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Christian ethics and theology with an Anabaptist perspective
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MaxPC
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Good Articles

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Thanks to Peregrine's article post, I found an afternoon of good reading that encourages and uplifts from links at that website.
Here's a great one for the constant arguing that fills the internet and social media. It comes from the Living Water Mennonite Church & Christian Ministry in Provo, UT.
ANGER- a destructive weapon!
Posted on September 25, 2016 by admin

There are three things that always destroy and are often at the very root of conflicts in church, at home, on the job, and in relationships.
1. Anger
2. Bitterness
3. Pride

What happens when these three take control in our lives?
-People get hurt.
-Homes fall apart.
-Relationships disintegrate.
-Churches split.
-And we become spiritually bankrupt.

I want to focus on anger this morning.
Should Christians get angry?
How many of you struggle with anger?
Is anger from God?
Here is one of the most quoted verses in regards to anger:
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
How often have you justified your anger?
Ephesians 4:17 ¶ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

There are some specific instructions given as it relates to anger.
1. Be ye angry, and sin not.
2. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.
3. Do not give place to the devil.
4. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.
5. Grieve not the Holy Spirit.
6. Put away all these things:
-Bitterness
-Wrath (fierceness, indignation)
-Anger
-Clamour (an outcry (in notification, tumult or grief)
-Evil Speaking
-And Malice (evil, naughtiness, wickedness)

Is it enough to just put off Anger, Bitterness, and Evil Speaking?
-What should it be replaced with?
1. Kindness
2. Compassion and sympathy
3. And Forgiveness

I believe it is important to understand Anger.
What is anger?
-It is an emotion.
Is it wrong to have emotions?
Who created emotions?
God has made us with emotions for a specific purpose.
As emotional beings, we are given the capacity to Love.
When we take something that God has created for good and use it for evil, it becomes devastating.

Why do people get angry?
1. People get angry when they don’t get their way.
2. People get angry when things seem to be out of their control.
3. People get angry in order to control others.
4. People get angry in response to hurts and mistrust.
5. People get angry when their pride is wounded.
6. People get angry because of unresolved guilt.
7. People often get angry because of injustice.
When we are caught up in the emotion of anger, it often seems justifiable at the moment.
Anger, like dynamite, is extremely explosive.
Action powered by anger can be terribly destructive!
Because anger is an emotion and emotions are somewhat involuntary, we need the power of God within to control the destructive nature of anger.

Anger shows itself in different forms:
-temper tantrums
-rage
-frustration
-irritation
-pouting
-resentment
-bitterness
What is the at the very root of bitterness?
-Anger
You will find that those that are bitter are angry people.
Anger and Bitterness are very deceptive and will take us far from God.

You cannot be an Angry/Bitter person and walk in harmony with God.
How do we overcome anger?
Emotional based responses come naturally, but is this how God wants us to respond?
As a child of God:
-Is it ok to throw temper tantrums when things don’t go as we think they should?
-Is it ok to blame others?
-Is it ok to pressure people into doing things by causing them emotional misery?
-Is it ok to control others through Anger?
-Is it ok to hurt others because of a loose tongue?
-Is it ok to go storming out of church because of a lack of self control?
-Is it ok to fight back in word or deed when someone ruffles your feathers?
No….when we respond in these ways, it is evidence of a life that is in need of redemption.
When our responses are emotional based, we do more harm than good.

If we are struggling with Anger, it is imperative that we get into the Word of God and find a solution.
I believe Jesus is our ultimate example of how we should respond when we are treated unfairly.
The Word of God gives clear direction on how to overcome Anger.
Matthew 5:38 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Bible based responses always work and will be the only way to find lasting solutions to Anger and Bitterness.
Bible based responses:
-will often go against our natural instincts but will always coincide with the new nature that is placed within us when we are born again.
-do not ignore the reality of our pain or the wrong that has been done but allows us to face our situation honestly and in the context of Truth.
-changes how we do things and develops into Biblical patterns.
Bible based responses become a way of life.
If we are going to overcome the demon of anger, there are four things that we need!
-Faith
-Forgiveness
-Love
-Gratefulness

Faith is essential in knowing and serving God. Without Faith it is impossible to please Him.
Forgiveness is essential in overcoming anger. Anger is often rooted in unforgiveness.
Love is a must. Without the love of God within, we stand no chance of overcoming anger.
Gratefulness and thankfulness is a powerful weapon in overcoming anger.
How many of you know of people who are genuinely grateful for what God has done in their life, who are full of anger, bitterness, and pride?
Colossians 3:8 ¶ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

http://www.livingwaterutah.com/?p=368
Here's one that preceded it on Sowing Discord (which is a product of anger).
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Max (Plain Catholic)
Mt 24:35
Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding but only in revealing his own mind.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God
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