A note from our pastor:

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

Ephesians 4:26

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

Anger, possibly the most prevelant emotion in the course of human history and certainly in the United States the most visible emotion of our time. This emotion dominates our daily discourse, has invaded our homes, and is threatening to overtake our churches. The Apostle’s need to address it here speaks to the common threat it has posed to the disciples of Christ.

Being angry, in and of itself, is not a sin. We have evidence of this from texts such as Mark 3:5 which tell us Jesus Christ himself was angry. The man who knew no sin, who died without sin, felt and expressed this emotion. The Apostle in our verse this morning tells us to be angry but sin not. It is not the anger itself but the actions resulting from anger which we are cautioned about.

The second half of our verse this morning sets forth important instruction. The situation causing us justified anger may not be over in a day so this is not a literal instruction. God does not expect his people to simply be done with the anger when the natural day ends. Rather, the instruction is to avoid making your anger the primary purpose of your life. To avoid nursing, growing, and feeding that anger.

We are all guilty of allowing the justified anger we feel to become an overwhelming force. When we do it impacts our mindset and interactions. We become harsh and confrontational. The most concerning aspect though is how we impede our ability to love one another. When we are functioning in anger, even in justified anger, we limit our capacity for empathy and charity.

The Apostle’s instruction to disciples of Christ is two fold. First, limit the place anger has in your life. Things contrary to God and love are reasons for anger. Anger caused by a desire to exclude and condemn should be questioned. Second, recognize and evaluate the anger and then determine the love which should be motivated by the anger. If our anger cannot cause us to love more then it was not justified in the first place. If our anger causes deeper and more wide spread love then the anger cannot become our purpose.

There is a great deal in this world to make the disciple of Christ angry, but the commandments we have been given center on love.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah