Monday’s thoughts
On Sunday, November 11th I want to have us take a look at what it means to be Christian and to be angry. Anger is something that should be discouraged and in the Christian faith it is discouraged. But Jesus was angry several times in his ministry. He became angry with the money changers.
Mel Wheatley once wrote, “Sometimes the absence of anger is obscene”. I think that is correct generally, but there is an art to being angry. In fact I would put it this way, “We ought to be angry, for God’s sake”.
You can tell the size of the person by the size of the thing that makes that person angry. We will want to consider what makes us angry and why. We will want to look at anger as a tool to mobilize ourselves to address it in creative (non-destructive) ways.
What should make us angry?
Poverty?
war?
abuse of children?
violence?
homelessness?
indifference?
How do we express our anger?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at my email address charlesschuster@fcfumc.net (just click on the space to the left of this parenthesis) or click on the “comments” box below and others will get to read your response.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
I have been thinking about this subject ever since I saw it on the list of sermons — not an easy one to find published music to augment, and I haven’t found a song in my heart to write down or time to make it happen…
However, I think keeping in mind that gentleness in dealing with people or things that frustrate us is one of the recommendations in the Bible has really resonated with me in recent months. Righteous anger about topics you have listed in your blog should spur us to action, but not to sinful, infantile outbursts. I like the idea that we should try to be slow to anger and not give it full vent (Proverbs).
One thing I’ve always found amusing is that the NT says anger is like murder, yet it realizes humans are naturally vengeful and also recommends we leave room for God’s vengeance. Furthermore, Jesus says that loving our enemies with kindness will heap burning coals on their heads. That’s a song I think should be written, but not by me!!
Janet