Triumph Over Giants From Within (2) - Anger

Since writing the first chapter of ¡§Triumph over Giants from Within¡¨ in the Shepherd¡¦s Voice of July 3, 2005, I have not had another opportunity to continue. For this, please accept my apology. Today, I would like all of us to ponder this issue ¡V how do we triumph over anger from within?

Firstly, we must understand that being angry is not a sin. Because Moses saw the Israelites worshipping the golden calf, he became furious. (Genesis 32:22) Christ observed the Jews buying and selling at the Holy Temple, turning the house of prayer into a den of thieves, and was incensed. (Matthew 21:12) Paul exhorted us not to sin in our anger, and not to let the sun go down while we are still angry. (Ephesians 4:26) Fury is an instinctive reaction when our emotional factor is aroused. Psychological analysis informs us that when we feel hurt, defeated or alarmed, the natural physiological reactive expression is anger, which is a sort of power of preparedness. Should we lose control of our display of rage in terms of time, place or form, it can bring great damage to those around us. If we are unable to effectively clear up our resentment, anger will turn into hostility through our pessimistic and negative attitude, and enduring hostility will harden into hate towards others. Therefore, before anger is displayed, it is still a kind of latent internal power that is neutral. When we cannot tolerate the raging fire from within, then we use words and action to articulate our anger. Due to man¡¦s sinful nature, the expression of our umbrage is often aggressive and destructive more than constructive. The philosopher of Proverbs tells us, ¡§A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.¡¨ (Proverbs 29:11) Therefore, we must rationally deduce the root cause generating our fury, be aware of our own human weaknesses, and learn to rely on the Holy Spirit to confront this giant from within ¡V ¡§anger¡¨.

Below I share with you all some exhortations on the learning process:

1. Do not accrue anger. This was what Paul meant when he taught us not to let the sun go down while we are still angry. If we stash away an ember of fury inside of us, eventually some other provocation will induce destructive conduct of even greater magnitude. It will also be a chance for the devil to gain ground and become an invitation for him to enter into and work from within us.

2. Do not nurture anger. Don¡¦t keep turning over in your mind the damage that others have caused you. Don¡¦t regurgitate the verbal attacks others have thrown against you. And don¡¦t bemoan the hurt you¡¦ve suffered from others to your sympathizers again and again. Learn to forget the trespasses of others, because repeatedly denouncing their faults will only deepen your recollection of the anger, and harden it into hate.

3. Contemplate and emulate the example of Christ when He faced injury, defeat and suffering. (1 Peter 2:21) ¡§Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.¡¨ (Hebrews 12:3)

4. Consider how we have received God¡¦s mercy and been forgiven. ¡§Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.¡¨ (Ephesians 4:32)

5. Consider that we have all been trapped by our weaknesses and sinful nature, understand that we are not perfect in action and thought before God, and learn first to remove the plank from our own eyes. (Matthew 7:3-5) Never be indulgently self-righteous and treat others with a harsh disposition, but govern ourselves with a magnanimous attitude.

6. Learn to commend our anger to our Heavenly Father through prayer and repentance. There are many prayers in the Book of Psalms where the poet admitted their anger to God after they were hurt and degraded, and begged Him to evoke justice for them. (Psalms 52, 55, 56)

7. Learn to conquer evil with goodness. If we truly want to express our anger, convey our displeasure directly to the transgressor at the appropriate time and place, and speak through the Holy Spirit. It is a most difficult lesson, yet not impossible, because we have the help of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 12:17-21)

By: Daniel To