Terry Devitt writes...

James 1:19-20 reminds us that all of us will have trouble with sinful anger. “But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

How do we know if our anger is sinful? The verses above tell us what sinful anger does not do: achieve the righteousness of God. That’s a good way of examining the kind of anger we experience. We can know by the motive and the way we respond when we are angry. Note this: it is not always wrong to be angry. Ephesians 4:26 indicates that we will be angry. Let’s be even clearer: there are times we should be angry! We know that because God is angry (e.g., Mark 3:5; Heb. 3:10). We should be angry about the things that God is angry about.

Suppose someone purposefully misrepresents you to others and tells them you are untrustworthy. What kind of response would you have? Our fleshly desires want to self-protect, self-defend, feel self-pity, or strike back at the person who made the statement. Is it wrong to feel anger in this situation? No.

So, where’s the problem? What is unrighteous anger? Just this: when we are angry for our sake. We are angry because of how it affects me. Righteous anger, on the other hand, is expressed when it is for God’s glory, and when it is expressed in godly concern for the sinning soul. That is, we seek to do what is best for them. It is not wrong to have the sense of hurt in such a situation. It is wrong to respond to that situation for your own sake.

This is precisely why we need God’s Word to give us wisdom. Romans 12:19-21 is one passage that gives such wisdom. It says, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

What is being said here? Not to self-defend or take our own revenge. That is the response of the old, natural self. We are to trust God in His dealings with us (and every circumstance we encounter is ordained by God), and operate according to God’s wisdom and character. Feed them! Give them a drink! That is, love them. When God says “do not be overcome with evil,” He is talking about our own evil – the evil that comes out when we are angry for our own sake. We overcome unrighteous anger by loving those who sin against us. .

When someone slanders us (or any number of other ways people can sin against us), righteous anger will display itself by doing what is best for the one who sinned against us. Here are just some biblical ways of loving others when they sin against us. Galatians 6:1; Matt 18:15; Matt 7:1-5; 1 Thess 5:14-15; Eph 4:26-27. Notice God’s purpose in following these commands; also notice the attitude we must have or avoid.