Have you ever been angry? Probably not because most readers of this blog (that I’ve met anyway) are the nicest people on the planet. I could never picture you ever getting angry at any moment in your life. (heavy sarcasm intended).

We ALL get angry. But now…examine your life a little more closely. Can you remember a time where you were furious? Now we’re talking a whole new level. I’m talking…boiling point, red face, steam-coming-out-your-ears-like-you’re-a-cartoon angry. Yes? Congratulations….you’re normal.

Lots of things make us upset. But there are a select few things in life that push us over the edge. The kind of rage/anger that ignite us to say:

“this is intolerable, and needs to stop.”

Human trafficking, child abuse, rape, and injustice are some of the words that come to mind. Hearing hurtful stories of pain and suffering, especially against the helpless, illicit those emotions in me and I only pray that justice is served.

I heard a story in the news recently about a person who kidnapped a 7 year old girl and killed her. He hid her body by chopping it up into pieces and putting it in his freezer. I couldn’t finish the story without cringing, and instantly biting my lip to prevent any horrible words from coming out of my mouth.

Anger has a negative connotation, but the Word says: ”When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day” (Ephesians 4:26 NCV). So we can be angry, but don’t let sin be a result of your anger. Plenty of notable Bible characters were angry. Nehemiah was angry at the injustice done to the poor (Neh 5:6). David was angry towards his enemies (Ps 139:19-22). Even Jesus expressed anger towards selling in the temple (Mk 3:1-5).

All of these things have one thing in common. These people were angry at the same things God is infuriated by.

Sin. 

Does sin make you angry? Do you tolerate it? Do you see your friends suffering with sin, and….do nothing? I’ve learned lessons the hard way within my own life. One little sin can have a snowball effect. It can turn into an avalanche and ultimately lead to death. All that injustice you see in the world…the human trafficking, crimes against children, modern day slavery….all birth from one thing. Sin.

If those crimes infuriate us, why doesn’t the presence of “little sins” make us righteously angry? Bad habits, swearing, lying…..It’s almost if we as Christians are waiting for the sin to get “big” enough for us to start intervening, fasting, and praying.

Yo momma jokes were all the rage in 5th grade. But you know that one kid who kinda knew your mom, and then said a Yo Momma joke that was a little too personal, and you were furious? How come? It’s because it’s your momma he’s talking about! That guy just made fun of the closest, most caring person in your life and…that’s intolerable and needs to stop. It hurts more because this time…it’s personal.

I’ve been involved with this ministry going on 6 years now. Going to war with these guys is an understatement, so to say we are close doesn’t describe it. The moment I see sin creep into any of us….I get righteously angry. It gets real personal with me. The audacity of the devil to try and plague my friends and loved ones infuriates me to no extent. I’ve seen what sin can do….and I will not tolerate it.

Does that make me perfect? Not at all. I fall into sin just like the next person. But the way I view it is totally different now. The Gospel itself sheds such a new light on the matter. God cannot stand sin. He is completely holy…and He will not tolerate it. He’s not going to let some things slide here and there, and then get involved when things seem to spiral out of control. He was so furious against sin, that His wrath was poured out on His only Son on the cross, just to save us from it. That righteous anger was poured out on the only Person who walked this earth that was truly righteous.

He doesn’t stand sin. Neither should we. The good news is….He’s already defeated it. Although we shouldn’t tolerate sin, we can’t go around thinking we are going to beat it ourselves. Jesus has done the work for us already.

So go ahead and get mad. Just don’t stay that way because the battle is already won. And that’s something to be happy about.

God bless,

Jobbin