Rising Above the Rage: How to Overcome AngerSample

"In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold." – Ephesians 4:26-27

We've established that anger is a normal emotion and not necessarily sinful. Nevertheless, because we are sinful creatures, our anger can and does cause us to sin. So, what are we to do? What are some practical things we can do to live out our calling in a culture that pushes us in the opposite direction? Paul suggests we make good use of our waking hours and avoid giving the devil a foothold.

In my experience, the best way to use my time is to spend time with Jesus. If we're going to be like Jesus, we've got to be with Jesus. He is our source and strength to live the kind of life he calls us to live. Are you spending adequate time with him in prayer and allowing his word to shape your thinking and living? Like anyone else, I can permit other things to take priority over him, but it always shows up. Sometimes, I can get short with my wife and have ridiculous feelings of entitlement and resentment. That is always a reminder for me to put first things first and evaluate how much time I spend with Jesus.

Another thing we can do is gain some perspective. One of the unfortunate byproducts of a toxic culture is an inflated view of ourselves. We begin to imagine we're really much more important than we are. Last week, I was flying home from a mission trip and found myself in the usual long immigration and customs line to get out of the country. I had plenty of time to catch my flight, but feelings of self-importance began manifesting in my heart. When I finally got up to the immigration officer, he had the nerve to step out of his booth and go to the restroom! I was outraged! After all, this was me being inconvenienced, not just anybody! Those thoughts betrayed my rising, unwarranted anger.

I suggest it's a good practice for Christ-followers to look in the mirror occasionally and ask, "What's so special about you?" What is so special about any of us that we feel demanding and entitled? The fact is, we're nothing but sinners saved by grace who don't deserve anything but justice for our sinfulness. Perspective can go a long way toward setting us free from sinful anger.

Finally, a third practice that can keep us from sinful anger is to practice forgiveness. Most people are familiar with Martin Luther King, Jr. and his emphasis on forgiveness. Still, few are aware of the great influence of his father in developing this perspective. To his flock and the larger Atlanta community, MLK, Sr. was known as "Daddy King," the pastor of historic Ebenezer Baptist Church for 40 years.

As you probably know, in April 1968, his son was murdered in Memphis, TN, by James Earl Ray. What you may not know is that just six years later, in June 1974, Rev. King's wife, Alberta, was shot and killed by Marcus Chenault as she played the organ on a Sunday morning. It's impossible to imagine the depth of pain and suffering he must have experienced in the loss of his son and his wife. Surely, he must have experienced great sadness and feelings of anger. Nevertheless, he did not allow his anger to define him or cause him to hate.

In 1980, just a few years before he passed away, Rev. King wrote his autobiography and penned these words: "There are two men I am supposed to hate. One is a white man, the other is black, and both are serving time for having committed murder. James Earl Ray is a prisoner in Tennessee, charged with killing my son. Marcus Chenault was institutionalized as deranged after shooting my wife to death. I don't hate either one. There is no time for that, and no reason, either. Nothing that a man does takes him lower than when he allows himself to fall so far as to hate anyone."