Dealing WIth the Fox of Anger and Rage

UV 1549/10000 Dealing with the Fox of Anger and Rage
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1 v 19

To be slow to speak and slow to wrath is the very characteristic of God. We imitate Him when we are slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to get angry. Jesus became angry only once in His entire public ministry when He saw the temple being desecrated and turned into a marketplace. He excelled in gentleness as no other ruler or leader did. This is the reason He is referred to in the book of Revelation as the Lamb upon the throne. In the book of Isaiah, He is referred to as one who would not break a reed.

Anger can be used effectively but it should be under one’s control. One who rules over his or her own spirit will not yield to a habit of showing anger or loose one’s temper. A person with uncontrolled anger is compared to a city without walls or without any defences. Anger is manifested in many ways at the individual, national and global levels. It manifests as disease in individuals, strife and quarrels in homes, street fights, riots, terrorism and wars. Anger, scripture says, dwells in the bosom of fools. It makes one hasty to speak one’s mind. The one who has perfected his self control is slow to speak. He is not in a hurry to express his views. Instead, he speaks with a lot of careful listening and careful thought.

Anger is a dangerous emotion. Last week a young man in a small town in Oregon, USA shot dead people as he was angry with people who had faith in Jesus. In another place in northern India, a mob murdered a man who had allegedly killed a cow. Instead, of expressing anger in these insane ways and destroying others and oneself, people need to learn to listen to God, their own conscience and better selves and calm their emotions. The Word of God as it contains eternal and living truths or practical truths builds defences inside a human being against such destructive thoughts, emotions and actions. Intolerance and hatred for people with other points of view, beliefs, convictions, practices surfaces as anger and violence. Cain became angry with Abel for offering a better sacrifice and winning the favour of God. Instead, he should have listened to the voice of God telling him to be wholehearted in his worship and sacrifice. It led to the murder of Abel and a curse on Cain. The ones who resort to violence and anger are the sons and daughters of Cain. They are unable to rule themselves and roam the earth restless, having no peace within themselves, they become agents of strife and folly all through their lives. Ruling oneself implies dealing with the negative thoughts, emotions and words in one’s own mind and heart. The remedy the Word offers is to slow down our emotions and our expression of it, to introspect and allow the Spirit of God to work within and bring healing to the inner man.

Prateep V Philip