Anger Is Not An Option!

You've heard of road rage, but have you heard of "sidewalk rage"?

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal reported that, apparently "fast-walkers" feel hostility towards "slow-walkers" (which includes smokers, cell phone users, people with bags, children, and pregnant women). At its most extreme, sidewalk rage can signal a psychiatric condition known as "intermittent explosive disorder"—as in "get out of my way, or I'll plow you over."

On Facebook, there's even a group called "I Secretly Want to Punch Slow Walking People in the Back of the Head." (It's not worth visiting the site, but in case you're curious, as of 3-7-11 it had over 18,000 members.)

Signs of a "sidewalk rager" include muttering or bumping into others; hogging a walking lane; and giving a "mean face" to slow walkers.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is centered around God's love for, and through us. We can’t tolerate anger in our lives. Anger brings physical, emotional and social damages. These affect not only our own lives, but others as well. All these serious consequences point to our urgency of the gospel of Christ's love.

Does anger play a significant role in your life? Ask yourself the following questions:

When was the last time you lost your temper?
Did you ever physically hurt someone through your anger?
What are some of the phrases that you use when angry?
Have you ever apologized for your anger?
What relationships are being stressed because of unresolved anger?

Perhaps an examination of some consequences of anger might help motivate those with a spirit of anger to rid themselves of it. Let’s take a look:

Anger is unacceptable before God. We can never accomplish God's ways with anger. James 1:19-20
Anger leads to more anger. If you think your anger is bad now, it will get worse unless you take a strong course of action. Proverbs 10:12
Anger becomes addictive. Angry people don’t simply change. Proverbs 19:19 Anger leads to hostility and potential lawsuits. Anger easily leads to stressful situations and extra expenses that otherwise could have been avoided. Matthew 5:25
Anger always needs reconciliation. Anger produces strained relationships which must be solved before we go on in our spiritual lives. Matthew 5:23
Anger always needs restoration. Angry people are constantly hurting people and causing offenses. Proverbs 14:17

Any way you look at it, anger is simply not good for us. The American Tract Society Bible Dictionary describes anger as "a violent emotion of a painful nature, sometimes arising spontaneously upon just occasion, but usually characterized in the Bible as a great sin." (Matthew 5:22; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8)

An author for Reader's Digest writes how he studied the Amish people in preparation for an article on them. In his observation at the school yard, he noted that the children never screamed or yelled. This amazed him. He spoke to the schoolmaster. He remarked how he had not once heard an Amish child yell, and asked why the schoolmaster thought that was so. The schoolmaster replied, "Well, have you ever heard an Amish adult yell?" Ecclesiastes 7:9 tells us, "control your temper, for anger labels you a fool." This might be some pretty good advice for some of us to follow!

Let’s pray...

Lord God, please forgive me when I have not used self-control because of my anger. In my life and in the lives of those I love, please bring healing and restoration to the areas which have been damaged or hurt because of anger. Search my heart! Speak to me! Help me become still when my emotions feel out of control. Help me not to sin in my anger, but use this energy instead to work through problems in a constructive way. Likewise, help these others on my heart learn to manage their anger in a godly way. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

Sarah