Is it just me, or does it seem like people are a little bit more on edge than normal these days, with less margin for grace, and quicker to respond with anger? It feels like, when given the opportunity to see the cup as half empty or half full, people are more likely to just toss the cup onto the ground and storm away. Granted, there are plenty of reasons for people to be anxious or even upset about certain situations, but instead of compartmentalizing, the anger is seeping out to a point where folks see malice everywhere.
Anger can be a powerful force to create a better place. Righteous anger springing up from injustice can unite diverse perspectives and bring about change in ways that might not otherwise be possible. But we cannot always be fueled by anger, because it burns too hot and too explosively to be sustainable. People who have experience lighting bonfires know that diesel is a much better accelerant to use than gasoline, because the fumes from gasoline rapidly expand, allowing the initial burst of flame to be much larger than anticipated (often at the cost of burnt hairs). That is what running only on anger is like, with the potential for significantly larger combustion that scorches far beyond the intended boundaries with the resulting harm outweighing the potential good.
Jesus used righteous anger when he saw the part of the temple that was meant for non-Jewish worshippers had been turned into a marketplace, and he cleared the area so that it could be used for its intended purpose. His anger flowed from a love for those who were being kept from worship, as opposed to animosity towards the merchants. As the Son of God, Jesus was in a unique position to see how far we had strayed from worshipping God appropriately. Yet Jesus didn’t allow himself to be consumed with anger. Instead, he rejoiced at weddings and other social gatherings, and invited little children to come to his side (you ever notice how children innately stay away from angry or harsh people, but are drawn to people who exude kindness and joy?). It was love, and not wrath, that motivated Jesus.
Jesus came that we may live, and have life to the fullest. While that will mean that we should have the same distaste for sinful behavior, it also means that we should have an abundance of joy welling up inside of us that allows us to appreciate the blessings that are all around us. Love from God, allowing us to love Him and our neighbors even in the midst of troubling times, is meant to be our ultimate fuel – not anger. Unrighteous anger consumes, while love allows us to burn brightly without burning out. A life fueled solely by unrighteous anger will not be lived to the fullest, whereas a life fueled by love will result in the best possible outcome.
Should we address injustice? Absolutely. But allow love for those being harmed be the fuel that drives you, instead of anger towards those acting unjustly. It may seem like a small change, but it will make an enormous difference in how you enjoy life, and how others enjoy being around you.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron