Dealing with Anger

Interesting, Only KJV says this -5:22- But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

NASB :- 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty

I believe both are right here. 'Without a Cause' - does not mean that if there is any cause for us to get angry then it is fine. For example if someone hurts you then there is a cause for you to get angry. But Jesus is not speaking about that Cause here. The only Cause for anger is when we see God's name being dishonored by those who call themselves as believers. Jesus got angry at the Jews who were changing God's temple into market place. What disturbs God should always disturb us and what does not disturb him should never disturb us.

This is a good topic, I want to see more discussion on practical aspects of Christianity like overcoming anger, lust etc rather than Pre&Post tribulation theology.

sree wrote:
This is a good topic, I want to see more discussion on practical aspects of Christianity like overcoming anger, lust etc rather than Pre&Post tribulation theology.

God bless,
Lisa

Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:

Mark 3:5
And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Ephesians 4:26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

So the question is how do we deal with anger when it comes ? anger will come.

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

If he refuses to repent than the only biblical option that I am aware of for serious issues, is as Paul did in 2 Timothy 4:14
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

We let go of our desire's of retaliation, and vengeance,

Having seen the end of doing this over a very serious issue. I now understand why the Bible says: Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

If the issue is serious and we have properly lovingly rebuked them and they refuse to repent,. and we go and cry out to God. and we let go of it the best that we can. As what Paul did with Alexander. Than what is fixing to fall upon them, we will have pity for them.

just-in wrote:
God wants you to surrender to his divine influence upon your heart so that his transforming power will be evident in your life. Be encouraged today.

Sludge always rises to the top and if we pour in Christ through more worship & praise of Him in our home, car, iPod, the Holy Spirit begins to fill us and the sludge has no place to go but over the top and out! Can you tell when you have more sludge than the Holy Spirit? For me, I sure can!!!

God bless you, Just-In!!
Lisa

Anger truly is a deadly sin. It will consume you and bring sorrow and hurt to all those around you. Allowing ones anger to live in the heart will allow the seeds of bitterness, resentment, and hatred to take root. Once they do they begin to harden the heart with their deadly poison. I was at one time a very angry person. My poor husband was mightily abused by my words at times. There were times when I gave in to anger that I could actually fill it rising like a tidal wave inside me, it was not something I could control until I came to JESUS! HE is so good to show me these things in myself and to help me overcome. As I came to the LORD and repented HE taught me to take every thought captive unto HIM, every feeling and emotion that I had all belonged to HIM. I learned to pray before I spoke to my husband no matter what the issue. As I learned to turn to JESUS the anger that once was there had been replaced with HIS love. As a MASTER GARDENER HE touched my heart and dug out those weeds of anger, bitterness, and resentment. He set me free to love my husband and not be controlled by my sin. I am so thankful to say that the LORD in HIS mercy has kept my marriage intact and set me free from this sin that truly did rule me at one time.

It is so vital to speak to others who you have difficulty with only after you have taken it to prayer first. To have HIM guard my tongue and heart and let HIM be my guide in all things daily, this is my prayer.

Thank you for sharing with us this is a very good topic.

God bless
maryjane

Lysa...The more excellent posts always go by the wayside with little or no comments and views; while the arguable topics, sadly get the most views and comments. Just the way of people and we have to love them all!!!
God bless,
Lisa

I had one "Why do you Love Jesus" many months ago, it got about 5 reply's and over 1000 views. I guess it was really hard to start a debate or argue on a thread like that. :)
When you see a thread with over 20/25 reply's now days, you can bet it involves a somewhat heated debate. Funny thing is, how many of the heated debates have you ever seen anyone swing over to the other side? most stick to what they believe, so it's all for not.

I suspect all of us who are normal have this problem with the ability to deal with it.

As I consider this issue in my own heart I see what fuels it is an unforgiving attitude. A forgiving attitude will let go what you cannot change - let God take care of the problem and you back off.

Scripture teaches us that love covers a multitude of sins. Embedded within love is forgiveness. Now the challenge is to not confuse love with tolerance for sin. When you confront sin people will accuse you of being unloving, never addressing the issue but working to cover their sin. This can get very frustrating to one who is concerned about another's soul.

God bless.

My mind has been thinking about this thread ever since I read it this morning. In so doing, I was reminded of an issue I do not think was addressed in this thread.

What happens to unresolved anger? It will go underground and cause bitterness in your soul. Scripture teaches us this defiles a person: Heb.12:15: "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."

It will happen unless it is dealt with - it will literally go underground and contaminate your entire being. It can cause sickness, emotional disorders, spiritual defeats, conflicts with others about you, et al.

A few weeks ago I heard a testimony that blessed my heart. Here it is:

A 70ishYO mother was asked by her daughter to attend a ladies' meeting. God used this speaker to convict this grandmother that she had harbored bitterness in her heart. It began when her mother died when she was a young girl. Her dad took her and her brother and left them with an aunt to raise. She did not realize she was bitter but once she recognized it she repented.

Some time later this mother had her children come home for the Holidays. They had five children, all were married with children. As the day progressed the children noticed that mom was calm, peaceful. Heretofore they always had to walk on eggshells lest they evoke an outburst of anger. They asked their dad, "what happened to mom?" "I tell you what," he said, "I have a new wife. She is a new person since she allowed God to cleanse her of bitterness." End of testimony.

I suspect most, if not, all divorces and other human conflicts are at some level or another contaminated with anger and bitterness. The challenge comes when you have to live with an angry person: how do I respond to an angry person?

I have also noticed that in dealing with anger in another person, they are also given to lying, making it virtually impossible to deal with in a normal way. It seems to me - from my observation - there must be a demonic spirit at work as well. This sin reminds me of the verse in James 2:10: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." It is impossible to be guilty of just one sin without its brethren nearby.

Having observed the effects of anger in my own heart, in the lives of others, I have come to the conclusion it is the most prevalent sin next to pride among Christian people.

My understanding.

It is so vital to speak to others who you have difficulty with only after you have taken it to prayer first. To have HIM guard my tongue and heart and let HIM be my guide in all things daily, this is my prayer.

Good testimony. It is my prayer as well.

It is possible to control once tongue in anger through meditation and Yoga. But it is impossible to love them back and speak gentle words. Blessed are those who are gentle for they will inherit the earth. It is God's blessing of grace that is needed to give a gentle answer when someone shouts at you.

Giving a gentle answer means the following,

1. You are listening to them who shouts at you. It is possible not to speak back to someone shouting at you if you stop listening to them. I used to do the same. But when you respond gently to them it means that you have listened everything and you are humble enough to still speak back respectfully.

2. You show them how important they are to you. If you shout back at them or just keep quiet you are giving them a signal that 'I do not care about hurting back' or 'I do not care about what you are talking to me'.

I remember a situation when believer misunderstood a situation in Church that was handled by Brother Zac Poonen, he called him and kept on accusing him in Phone call. Brother Zac could have either spoken back or cut the call (which a spiritually immature person will do). But he kept listening till the caller finished what he wanted to speak and then thanked him respectfully and cut the call without defending himself. After few months the brother who accused him came to know the truth about the situation that Brother Zac handled and then apologized to him for speaking harshly without knowing the truth.