hurts her.
Similarly, an abusive husband needs to be commanded to control his anger and violence, but a battered wife far from needing to be counciled to be kind and accepting of her husband’s abuse (she does that already) needs to be told to stand up to him. A nagging wife needs to be told to stop nagging, but a hen-pecked husband needs to be told to stand up to his wife. Even perhaps to get angry.
And I think theophilus’ point is that we are often a society of battered women and hen-pecked men. We need to grow some backbone, and stand up against people.
Some of us probably don’t need to hear this, but some of us do. And most of us probably need to hear both to control our anger and to stand up for ourselves at different times.
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theophilus,
i do believe there are “fantastic swaths of Christians who are earnestly, thoughtfully, passionately seeking God”. and you are right that all who profess Jesus as their Lord should strive to be such. but i believe that the thread here is primarily concerned with the dangers that anger and in particular the so called “righteous anger”, can bring to our lives. too often what we see are the shortcomings of others especially in the light of God’s Word and i too have become very angry often about such things. but iMonk’s reflection digs deeper. it makes us stop and think about what is really in our hearts that is often so deceitful. great christian authors of the past, i have observed, always write with passion about the failings of the church, but at the same time, they also ultimately and humbly point back to the grace of the Lord. thus, their conclusion it seems is not of passionate anger but of loving grace.
have a blessed day!
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Theophilus:
>Do you not believe that too many Christians are simply being herded by culture and doing whatever seems right?
I think that’s always been the case with God’s people, unfortunately. When I read about God’s response to his people’s unfaithfulness, it just brings me to the Gospel. My anger doesn’t add anything to God’s response.
>Do you believe that people have lost sight of the awe inspiring, respect inducing aspects of God?
Yes, but again, when I come to the Gospel, I learn that God loves such people, including me. Again, my anger doesn’t add to God’s loving response.
>Do you not from time to time feel that we are, to quote Mufasa, “so much more than [we] have become?â€
Certainly. Ditto on the Gospel bring the best definition of who we are, i.e. loved by a gracious God.
>Tell me there are fantastic swaths of Christians who are earnestly, thoughtfully, passionately seeking God.
I think there are, especially in the two/thirds world, Asia, global south. When I get discouraged, I look at the great things God is doing in the nations, as he promised.
>However, should my assesment be accurate, why would I be anything other than angry?
Because the anger of man doesn’t work the righteousness of God, and anger isn’t a fruit of the Spirit. If you have anger untainted by sin, then don’t ask me for advice. You’re a better person than I am. My anger is universally tainted by sin in almost every case. There is righteous anger on the part of God, but I need to work on the patience and humility of Jesus.
Theophilus, you do seem angry. I’m sorry for that. I’m overwhelmed by God’s kindness to a broken world. I’m amazed that the Gospel speaks a better word than the law. I rest in his unchanging grace.
Sorry I can’t advice or join you.
peace to you
Michael
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It’s not surprising this post has significantly fewer comments that most the others…though I hope it just means that you have provoked people to thought…or maybe the ones who would rather get angry aren’t posting 🙂
Humour aside, I really was encouraged by this post. I’ve had a lot of things happen to me over the last year that have been the biggest temptations towards anger, bitterness and unforgiveness… My biggest lesson thus far is that if there is no forgiveness, there is no reconciliation. Forgiveness is vital. It is also a process and has to be continually worked at (our forgiveness is not perfect as God’s is). It’s so hard to look outside at myself. Most times, I just don’t want to because I won’t like myself. But I have to love myself because I’m commanded to (love others as myself, how can I love others if I can’t even LIKE myself?!). What a conundrum.
At any rate, thank you for your transparency, encouragement and conviction!
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Anger is a natural emotion and instinct. Harboring excessive anger is a character flaw as are all excesses of emotion and instincts. These are the causes that drive people to drink, drug and engage in addictive behaviours. They cause suffering and destroy any chance of happiness and spiritual growth. The 12 steps and other spiritual disciplines are employed by many to become free of such toxic character traits. Your young man needs a lot of spiritual transformation to be more at peace and functional. He ought to study the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and become whole as the Father is whole, just by asking that his “demons and unclean spirits” be cast out of him and replaced by Goodness and Kindness. But, when he asks, he must mean it and freely will it from the heart. That last is the rub as he will very likely have a vested interest in not changing.
