Are you 'mad as hell?'

Warning – this is not an easy read. “Civilization” is a relative word, isn’t it?  Humans can be as brutal as any beast. Last week, we were stunned by the news report about three teenage boys, bored on a summer afternoon, who took a rifle and shot a young man jogging on the street, just to watch him die. This week, we saw the horrifying pictures from Syria. The military allegedly took chemical weapons and used them on the people, killing mostly women and children in a horrible way.  In our own military, female soldiers are subject to rape, with up to 20% reporting (how don’t report?) sexual assaults!  Then, there are the millions of cruel words, acts of revenge, and petty ‘get even’ plots that keep families in turmoil.  Yes, there are lots of things about which we can get angry. What can we do? For many the answer is bigger guns, stricter laws, and longer prison sentences.  Do they work? I will let you draw your own conclusions.

The question that more interests me is – how will I respond to cruelty that comes my way?  How will I deal with insults, slights, and meanness?  Jesus says, “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.’ But I say, don’t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too." Matthew 5:38-40 That requires grace, doesn't it? When I am tempted to uncover my claws and bare my fangs, the Spirit challenges me to an entirely different response: Love!

Please remember, that does not preclude feeling anger! If we refuse to acknowledge our anger, it ferments into a toxic brew of resentment inside of us.  God’s Word tells us that we re-direct the anger: "In your anger do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Another translation says, “don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.” (Ephesians 4:26, NLT) Charles Stone, a pastor who faced the struggle to survive people's criticisms, writes about his misunderstanding of Jesus' demands, his inability to express his anger because he thought the emotion itself was wrong. The result he says was that "My anger festered into an emotional, poison-filled boil on my soul. I could deceive myself, pretend that all was well, and wait for things to change for the better. Or I could squarely face the disappointment and attempt to lessen its toxic effects."

So how do we turn the anger into something other than toxic bitterness that feeds a need for revenge?

First, we admit- to ourselves and to the Lord-  “I am angry.”   Because so many Christians think anger is sinful, they relabel it with many other names, but anger is anger, no matter what we call it. We're not 'just sad,' nor are we 'hurt.'  There are people who develop agendas to attack us and that makes us mad. Admit it, so you can and the Spirit can deal with it. Anger can be used as a powerful motivator for change: in ourselves and in our world.

Second, try to understand the cause of your anger.   Anger is often misdirected.  We’re disappointed about losing the promotion at work, but focus the anger on our wife.  We are frustrated by chronic illness and take it out on our kids.  God, the Holy Spirit, will help you (as will a good, honest friend) to understand the root of rage, but when He does, be prepared to work hard at change, starting with that person who stares back at you from your mirror.

Third, kill the fantasies!  Discovery Channel is much closer to reality than the Disney channel!   Wouldn’t we love a wonderful world where everyone was nice, all dreams came true, and people lived happily ever after? The sooner we kill the fantasies and deal with reality, the better our lives will be. People aren't perfect. Dreams don't always come true, no matter how hard you work at them. Acceptance of our limitations and of the situations in which we find ourselves provides great release from unnecessary anger. I am not suggesting that we give up on life, surrender hope, or stop praying for change.  But, we must ask the Spirit of God to help us to know the difference between our fantasies about a 'perfect' world and His dream for our life which He will equip us to fulfill.

Fourth, ENDURE! A friend who is in AA, reminded me of a basic truth that recovering alcoholics learn - "Send your body and your heart will follow!" In other words, sometimes we do the right things, just because they are the right things, not because we feel great passion, enthusiasm, or joy! Sometimes the very best method of dealing with anger is simply to determine to outlast your enemies and critics as you kill'em with kindness. That endurance is sustained by the realization that there is coming a day of just rewards for us all.

The Word says, "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And a righteous person will live by faith.” (Hebrews 10:35-38, NLT) We will do more than survive!  With the help of God we will thrive, living in the abundance of His grace, praying, "May your Kingdom come, and Your will be done on the earth, as it is in Heaven." Amen.