The objective of this lesson: to understand how anger can work against being a person set apart for God's purposes.
Anger of itself is not evil. There are times when God is described as being angry (Exodus 4:14; 15:7; 32:10, 11; Numbers 11:1, 10, 33; Deuteronomy 4:25; Joshua 7:1; Judges 2:11, 12; Psalm 78:49-51; etc.). When God gave a self-description in Exodus 34:6, the holy God said He was slow to anger, not absent in anger. There were times when Jesus was angry (Mark 3:5; perhaps Matthew 21:12, 13, and John 2:15, 16).
Many things before the perversion of evil were good. For example, sexual desire in its original state of creation from God was good. The statement, "They shall become one flesh," in Genesis 1:24 is a reference to the human sexual nature. People were not recreated into sexual beings after they surrendered to temptation. Sexual natures were perverted. The ability to conceive did not begin after surrender to temptation. Pain was multiplied in childbirth (Genesis 3:16). Work was a part of original creation and was good (Genesis 2:15). Yielding to temptation did not result in work. It resulted in the perversion of work. Work after temptation involved resistance to effort, in toil [or sorrow], and struggle (Genesis 3:17-19). The problem with anger is not found in the fact that it exists, but in its perversion. That which is unjust and opposes the holiness and purity of God should produce anger. The human problem is that anger quickly becomes a negative, emotional, unjust reaction that is wrongly expressed. It easily becomes a matter of selfish venting that ignores thought and just response. It quickly becomes concerned about misconceived vengeance and forgets entirely about forgiveness or compassion.
When anger acts unjustly it is evil. See James 1:20. In humans anger often expresses itself in an emotional response that acts impulsively and suspends thought. In humans anger commonly expresses itself through injustice because it either overreacts or it expresses the fury of long stifled slights. Often human anger is selfish as it focuses on self and injustices (whether perceived or actual) without considering the actual "whys" of the other person's behavior, emotions, or aggressiveness. Human anger often seeks to return evil for evil.
In humans, anger is used to serve Satan's purposes, not God's.
Three things are called to your attention in today's text. First, the injunction against anger in Christian existence is to make certain anger events are brief, not none existent. Second, the reason for making anger brief is to prevent Satan from using our anger as a doorway to temptation. Third, if the Christian will practice one and two, he can be angry and not sin.
Look at today's text, and note all three things.
It is the conscious ambition of the Christian man or Christian woman to set aside all aspects of life in a deliberate attempt to properly represent God. He or she will seek to be holy [set apart for God] by God's definition of holiness and purity so [as God's son or daughter] he or she can point to God's holiness to explain (1) the person he or she has become (2) as demonstrated in the way he or she behaves.
A major objective in responding to God's power to sanctify us is accepting the responsibility of sanctification. That responsibility is expressed in two ways: (1) Behaving consistently with the existence of a person who has been made holy by God (see Galatians 3:23-29 and give special attention to the concept of being clothed in Christ); (2) representing God in the person we have become in Christ to those who do not know God.
In a practical application of sanctification in the matter of anger, ask these questions. When I am angry, how does my anger affect my blood pressure? Affect my facial expressions? Affect my emotions? Affect my voice? Affect the pitch and tone of the way I verbally express myself? Affect my reasoning? Affect my desire to hurt the other person as I vent my anger with accusing words or hostile acts? Affect my behavior?
The questions are intended to be self reflective. They are more directed to a "think about it" answer to self than a sharing answer to the group.
When I am angry, do I lose control of my body? Do I lose control of my emotions? Do I lose control of my reasoning? Do I become jealously suspicious of the one at whom I am angry? Do I behave in a manner that deserves an apology when I "cool off"?
Challenge students to consider how anger affects them personally.
Do I feel my anger makes me a better or poorer representative of God?
Do people see God's influence or Satan's influence in me when I am angry?
Commonly the issue of anger in an environment that knows and respects godliness is "losing my temper." Frequently the issue changes radically in a godless environment that either (1) does not know God, or (2) does not respect godly behavior.