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Perhapse I was not clear. Do you not believe that too many Christians are simply being herded by culture and doing whatever seems right? Do you believe that people have lost sight of the awe inspiring, respect inducing aspects of God? Do you not from time to time feel that we are, to quote Mufasa, “so much more than [we] have become?” Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me there are fantastic swaths of Christians who are earnestly, thoughtfully, passionately seeking God. Then I will be at peace. However, should my assesment be accurate, why would I be anything other than angry?
As far as reading and discussing Tozer or Wesley, I care not. I simply want to hear people discuss the ideas, concepts, theories, truths of the saints who have gone before us.
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These do make me angry, do you think I should be at peace with this and renounce “my†interpretation of Scripture?
Shouldn’t your interpretation of Scripture first give you joy, on account of what’s in it, that overwhelms this anger? Do other Christians see you as a joyful and cheerful person? My interpretation of Scripture does not lead me to believe the early Christians were dominated by an angry temperament on account of all the hypocrites around them, but by the joy of having the Spirit of God in their heart. Christians get angry, but their not to be angry.
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Is this why Ephesians 4:26 counsels us to not let the sun go down on our anger? Before the end of the day, we need to restore a truthful, humble view of ourselves and lose the self-righteous assumption that our anger guarantees that we are right.
Bingo. You nailed it and you nailed me. Thanks, Michael. Tough stuff, but good stuff. In fact, necessary stuff if we would grow in faith and truly humble ourselves before Christ and others.
Brad
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Theophilus:
So much for the “no snark” effort on my part.
Hey, if you are mad at people who don’t talk about Wesley and Tozer, I really don’t know what to tell you. I had to give up getting angry about theology and let God sort ’em out.
peace sir
ms
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…According to “my†interpretation of Scripture, a Christian should “work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. 
I think Paul is saying that with the greatest reverence we should let God work through us.
The next verse says,
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
The way I read it, If we are angry then with the greatest reverence we should ask God to show us His will.
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we are body, soul, and spirit. Our bodies will let us know whether our anger is righteous or unrighteous. Anger gives people heart attacks, ulcers, nervous breakdowns, loss of control etc. I can’t believe God would want us to stew in a kind of anger that would ruin our physical bodies.
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Monk –
As you probably know, we Orthodox are just over halfway through our Great Lent. Now, I am probably the worst Orthodox convert on the planet, since I am a real pro at fasting meat, milk, and fish, but not so good at fasting sharp words, lascivious glances, or depreciating humor.
In particular, we are supposed to pray this prayer of St. Ephrem twice a day. I’m sure you know it. I’ve prayed it maybe twice all Lent.
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of sloth,
idle curiosity/meddling,
lust for power
and idle talk.
But grant unto me, Thy servant,
a spirit of chastity
integrity,
humility,
patience
and love.
Yea, O Lord and King,
grant me to see mine own faults
and not to judge my brother.
For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I don;t see how anybody could be angry if they prayed this, or something similar, from the heart twice a day.
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According to “my” interpretation of Scripture, a Christian should “work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.” Instead I see people who quote prosperity doctrine. I attended a church for three years and didn’t hear the words righteousness or sin. “My” interpretation of the Bible also requires Christians “study to show [themselves] approved.” Yet, I do not hear or have conversations which include Paul, Tozer, Wesley or other Christian saints. These do make me angry, do you think I should be at peace with this and renounce “my” interpretation of Scripture?
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Theophilus:
How do you know your anger is righteous?
Other than it agrees with your interpretation of scripture?
No snark. Actual question.
peace
ms
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I’m missing something. I typically wish people were angrier. I see people, like a great herd of cattle, graze through life with little introspection. I think too many Christians are focused on not being judgmental and they have let themselves be herded along by American culture. I see a world going to Hell and many Christians are “at peace” with that. As much as we need peace, we need righteous anger.
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My issue isn’t really about anger, it’s about the realization that I need to resolve some things that I personally saw no purpose in revisiting. I think God’s Spirit sees it differently.
I think the reason I have never felt at home in the church I attend is that I need to resolve some old church-related resentments before I can move on.
This came to me as I couldn’t understand why I keep feeling drawn to visit a church that I can’t imagine would be right for me. But maybe it will be the right place to resolve some old feelings.
I don’t know, but the pull is too strong to ignore. I’m going to this church this Sunday and I will try to be open to understand whatever it is that God wants to show me.
Please pray for me as I try to understand this.
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Heh heh, I have a whole forest in my eye. And, as soon as I see it, I will work on cutting it down. The problem with a forest in my eyes is what iMonk pointed out. It blinds me and does not let me see my own evil as well as I need to see it.
As St. Paul says, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
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Another great piece demonstrating why I’m so happy for you picking up an agent, congrats~!
