Anger And Sin: What's The Christian Perspective?

Anger is a natural human emotion, and many people wonder if it is a sin to get angry. The Bible does not say that anger is bad, and even God and Jesus are described as getting angry in its verses. However, the Bible also advises against rash reactions to anger and encourages people to be slow to anger and to not let it linger.

Anger is not always a sin

Anger is a natural human emotion that need not lead us into sin. Anger can be righteous and motivating when we channel it correctly. We can be angry about injustice to ourselves and in the world, and that anger can motivate us to care for those who are marginalized.

Anger can be righteous when it is directed at what makes God angry. For example, perverting God's goodness and going against what God has said is right. God's anger is always justified, and in the Old Testament, His wrath was meant to draw His people back to Himself.

However, human anger is usually portrayed as sinful in Scripture, and anger against God is always a sin. Anger becomes sin when it is allowed to boil over unconstrained, resulting in hurt and destruction.

We can seek to live our lives under the control of the Holy Spirit, or we can let the sinful nature of our flesh have its way. It's a choice we make every day. We can either turn to the Lord for patience and strength or allow potentially destructive emotions like anger to run unchecked.

Anger is a normal human emotion, and feeling angry is not a sin. It's what we do with our anger that steers us either in the direction of Christ and His love or sin because of our anger.

We can stop on a dime and check our thoughts with God's truth. In hesitation, we should always wait on God for directives concerning our reactions to righteous anger. Through the Holy Spirit in every believer, because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we have a very real hope of controlling our anger.

God and Jesus experienced anger

While the Bible does refer to anger as a "strong emotional reaction of displeasure, often leading to plans for revenge or punishment", it is not necessarily a sin to feel anger. Anger is a natural human emotion and feeling angry is not a sin. However, it is important to recognise that anger can quickly grow into something dangerous and hard to control.

The Bible acknowledges that even God and Jesus experienced anger. However, their anger was righteous and centred on the greater good, rather than selfish desires. For instance, Jesus drove money changers out of the temple because they were treating God's house with contempt, cheating people, and treating them unjustly. God's anger, referred to as wrath, is his holy and perfect reaction to sin. It is always justified and meant to draw his people back to him.

In the Bible, Jesus teaches his followers to address anger with love and to not let it control them. He says that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Instead, he advises leaving gifts at the altar and first seeking reconciliation with the brother before offering the gift. Jesus also teaches forgiveness and generosity, instructing his followers to "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you".

In conclusion, while God and Jesus experienced anger, they channelled it in a righteous and controlled way, using it as an opportunity to bring people closer to God and to combat wrongdoing.

Anger can be righteous

Anger is a natural human emotion and feeling angry is not a sin. However, anger can lead to sin, and it is important to understand the difference between righteous and unrighteous anger.

Righteous anger is a grief over sin that arises when we witness an offence against God or His Word. It is centred on others and attacks the sin instead of the sinner. It stems from love and recognises that someone's actions or words stray from the path of righteousness. Love desires to bring someone back to the truth.

In the Bible, Jesus demonstrates righteous anger when he flips the tables of the money changers in the temple (Matthew 21:12, John 2:13-25). He was angry because the merchants were treating God's house with contempt, cheating people, and acting unjustly. God also shows righteous anger when his people stray after idols and pursue wickedness, as seen in 1 Kings 11:9-10 and Numbers 32:13.

Righteous anger should be a last resort and expressed with gentleness and respect. It is important to speak the truth in love and to be slow to anger, using it as a tool to bring about positive change.

Unrighteous anger, on the other hand, seeks to hurt and is motivated by selfish desires. It can lead to sinful actions and words, causing division and hurting others. It is important to evaluate the causes of anger and ensure that it does not go unchecked, as it can lead to sinful behaviour.

To summarise, anger can be righteous when it is directed towards injustice, centred on God, and expressed in a way that honours Him. However, it is important to exercise caution and ensure that anger does not control us or lead us to sin.

Unchecked anger can be dangerous

Anger is a natural human emotion that need not lead us into sin. However, if left unchecked, anger can be dangerous and destructive.

