Editor’s note: This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.
I have been in many conversations with Christians who were deathly afraid of anger, particularly their own. Underlying their fear was they believed anger was sinful.
Apparently, people believe it was OK for Jesus to be angry, but not his followers. My dear wife, for example, never gets angry – she just gets frustrated. Jesus did express some strong emotions when he ran the moneychangers out of the temple.
In Ephesians 4:26-27 Paul says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the devil.” (NAS) In the “Message” it says, “Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry – but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devil that kind of foothold in your life.”
It should be recognized here that the context of this passage is Paul talking to believers as to how they should treat each other. The account of Jesus in the Temple from Matthew 21:12-13 is a little different. Here we see a pure demonstration of righteous anger.
“And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; and he saith unto them, ‘It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.”
There are some important elements of difference here that I believe are important to us living in the 21st century. In Paul’s reference he is telling Christians how to get along together in harmony. Basically, he is saying, “OK you’re angry, now get over it.”
In the passage where Jesus demonstrates anger it is against those who show no reverence for God but are profiting from religion.
Can you think of any place where this is happening today in our society? If not, you are probably in a coma.
Just to stimulate your thinking on the subject I will mention a few places to consider. The movie industry, the abortion industry, the higher education industry, the judicial system and last but not least, religion.
I realize my comments might offended some. I am angry, however, that there is no significant response from the Christian community to these issues.
Some would say that Christians shouldn’t get involved in things political or controversial and should demonstrate love in all things.
Note that Jesus didn’t just scold or rebuke the moneychangers, he turned over their tables and basically ran them out. His response to the Pharisees was not what most would define as loving.
My point is that there is obviously a time for action. There may be times when words are not enough.
Personally, I believe most Christians are suffering from stuffing. We tend to stuff our anger and frustration with a society that has turned its back on God and wishes that Christians would just shut up and fade into the woodwork.
I suspect many feel that voting in a new politician is the best we can do. There may come a day when we will wake up to find the persecution of Christians will rule the day.
Maybe that is what it will take to expose what we really believe and get us on our feet ready to do something about it.
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