One of the most surprising things the Bible has to say about anger is that it is actually not a sin in and of itself. The classic proof text in this particular regard is found in Psalm 4:4 (quoted and further applied by Paul Ephesians 4:26) “In your anger do not sin.” So quite clearly it is possible to be angry and not sin — indeed, we are commanded to not do so.

Significantly, the Scriptures repeatedly inform us that the Lord Himself often became angry with His people (e.g. Ex. 32:10-19; Ezra 5:12; Ps. 95:11). What’s more, when the Scriptures declare that, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, (is) slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness...” (Ex. 34:6) it is good to remember that He still gets angry — it’s just that He does it with perfect holiness, self control and, most of all, patience.

However, the problem arises when we become angry but then respond in all kinds of sinful ways, such as using bad language, physical violence and saying hurtful or spiteful things. As descendents of Adam it is something we have unfortunately all done and also received from the hands of others.

The Bible has a lot to say about this particular topic (indeed, in preparing to write this article I was overwhelmed by just how much the term appears). I would summarise it under seven headings.

First, there is a time to be angry with holy indignation. As I have already noted there are many times in Scripture where the Lord is described as being justified in becoming angry. Indeed, our present justification before God is a direct result of the Lord Jesus taking God’s righteous anger at our sin upon Himself (Rom. 3:22-26; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 1 John 2:2)

While here on earth, the Lord Jesus Himself was often angry with those who opposed Him. For example, in Mark 3:5 we read that, “He looked around at them in anger, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts...” The clearing of the temple is another memorable incident when our Saviour was filled with a holy and righteous indignation.

Not only did the Lord become angry but sometimes, empowered by His Spirit, some of His servants became angry as well. One notable example in this regard is Saul when he rescued the city of Jabesh. In 1 Samuel 11:6 we read, “When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger.” Note the connection between the Spirit of God and Saul’s anger. Clearly, Saul was inspired by a holy, God-given zeal to do what was right a zeal which expressed itself in passionate, white-hot anger!

Second, anger needs to be dealt with constructively. One of the most insightful pieces of advice I have ever read on the subject of anger is from the apostle Paul. Just note the logical flow in the following couple of verses. “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph. 4:26­-27). As we already saw earlier, being angry in and of itself is not a sin.

Instead, we must be careful when our ire has been raised that we don’t respond in sinful ways. What’s more, sometimes the best thing to do is to say nothing and to walk away from the situation before we say or do something that we will later regret.

However, it is also a mistake to simply leave it there. Many people think that dealing with anger means never speaking to the person again! This is especially painful when it comes to relating to brothers and sisters in church. A “polite hostility” is maintained but there is never a sincere attempt at talking through the issues so that both sides are heard and the situation resolved.

This is nothing less though than the strategy and goal of Satan! For unresolved anger is like a pebble in your shoe. If not removed, then it becomes a painful impediment to life. It gives the Devil the opportunity to wreak all kinds of havoc as your personal bitterness grows and your sincere love for the other person is quickly destroyed.

Third, a believer’s life should not be characterised by anger. When I first started out in ministry an older minister wrote a stinging attack in a local news­paper about me and the other evangeli­cal minister in our small country town for not joining in an inter-faith service after the tragedy of September 11. Full of (what I believe to be) justified anger I rang him and proceeded to let him know exactly what I believed and why. Half way through the conversation, he inter­rupted me with the words of James 1:19-20, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” I was greatly rebuked! I still believe I was right about the issue, but I know I was com­pletely wrong in how I was discussing it.

While there is a time to act like Phinehas when he slew the Israelite man and the Moabite woman during their immoral act (note especially Num 25:4, 10), most of the time the Lord calls on his servants to be patient and gentle ­especially with those who oppose Him (see 2 Tim. 2:24-26). Indeed in 1 Corinthians 13:5 the apostle Paul says that one of the defining characteristics about love is that it is “not easily angered”.

Fourth, controlling one’s anger is an essential qualification for anyone in church leadership. One of the explicit qualifications that the Bible gives for someone being an overseer of God’s people is that he “must not be quick tempered” (Tit. 1:10) nor should he be “violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome...”

Anyone in ministry can testify to the frustration and disappointment that continually arises in dealing with a myriad of pastoral situations. We live in a fallen world and, though redeemed, even the people of God struggle with sinful desires which wage war against our souls. Being able to control and regulate one’s temper is essential when trying to deal lovingly and helpfully with brothers and sisters in Christ.

Fifth, stay away from people who have an angry disposition lest you be like them. One piece of parenting advice that even non-Christians freely acknowledge is that “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33). The Bible affirms exactly the same principle especially when it comes to this topic. For example, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared” (Prov. 22:24-25). It is always wise to be careful when we choose friends because their character traits (for better or worse) will soon become ours.

Sixth, the underlying reason for anger is prayerlessness. Why do we struggle with sinful expressions of anger? The Bible’s answer might well surprise and even shock you. It is because we fail to truly entrust ourselves to the Lord, being expressed particularly through our prayerlessness! Just consider the following passage from the book of James:

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.James 4:1-3

Significantly, the apostle Paul says much the same thing in 1 Timothy 2:8: “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” In both passages the underlying issue that the Spirit of God addresses though is prayerlessness. In the first passage the precise reason we are given as to why we get upset is because we have failed to present our requests to God. Likewise, in the second passage Paul says that our disputes will not be resolved through lifting up our hands to fight but in lifting up our hands to ask God to sort it out. A lot of our pent-up anger is a direct result of our failure to spend more time with the Lord in prayer (note in particular the advice of Psalm 62:8).

Seventh, ungodly anger has no place in the Christian life. While, as we have seen, there is a valid time and place to express our anger over a particular incident or situation, the New Testament challenges us to rid ourselves of all anger in its sinful and ungodly forms. Consider the following three verses from the apostle Paul.

I am afraid that when I come to you I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.2 Cor. 12:20

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph. 4:31). And then finally, “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

In a similar vein the book of Proverbs says, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.” Showing self-control and being able to keep our emotions in check are among the key characteristics of a godly person.

Clearly, then, the Lord does not want us to be ruled by sinful expressions of anger but to live lives that are controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit. While there are times when anger is an appropriate emotional response, we must be careful to express those feelings in a way that is pleasing and honoring to our King.