The "anger issue" radically changes as the environment of the person changes. The issue in the Christian community is more of a "control self" issue, while the issue in godless environments is likely to be a "how do you control others" issue.
Many of the Christians in Ephesus came from what we would consider a godless environment. The most powerful, influential religious expression in Ephesus was idolatrous. The principal temple of Diana or Artemis was located in Ephesus (see Acts 19:8-20, 23-41). Most of these Christians had "come out of" idolatrous experiences. What often was seen as a virtue in an idolatrous or godless existence was declared evil in a Christian existence. While expressing anger and nursing anger was seen as an admired strength in the ungodly lifestyle of people who worshipped idols, expressing or nursing human anger was declared a horrible way to represent God in the Christian lifestyle. Such was seen by Paul as an expression of the control of "the old self" rather than learning the new values of the "new self." Note this was a discussion of a lifestyle, not just an occasional event.
Likely the issue Paul addressed in this text was focused on "the control of others" issue. Remember, these people were first generation Christians who came out of an idolatrous environment. The environment they came from commonly considered the use of anger as a virtuous gift, not a destructive expression of ungodliness.
Perhaps we gain better insights into the problem [or problems] that concerned Paul if we illustrate anger in this manner. "Do not make him [or her] mad! When he [or she] gets angry, he [or she] is unpredictable! The only thing you can be certain of is that someone will get hurt! Not only does he [or she] react, but he [or she] never forgets! He [or she] will get even! And he [or she] is cunning! The time means nothing! He [or she] will plot revenge, and the amount of time that passes is meaningless! Never forget if you cross him [or her], you will get hurt! He [or she] will get revenge!"
This illustration of anger is intended to cause us to think about the fact that human anger can be used to manipulate the actions of other people.
The use of anger in a godless environment is often a control mechanism. The person easily angered controls other people's behavior through a fear of his [or her] angry behavior. The Christian seeks to influence others' behavior through the positive expressions of love, caring, and kindness because God is in control of him [or her].
Ungodly anger is often used as a control mechanism. That control is the opposite of the influence of godly behavior which seeks to bless others for their benefit rather than control them for selfish purposes.
This declares the core of the anger issue: Do I seek to control/manipulate others through anger, or do I let God control me by influencing me to be loving, caring, and kind? If a person lived [or lives] in a "controlled violence" atmosphere regulated by people's anger, learning to become loving, caring, and kind would be [is] a major transition. Loving an enemy would become a major, unnatural challenge that simply "did not make sense"!
From the perspective of people who live in a "controlled violence" atmosphere, seeking to influence through efforts to be loving, caring, and kind is unnatural and ridiculous. God's approach to influence trusts the facts (1) that evil is defeated by doing good (Romans 12:21--and remember Jesus' death and resurrection) and (2) this physical existence is just a prelude to life after death.
Anger presents a major opportunity to the devil! Anger is the door to bitterness, slander, rage, confusion, and hate! Commonly, anger precedes injustice not justice, spite not kindness, hurtful acts or words not compassion, and revenge not forgiveness. Lingering anger is never a friend to or encourager of godly behavior!
Anger in humans provides Satan with many opportunities for evil behavior and God with few opportunities for righteous behavior.
For Thought and Discussion
Included in this discussion should be the facts that both God and Jesus have known anger. Thus all forms of anger do not oppose purity and righteousness.
Anger is evil when it acts unjustly.
It often expresses itself in the human by an emotional response that acts impulsively and suspends thought.
In human anger injustice is often used because it overreacts or expresses the fury of long-stifled slights.
It often focuses on self and perceived injustices with little or no consideration of the other person. It often assumes his or her motives in his or her provocation.
It often seeks to return evil for evil.
The conscious ambition of the Christian is to be a sanctified person [set apart from evil for God's use].
Some of the questions are found on page one beginning with paragraph five (of the student lesson).
Human anger in a godless environment is often an attempt to develop a control mechanism.
Do I seek to control/manipulate others through my anger, or do I give control of myself to God so He can influence others though my behavior?
Human anger serves as a doorway to such godless attitudes and emotions as injustice, spite, revenge, slander, confusion, and hate.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 7