Why are you so ANGRY?

 

As a kid, I had quite a temper! I really can't tell you why. As I grew older, I learned to manage it. Now I can look back and see how silly it is to get so angry over nothing.

I read the last four chapters of Micah today and for some reason, the word anger stuck out in my mind from these verses:

"Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago." (Micah 7:18-20)

Even though we reject him, despise him, and ignore him, he continues to love us, ALL OF US. He is compassionate and loving. 

Our world is filled with anger. We see it in this country in our politics and on social media. Even Christ's followers seem to be filled with so much anger. Why are we, God's representatives to this world, so filled with anger? Shouldn't we be different? 

I was reading an article about the five times Jesus showed anger when he walked the earth.[1] Jesus showed anger at the religious leaders for not showing compassion to a crippled man on the Sabbath. (Mark 3:4) His anger was coupled with his extreme sadness. In Mark 10:14-16, Jesus became indignant when his disciples were keeping the children from coming to him. Twice in Jesus' ministry, his actions demonstrated his anger at how people were acting in the Temple.(John 2 and Mark 11) Two more times Jesus was angry at sickness and death. (Mark 1:41 and John 11:33) The point of the article is that Jesus became angry when people were kept from coming to him and he also became angry with the consequences of sin. He never became angry out of hatred! 

What about us? What causes us to become angry? Is our anger justified? Does our anger cause us to hate and sin toward others? Why are you so angry? Do you hate Democrats, Republicans, gays, or those who sin differently than you? Does your anger lead you to mistreat others or keep you from loving your enemies? Does your anger keep you from praying for those who persecute you?

God himself is slow to anger. 

"The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.  The Lord is good to everyone. He showers  compassion on all his creation." (Psalm 145:8,9)

God is love. His anger is always born out of his love and compassion for all of us. His anger is not permanent. His anger is coupled with his sadness for those who reject him. I am guessing your anger towards a particular political persuasion is permanent. 

I wonder what would happen if we replaced our anger with compassion and unfailing love. What would happen if our anger was brief and quickly replaced with a delight to demonstrate unfailing love towards our enemies? What if our anger was coupled with extreme sadness leading us to pray for those who persecute or hate us?

[1] https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/5-times-jesus-got-angry.html