Go! and Turn Anger into Action for Justice

Go! and Turn Anger into Action for Justice

Anger is an emotion we all experience, but not all anger is the same. The Bible makes a distinction between righteous anger - which is godly and just - and unrighteous anger, which is destructive and sinful.

Righteous Anger: Reflecting God's Heart
Righteous anger is a response to sin, injustice, and evil. It is not rooted in personal offense but in a desire to see God's truth upheld. Jesus displayed righteous anger when He cleared the temple (Matthew 21:12-13). He was not acting out of wounded pride but was angered by the corruption that had turned His Father's house into a marketplace.

Righteous anger is marked by:
- A focus on God's righteousness, not personal vengeance (Romans 12:19)
- A desire to correct wrongs, not destroy people (Ephesians 4:26)
- A motivation of love, not bitterness (James 1:20)

Unrighteous Anger: A Danger to the Soul
Unrighteous anger, on the other hand, is self-centred, impulsive, and often destructive. It arises from pride, selfishness, or hurt feelings. Cain's anger led to murder (Genesis 4:6-8), and Jonah's anger made him resentful towards God's mercy (Jonah 4:1-4).

Unrighteous anger is characterised by:
- A focus on self, rather than God (James 4:1-2)
- A desire for revenge, not restoration (Ephesians 4:31)
- A lack of self-control, leading to sin (Proverbs 29:11)

Responding to Anger Biblically
Ephesians 4:26 (NLT) reminds us, "And don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry."

We must ask ourselves: Does my anger reflect God's righteousness or my frustration? If it is unrighteous, we need to confess, seek peace, and let go of bitterness.

Let's be people whose anger, when it arises, is aligned with God's purposes - anger that leads to justice, love, and restoration, not destruction.