JB
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“What sins lie obvious to God and others, but invisible to me in the shadow of anger or other emotions?” – What a profound question, imonk. Great post — so convicting.
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PS..that should read “your comment struck me”…
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Excellent post, IM, especially regarding your comment about the creeping sense of conviction being a sure sign of slipping into arrogance.
Rob Lofland,
Glad to discover your blog. Your comment stuck me..
Anger is a long-time companion and enemy of mine and so, I’ve learned some things about this foe worth sharing. Anger exposes us like nothing else and is all consuming. It has only been through God’s grace that I have come to see my episodes of anger as a testing ground and opportunity for spiritual growth.
I have learned that if I can suffer insult while maintaining a peaceful spirit, this act alone leads me on the path of humilty and gives a freedom to my insulter that very often leads to repentance.
“To bear a grudge and pray, means to sow seeds on the sea and expect a harvest” – St. Isaac the Syrian
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I’m currently going through a bible study and one of the chapters that we studied was anger. It taught many of the things you mentioned here, iMonk.
There were two things that really stood out to me in the chapter. The first was that “righteous anger” has to do with defending God and his holiness (in situations that harm or hurt God). While that sounds nice, I think Christians (myself included) can confuse that with their own self-righteousness. The second thing the chapter said really helped me to think about whether or not I have “righteous anger” or “self-righteous anger”. And that point was that our expression of anger can be very destructive, destroying people and relationships; but we can learn to be like Jesus and let our anger motivate us to see that justice is done in society.
If we sit and stew at the injustices we see in our lives, our society, in politics, in our world, and do nothing — we might want to call or anger into question. A truly righteous anger will motivate us to just actions that result in justice.
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“We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
Great post, imonk. I needed that this morning.
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Hey Monk,
I just started following your blog about 2 days ago… I’m not even sure how I found you now.
I got a real laugh at this post in thinking through my own sins related to anger! I’m one of those guys who, till just a few years ago, was almost completely seperated from my emotions. I got some counseling, and had a few kids… now I’m angery!! Hehe… I say that very light-heartedly! =)
All joking aside, I never really realized how much anger was in me until I had a son who is EXTREMELY smart and EXTREMELY strong willed! The little guy has a mind of his own and likes to do what he wants! I have seen so much of God’s kindness in allowing him to be part of my life. What if I had lived my entire life, and all that junk inside of me had gone undisturbed?
One additional comment – We have to remember, and it is worthy of noting, that anger is a secondary emotion. We are always angry because… When you find yourself angry, ask God for revelation about the root. There you will find the REAL problem.
Thanks for your post…
Joe
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So well said. How does that saying go? A good offense is a good defense?
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Guilty as charged brother. I have been aided by your recent posts on Evangelicalism as a movement and the SBC. Please keep sharing both you insight on these things and more importantly your views insided yourself and other believers struggling with sin.
In Christ Alone,
Greg
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Mr. Angry,
Well, my pastoral counselor has been very helpful to me.
And when anger is chronic and debilitating, I wouldn’t hesitate to consider a medical approach. I’d see my doctor.
peace
ms
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Excellent piece.
I’ve long thought that the things that most bug us about others are often the things we’re guilty of ourselves. Accusation is too often just a cheap cover.
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I’m not an avid TD Jakes follower or anything, but I do remember one thing I heard him say many years back. He said, “The enemy is in-a-me.” Often its the case that the actions/behaviors we see in others that make us so angry are actions/behaviors that are in us as well, the anger just hides them from our view. Great post.
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What if you can’t stop being angry at the injustices in the world and the abuses of power? A consuming anger that you can feel in your veins and is such that you can not focus on anything else?
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and it brings to light so many of our sins, prejudices and the pride that creeps up on us. our drive for excellence, knowledge and progress, however well intentioned, blinds us to these things. we really need to constantly practice being still and just knowing that the Lord is God.
have a blessed day!
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“Is this why Ephesians 4:26 counsels us to not let the sun go down on our anger? Before the end of the day, we need to restore a truthful, humble view of ourselves and lose the self-righteous assumption that our anger guarantees that we are right.”
thank you so much for your reflection iMonk. i am strugggling so much with anger. it has severly hampered my service to the church and caused so many wounds in my personal life. have often meditated on this verse but often came up empty. your insight really spoke to me. a humble view of ourselves before the almighty and loving God must always be our starting point.
thanks again
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And the only injustice I can rightfully be angry about is the injustice to others.
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I am often angry.
Most people don’t know it.
Those who read my idiotic blogs do.
The Holy Spirit has once again used this forum to expose me.