Anger can lead to sin when it is allowed to boil over unconstrained, resulting in hurt and destruction. Unchecked anger can cause us to sin, lose respect, the love of family, our health, or even our job. It can also lead to foolish actions and cause us to say or do things we will regret later.

Anger can be a temptation, and what we do with that anger can lead to sin. We need to be careful not to lash out in anger, as it can damage our relationships and build walls between us and our loved ones. Instead, we should try to understand the other person's point of view and respond with grace and compassion.

The Bible counsels patience and self-control in dealing with anger. We are warned against holding grudges or seeking revenge, as these can lead to destructive emotions and actions. We are also advised to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, as anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

It is important to distinguish between petty irritants and serious injustices, as not everything is worth getting angry about. We should be angry about injustice, such as human trafficking, illegal drug trade, child abuse, and maltreatment of workers, and channel that anger into constructive action.

In conclusion, while anger itself is not a sin, it can lead to sin if it is not controlled and restrained. We must master our feelings of anger and respond to them in a thoughtful and quiet manner, seeking to understand and show compassion to others.

Anger can be channelled constructively

Anger is a natural, adaptive response to threats, and it can be channelled constructively. While it is a completely normal human emotion, it can become a problem when it gets out of control and turns destructive.

Anger can be caused by both external and internal events. It could be a response to a specific person or event, or it could be caused by worrying or brooding about personal problems. Memories of traumatic events can also trigger angry feelings.

The instinctive, natural way to express anger is to respond aggressively. However, we cannot physically lash out at every person or object that irritates or annoys us; laws, social norms, and common sense place limits on how far our anger can take us.

Acknowledge Your Anger

Recognize the triggers that make you defensive. When you first start to feel yourself bristle at something someone says or does, stop and acknowledge what you’re feeling. Notice where in your body you are having a physical response.

Think It Through

Unless your personal safety is at risk, it is unlikely that whatever happened to you merits a response of lashing out. Stop and think through whether your reaction is appropriate given the insult you suffered. Think through what will happen if you choose to react the way you want to react. Will your response make the problem better or worse?

Relax and Reset

Once you’ve acknowledged your anger and thought through your possible responses, you are ready to relax and reset your frame of mind. Breathe deeply, repeat a mantra, or take a self-imposed timeout. Do what you can to calm yourself and stay rational.

Do Something

It’s okay to get angry, but channel that anger constructively. If you find yourself getting angry with your partner over a recurring issue, try reading a book or talking with a counsellor to learn about how to best address and deal with the specific problem. If you get angry when you see trash in your local park, organize a clean-up day in your community. If you experience road rage, try driving with the mindset that you will be the most courteous driver on the road.

Understand Your Anger's Purpose

Anger is a biological program that is not only adaptive but necessary for survival. Anger's job is to protect us. There are two types of anger: core and defensive. Core anger is a response to a perceived violation. Without it, we wouldn't be able to speak up when someone makes a racist remark or set a boundary when a co-worker is rude. Defensive anger, on the other hand, is a cover story. This type of anger serves to protect us from experiencing other emotions, such as shame, fear of dying, or grief.

Move Through Anger with the Change Triangle

The Change Triangle is a practical tool for emotional health that guides you from your defences to experiencing your core emotions so you can ultimately release the anger. When something annoys you or you find yourself in a blind rage, try to identify which corner of the Change Triangle you identify your mental state with:

• Using protective defences to avoid anger, such as turning your anger towards yourself or "acting out" by storming out of a room.
• Feeling inhibitory emotions like anxiety, guilt, or shame, which blocks anger.
• Fully experiencing and owning your core anger by naming it, validating it, sensing it in your body, knowing who it is directed towards, and recognizing the impulse.

Make Good Use of Your Anger

Once you recognize and experience your anger, you can think more clearly again and make good use of it. Anger can help us set boundaries and assert our needs. For example, if your family isn't pitching in enough at home, you can ask them directly for more help.

Pray

If you are religious, prayer can be a powerful weapon against anger. It can help to calm angry feelings and provide guidance on how to respond to anger in a way that aligns with your values.

Frequently asked questions