The Invitation

Anger is an interesting thing. It can motivate us to do very good things or it can imprison us and lead us into a deep pit of bitterness. There are two kinds of anger. There is an anger that is a righteous one. The Word speaks of this kind of anger. God gets angry, but His anger is always righteous and in response to the transgression of His Holy Word.

For example, when Moses came down from the mountain, having just received the ten commandments from  YHVH, the people, having just agreed earlier not to make any graven image (Exodus 20:4) had made a golden calf and there they were having a big party and bowing down to the thing. YHVH got angry!

Exodus 32:10 And now let me alone, that my Anger may burn against them, and I may consume them; and I will make of thee a great nation.

The Word is very clear and gives instruction to us in Ephesians 4:26-27 Be angry, but don't sin - don't let the sun go down before you have dealt with the cause of your anger; otherwise you leave room for the adversary. So, yes, be angry, however do not sin in your anger. The only way to not sin in your anger is to be righteous, as is YHVH, and be angry about what angers Him. It isn't easy to be like Him, is it?! The second warning, in this set of scriptures, warns us to resolve such anger before the sun sets, otherwise we will open the door to the adversary, the enemy of all mankind, Ha'Satan. Even righteous anger can turn unrighteous in the human heart, because of our fleshly tendencies, if it is not resolved quickly. Righteous anger will move us at times to take action. Perhaps it is to step in to protect someone. Maybe it is to protect an entire group of individuals. Maybe it is to move us to lovingly confront another believer in his or her sin and hopefully motivate them to reconcile to the Father or another believer. We need to diligently seek the Ruach Ha'Kodesh, The Holy Spirit, to guide us during these times, so that our flesh does not chime in and we are able make decisions that honor Him and His Word. Righteous anger always seeks to restore the order of Yah's Word. Righteous anger never transgresses His Word in it's expression. Righteous anger comes from a very deep love for Ha'Shem and for others and it is not self seeking, it is selfless. It seeks to be resolved quickly.

There are things in this world that we should be angry about. Sin and it's resulting horrific consequences in our society should stir us. Especially when these things are committed against those who are helpless to defend themselves. I would have to check my pulse to see if my heart was still beating if some of the things happening in this world and in my life-time did not anger me. There are some that do not believe anger is appropriate in any circumstance. These individuals may unknowingly be adhering to a philosophy called stoicism. Stoicism, a school of Hellenistic philosophy, is an incredibly unrealistic option that I personally do not practice and I don't know how any human being truly could....unless of course they are not breathing. It sounds great in theory. A bus drives into your house, oh well. Don't get excited. Stoicism, simply put, can be defined very well in Doris Day's rendition of "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)". It seems to me that far too many in our society have opted for such a philosophy and ignore that which is morally reprehensible as if it were a mere fly on the windshield of a car. There seems to be a serious confusion within circles of believers and in society, as well, that this philosophy comes from the Word of God, when in fact these ideas are rooted in the teachings of Zeno of Citium of Athens and propagated by others in Rome in the early 3rd century BC and not the Word of God. This kind of attitude has created serious, societal altering consequences that have torn at the fabric of our civilization. I don't believe that anxiety is necessary or correct but to feel nothing or worse yet, do nothing, in the face of injustice is just as bad as the injustice itself. Certainly we should become angry, but not at the people involved, because our battle is not against "flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities of this dark world" (Ephesians 6:12). We should however be angry at the sin itself and the dark spirit or spirits behind it. Very simply put, be angry at the sin, not the sinner.

Now that we have covered the first kind of anger, lets take a look at the second and it's long range, wicked potential. This kind of anger leads to bitterness that can inflict an enormous amount of damage to the individual entertaining it and those closest to him or her. This second kind of anger is very self seeking. This kind of anger begins with an offense or a wound if you will. Most of the time the individual has been hurt by another in the past or perceives that they have. Sometimes they are even angry with God. It must be dealt with quickly, before the sun sets, or it will immediately begin to be very destructive. This unrighteous, unholy anger gives the adversary license to enter our lives. It is an engraved invitation to him. Because he is the liar of all liars he will take full advantage of this invitation that we have given him. This brand of anger has little to do with the Word of God. However, some folks will use the Word illegitimately, twisting it and using it out of context either to justify wrong actions or to be used as a weapon to injure others and maintain control as they entertain anger. The adversary capitalizes on the pain the individual has experienced and drives his talons deep into the existing wound. These people are in serious pain. If the anger continues, it becomes a deep pit of pain piercing through the very depths of one's soul. It becomes what is known as bitterness. It causes the individual to be given to confusion and rage. The world becomes a very distorted place to a person that remains in bitterness. This is a very sad state to live in. I have been there and I don't ever want to be there again.

John 10:10
The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

In the eyes of the world system, in my lifetime, I have had more than enough "just" cause to become bitter. Perhaps you have too? If I was a perfect person that excuse might fly. I am not and I don't know of any human being that is. I do know One who is perfect. He is Holy and He is perfect. Forgiveness by and reconciliation to a Holy Elohim was costly. Yahshua, our Messiah, paid that price for us on the tree by the shedding of His blood. We must seek to honor Him and what He did for us by not believing the enemy's lie that somehow we have a "right" to hold on to anger towards others. Let's seek to forgive quickly, let go of our anger and as far as it is up to us live in peace with all men (and women).

Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men.

Anger is a like a dangerous tightrope. Hopefully we can walk it carefully, examining it and making sure that our walk is straight, most importantly using the light of the Word and the counsel of the Holy Spirit to navigate us through it. Once we have done that, lets get to the other side in a rapid fashion. Let's forgive quickly and seek to reconcile in a timely manner as if our very lives depended on it. Who knows, maybe our lives do depend on it? (Job 5:2). Otherwise we might cause an invitation to go out to a visitor we'd rather not entertain; and He comes to steal, kill, and destroy, make no mistake.

Blessings to you!