When do you think it is appropriate for Christians to express anger? And at what?
2007-10-16 05:47:24 · 24 answers · asked by Acorn 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I've never quite understood why some Christians think that anger is an inappropriate thing to feel. For that matter, I don't see how anybody can decide what to feel in ANY respect. We can decide how to behave, but can any of us REALLY decide how we feel about something? Does anybody sit down and DECIDE to be angry, or sad, or fall in love, or anything else? I don't believe we have control over that; what we do have control over, and what we are obliged to choose wisely (in my opinion) is our response to those feelings.
If I am angry at someone, I can do several things; I could go harm him; I could go yell at him; I could talk with him; I could sit and fume. I DO have that choice. Likewise, if I were to fall in love with someone married, I could choose to have an affair, I could choose to remain at a distance from that person, I could choose among several other options. I might not have the option of who to choose to love, but I DO have the option of choosing how I behave in response to those feelings.
I can't always choose to LIKE someone - but I CAN choose to treat them with courtesy and respect. The list goes on, but I think you get the idea.
And I'm not Christian; I'm Jewish.
2007-10-16 05:56:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Jesus' anger showed a couple of things about those doing the money lending:
--they were taking advantage of "visitors," who might not know the rules or rates of fair exchange,
--they were buying and selling in a place where WORSHIP was supposed to be the objective, not profit
--they did not grasp their own moral and spiritual bankruptcy
and it showed something about Jesus, as well:
--He knew, understood and honored what the temple was meant to be (the dwelling place of God on earth, a place to worship God in God's presence)
--He had the authority, both moral and spiritual, to throw out the money lenders.
According to this particular model (because Jesus also showed his anger elsewhere in the Bible) It is appropriate for Christians to express anger if the laws of God are being abused or dishonored, or if innocent people are being cheated or abused.
2007-10-16 05:58:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Of course. God expressed anger at many things - sin, for example. It is appropriate for Christians to be angry at any kind of sin. However, Paul said "in your anger, do not sin." So, we need to temper our response to our anger such that the response is not sinful (leading, for example, to unjust generalization of people).
In Jesus's case, He was perfectly justified because (a) He is God and we are not and (b) the moneychangers were profaning the temple. If some churches are doing the same today, it would be perfectly just to be angry at them, though the response will need to be tempered to the situation.
2007-10-16 06:17:24 · answer #3 · answered by Gary B 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus had to experience every known problem that would be known to man and he had to be perfect in control
this took obediance
think of the anger that it is logical to feel when you feel injustice ... tax .. government was corrupt years ago.
jesus made the decision that the right thing to do was to give cesar what you owe cesar ... you give god what you owe god
you must be legal / ethical and pay what you owe that does not mean you will always think the money is used wisely ... and why would anyone be happy with that ?
christains ... should be an example of generousity .. we are to be wise with money matters but recognize that we are not just investing in this earth .. we have a future we need to prepare for.
we do not serve a poor God . our father is rich .. we have a huge inheritance .. a king of all kings / most respected leader.
2007-10-16 06:03:20 · answer #4 · answered by Mildred S 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Anger is subjective. Acting on your anger is on a case by case judgment call.
Inappropriate anger management or rage is never good. Remember the first one that loses his temper loses the argument.
2007-10-16 07:37:35 · answer #5 · answered by theladygeorge 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anger Ephesians 4:26-27.First of all we should but off falsehood and speak truthfully to our neighbor for we are all members of one body. Christ body. In our anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,do not give the devil a foot hold. Do not grieve the Holy spirit of God,with whom you were sealed until the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness,rage and anger,brawling and slander,along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another ,forgiving each other ,just as Christ forgave us.
Go ahead and get angry. You do well to get angry,but do not use your anger ANGER AS A FUEL FOR REVENGE.
2007-10-16 06:16:34 · answer #6 · answered by God is love. 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It has been said, "The only justifiable anger is righteous anger on another's behalf." Jesus was angry on behalf of the poor people, who were being defrauded, and on behalf of His Father, whose house was being used as a "den of thieves". He drove them out. But even so, He did not strike one blind, maim, or injure them. Think what He could have done. Forgiveness was available for them too.
2007-10-16 05:58:34 · answer #7 · answered by Amalthea 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely, there is a vast difference between what men call "anger" and "righteous indignation." Righteous indignation is not sin and it is not to be confused with human anger.
Even what the Bible refers to as "God's anger" is not exactly what one would normally think. By comparing 2 Samuel 24:1 with 1 Chronicles 21:1, we discover that Satan in his eagerness to destroy all he claimed as his property is what the Bible calls "the anger of the Lord."
Check these passages out!
sky
2007-10-16 05:59:45 · answer #8 · answered by sky 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I would think Christians should express anger when they are wronged (i.e. if someone tricks them or rips them off). However, they must channel their anger in a positive manner.
2007-10-16 05:56:18 · answer #9 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
dawn wrote this, which I agree with 100%:
"the modern day money changers are the banks that oppress the poor through monopolizing the money through fractional reserve banking and interest as well as cornering the market on producing and controlling the money supply .."
I'd like to add my opinion to this very wise statement:
Ron Paul is simply trying to carry out Jesus example, by shutting down the American Federal Reserve Money Changing System, which has tricked the majority of Americans into a debt that can never be re-paid......replacing unbacked paper money with a soundly backed money & promoting "PEACE" on earth!
Wouldn't he be considered Jesus's modern day messenger?
Thank you.
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2007-10-16 06:44:57 · answer #10 · answered by beesting 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