ANGER

The Outrageous Sin of Anger

You may not be deemed a murderer when judged by secular standards, but are you an angry person? Most people dismiss this kind of behavior thinking that it’s no big deal, while adamantly condemning the sin of murder. Nevertheless, the Messiah had some fierce warnings for the danger that awaits those who are guilty of unrighteous anger. 

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [worthless person], shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”  - Mat 5:21-22 

Are you known among your peers to have a temper? Or are you known to be easily frustrated? Only on a bad day. Right? Maybe so. But on a bad day would you go out and murder someone? If you can see that the sin of anger is truly a damning sin, like the sin of murder, no rational person would blame the day. 

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these…hatred, variance…wrath [anger], strife…and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.” – Gal. 5:19-21 

Suffice it to say, the sins that will deny you entrance into the eternal paradise of Heaven are outrageously wicked in the sight of God! Even so, it was written, “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” (Prov. 27:4). In reality, the day is never the problem, nor are the unpleasant circumstances that people encounter. Divine wisdom points the finger at the person: not a bad day, but a bad person (Rom. 3:10)! There are a thousand ways that the sin of anger is explained away or concealed from the conscience so that sinners don’t feel guilty about it (Col. 2:8). Why do people get angry? 

• Modern psychology makes void the judgment of God by declaring that the criminal is an innocent victim of his environment (Prov. 17:15).
• Erratically emotional people blame it on their traumatic experiences of the past.
• Insecure people blame it on the hurt they feel when their expectations of love are unmet in their personal relationships.
• Annoyed people claim that the feeling is normal, and justified, and that any other kind of behavior in such circumstances is weird and robotic.
• Competitive people dismiss it as zeal for the sport.
• Ambitious people disregard it as a drive to succeed.
• Proud people believe it to be warranted for how they have been dishonored.
• Manipulative people harness it as a means to control others.
• Mentally unstable people are applauded when they discover ways to express their anger to “get it out of their system”, so the saying goes in psychology.
• Bitter and unforgiving people embrace it while holding a grudge against the accused because they feel betrayed.
• Vengeful people boil in it as they hope for the punishment of their enemies for the crimes they have committed in society. 

The sin of anger is unjustifiable! “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20). Hereby, the mouths of sinners are “full of cursing and bitterness” (Rom. 3:14)! Sadly, a thousand different sinners will erroneously justify the sin of anger in a thousand different ways. Very intelligent people may argue thus… but all their reasoning is foolishness in the sight of God. “For anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” (Eccl. 7:9). My fellow Americans, whatever your persuasion is, you need to know that God will have the final say on Judgment Day as He justly sends angry people to Hell without pity. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” (Act 8:22).