My anger is based in hurt.
If I have a humble servant’s heart what do I have to be angry about.
Injustice? Yes.
Most often though my anger stems from pride.
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We compartmentalize being sorry.
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In Catholicism, your penance is up to your priest – usually, you’re absolved and then instructed to meditate on your grievances, say some Hail Marys, and you’re right with God. Many non-Catholic Christians believe you don’t even need a mediator to tell you what to do to get right with Him – just pray until you feel better about it, and trust that God has forgiven you because you believe in Him. Asking any Christian whether they REALLY believe God has forgiven them is liable to cause a problem – believing that God HASN’T forgiven them is tantamount to suggesting that they don’t REALLY trust Him at all.
This is our frustrating, obnoxious religion.
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Forgiveness with God and restitution to the offended are two different things in Christian ethics. They are related at many points, but ultimately sin per se is against God as the lawgiver. But one can’t accept forgiveness for a sin while committing another sin! So the Lord’s Prayer makes it clear that forgiveness has both dimensions. But we do make a distinction.
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Patrick Lynch,
I’m not a Christian (Jewish), so maybe not the best person to answer your question. However, in my faith, it is not enough to pray to the Divine for atonement, but I must actually make some attempt to actually atone or put back to right what it was I did against my fellow. Most sins (at least in my case) are against other people, and require at the least an actual apology and possibly restitution, if possible. I can’t imagine that Christianity allows people to skate by only seeking the Divine’s forgiveness and skips over making restitution with others.
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I’ve been wondering about forgiveness for a long time now, and your post on anger makes me wonder if this is something that can be solved.
‘Angry people haven’t forgiven’ is an easy thing for Christians to say, and they say it often. Thing is, I’ve noticed that people forgive themselves for their anger way too well for Christianity to mean anything to me most of the time. I really struggle with the fact that some people glibly sidestep the introspection and the honest guilt trip and the self-hate and THE NEED TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT and just ‘move on’ in Christ.
Because not only is that allowed in this religion, it’s encouraged. Expected even.
People come to peace with themselves in ways that generally have nothing to do with ‘not letting the sun set on their anger’, and accepting God’s forgiveness rather than extending an olive branch is just a sick theological joke.
I ‘get’ the mortification so many saints were into, and the subtle path away from pointless self-punishment that the Gospel has with it. What I don’t ‘get’ is why the light of friendship with Jesus shines on mere glibness. Getting over our wrong is a subjective thing, but does God really intend that even between Christians it’s supposed to be a lonely thing? Or is disconnecting just alright with Jesus?
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The antidote for anger is love. Amazing how a group called to love God and neighbor can be so angry at so many people so often.
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This post reminds me of why I’m glad that I’m presently leading a study of Peter Scazzero’s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, which I highly recommend. He hits on much of this and more.
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I’ve noticed that since I have approached AARP age, I’m more tolerant of others’ sins. I don’t think it’s because I’m all of a sudden holy. I think there’s a different dynamic of self-righteousness that works in older folks. But–here’s the rub–I don’t know what it is.
I used to be able to count on my own anger to tell me what problems I have myself. But now I still have problems but i don’t get mad at them in other people. So much, anyway.
Any insight?
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It’s the mote-in-your-brother’s-eye/plank-in-your-own situation. The things that anger me the most about other people (especially fellow Christians) are generally my own faults, as well.
Great post – thanks.
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Tim W:
Just a point.
Have you noticed that this post and the comments above are not by angry people blaming atheists? I hope you have, because as much as I have heard this the past two weeks, it’s rare that I hear any notice that the IM blog is different.
peace
ms
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The people who scare me the most are the Christians who tend to say stuff like “I’m tired of all these so-called Christians, they are probably un-saved; where are all the REAL Christians? …” etc.
I’ll grant that these expert identifiers of good fruit vs rotten fruit might be right in a lot of cases, but that isn’t my point.
My point is that I can feel the hate in their words, even more so than when they are complaining about atheists.
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Great topic. This country is choking on its own anger.
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I was once an angry young man; and always in Jesus name – or so I thought. Older, wiser, mellower, I have learned to accept the faults in others I really hated in myself. Acceptance does not mean agreement, but it does mean grace, even as God has given to us. Thank you for the good word.
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Correct, and also Jesus was zealous for God’s house because he loved his Father. I don’t think God gets angry about anything that personally concerns himself. He has mercy and forgiveness. He will defend others, though, if the situation calls for it (especially if the face of God is being hidden, as in the case of the temple).
And the servant is not greater than his master.
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