Jesus welcomed the people, taught them about the Kingdom of God and healed those in need. Luke 9:11

Seeds of the Kingdom

Anger or rage?

by David Cross

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Ephesians 4:26-27, NASB

A recent news headline read, “Clashes between police and protesters as ‘Day of Rage’ turns ugly”.

The headline referred to an organised day of political protest intended to express anger in regard to many areas of perceived injustice in the UK. It came a few days after the dreadful fire at the Grenfell Tower in London, where there were so many injuries and fatalities. Some protesters were taking the opportunity to express anger about this seemingly needless loss of life, through perhaps careless building practices.

Interestingly the Bible encourages us to be angry, in the same way that God is angry, about the widespread injustice in this world. But it is interesting that the organisers of this particular day chose to use the word rage, which in its origins is derived from the word rabies, a particularly unpleasant disease which humans can catch from animals. The symptoms of rabies in dogs, for example, have frequently included uncontrollable aggression, and it is from observing this behaviour that the word rage was derived.

It is no wonder that the Bible goes on to warn us not to let anger lead us into sin, where the passion to put right injustice is no longer under godly control but has been allowed free reign in spiritual darkness. I suggest that this is the point where anger has been given licence to become rage, released both internally and externally.

From a biblical viewpoint, entitling a day of protest as a permitted day of rage was very likely to turn ugly. In the ever-increasing pursuit of so-called freedom, the world claims entitlement to express feelings in any way a person might choose, but God has warned us through today’s scripture that this is not necessarily freedom at all, but actually more likely to be a pathway to spiritual bondage, playing right into the enemy’s hands.

Prayer: Father God, teach me to be angry in agreement with You about all that is not right in this world, but also to recognise when my anger has ceased to be under Your control. Amen.

David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62

 

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