An Age of Rage & Anger

The national news is peppered with headline stories of people losing their tempers, and committing horrific acts of violence against total strangers, fellow workers, or even more commonly, members of their own family. Due to a variety of social pressures and prejudices, hate crimes also seem to abound.

Is this rage or anger just a part of our generation or is there a part of all of us that is ready to boil over at any given moment. I believe we are truly living in an age of rage and anger.

Did you know? The first act of murder recorded in the Bible happened between brothers, as a result of uncontrolled anger. (Gen. 4:3-8) Prophecy also warns us, that in the last days unbridled anger, tirades, and temper tantrums would become typical behavior. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath.” (Gal. 5:19,20)

Spiritual Counsel: “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools.” (Eccl. 7:9) Anger is not a mark of intelligence. Uncontrolled anger is usually a sign of poor judgment. Thomas Kempass said, “When anger enters the mind, wisdom departs.” Remember, if you are constantly giving everybody “ a piece of your mind,” soon you won’t have any left!

“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” (Prov. 15:18) “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” (Prov. 16:32) It has been said, “what we do not control will eventually control us.” I believe we all need a little bit of “sanctified antifreeze” in our veins to keep us from boiling over!

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19,20) A Christian should always be slow to heat up and quick to cool off. We are to have a long fuse instead of a short one. Got it!

So, let’s address some of the things that can cause anger, and a few things we can do about it.

# 1 – FRUSTRATION - Frustrated people feel out of control and often get angry. This pattern can start at a very young age, and unfortunately, some of us never grow out of it.

# 2 – LACK OF APPRECIATION - Some people get angry when they feel they are being ignored and neglected, and it causes bitterness and resentment.

# 3 - BEING IN THE WRONG – Wrongfulness is often compensated with irritation and loudness leading to anger, rage and revenge. The great controversy story between Christ and Satan illustrates the long term results, with the devil, like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devourer.

# 4 – HUNGER and FATIGUE - If you are going to discuss something controversial or unresolved issues, it’s not a good thing to do it after a long day of work and before supper. Make sense?

How do we control our anger?

# 1 - PRAY - Claim the promises in Scripture. We’ve been given “exceeding great and precious promises, that through them we can be partakers of the divine nature,” instead of our own. (2 Pet. 1:4)

# 2 – GIVE A SOFT ANSWER - Regardless of whether the anger begins with us or someone else, it helps to practice the counsel, “A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.” (Prov. 15:1)

# 3 – TIME OUT – When we get angry, “count to ten,” and allow time to cool off before we say or do something rashly.

# 4 – AVOID BAD COMPANY – We become like the people with whom we associate. When we are around normal functional people, we find out that anger and rage is not good behavior. “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy own soul.” (Prov. 22:24,25)

# 5 – GET SOME EXERCISE - Exercise releases the endorphins that help us cope., as well as, releases some of the energy and tension that sometimes comes from stress.

# 6 – LISTEN TO SOME GOOD MUSIC - David did this for King Saul when he was brooding and upset. We’re not talking war-dance music, but soothing inspirational music.

# 7 – TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT JESUS – Meditate on Christ and His life. Jesus appeals to all of us “Come unto me. all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Jesus kept His cool in the most trying of circumstances, and He can help us keep our cool as well.

Jesus will help us get control over all things that “so easily beset us.” (Heb. 12:1,2) Ask Him for His Peace, so we can represent Him here and walk with Him later in glory. Amen?

Retired Pastor Jim Nichols

– Sidney Seventh-day Adventist Church