Sin and Anger

"Be ye angry and sin not; let not the sun go down on your wrath"  Ephesians 4:26

It is easy to be angry.  It happens more times than we like for most of us.  Fortunately, some anger is necessary; we wouldn't be human if we didn't have anger.  The real trick, however, is to see where our anger leads us.  Sometimes our anger builds up until finally there is an explosion---sometimes hurting those who are not even remotely related to the cause of our anger.  An older introductory psychology textbook which was used by me as a student described that process as "kicking the cat" displacing anger against another different object or person instead of the object or person with which we are truly angry.  That happens a lot, unfortuately, as we all find ways of venting anger.



In a book, The Angry Christians, by Steve Clapp and Sue Ingels Mauck, the authors contend that it isn't the anger that is bad.  It is how it is handled that may prove to be harmful to human relationships.  they believe that when one takes time to think through the actions and the event, about which one is angry, clarity will come.  Things will be seen that weren't seen through the fog of emotion.  Other approaches to solving problems may appear.  Suggesting everything from physical exercise, prayers, talking about the problem, even to the throwing of pillows, in private, by one's self, the authors believe that anger can be dealt with in a positive way.  They also think that anger can be used for positive actions.

The best way to deal with anger is to "sin not" and to do something positive and do it fairly soon,  If one is angry over the lack of assistance to poor persons in America or in the world, volunteer to help out in building a local habitat home for the poor with your church or other group.  Work with a church committee to collect donations of canned goods if hunger is an issue.  Do something positive to help with the situation that feeds your anger.

Prayer:  Oh God, help us during Lent to recognize our anger and to use it for the good.  Help us to sin not.

Robert Thompson (former member) for St. Mark Presbyterian Lenten Devotional, 2002