There is no Proverb that is positive on human anger. All Proverbs about anger warn against it. “One who is quick-tempered displays folly.” “An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.” Anger, hot-headedness, and vengeance are all equated with folly, and patience, gentleness, and forgiveness are all equated with wisdom. Why is that? Because anger hurts people. Anger is a dangerous weapon of destruction.

Yet, so many of us allow what we call “righteous anger” to fester in our lives. We think anger is okay as long as there is a good reason for it. After all, we say, Jesus was angry and God demonstrates his anger and wrath. But, the Scriptures NEVER encourages human anger. There is not a single verse that encourages human anger. Instead, the Scriptures call us to gentleness and humility. Here is the difference: God is the judge; we are not. When we embrace anger, we embrace the role of God. God’s anger is righteous because he is the judge; and our anger is unrighteous because we are not the judge. God’s anger led him to his sacrificial love on the cross, but our anger leads to destruction. Nonetheless, the church has created a culture of tolerance of anger, although we are called to get rid of it. How dysfunctional is it when we think anger is a form of holiness over people who sin? We call it righteous anger, but the Bible calls it sin. When Paul lists sins, he includes anger.

So, how do we control anger? (1) Be slow to get angry. Anger does not help. (2) Get rid of anger. It is more harmful than we realize. (3) Let love, not anger, be our motivation for action. (4) Transmute anger into godly sorrow, grief, and mourning. (5) Pray our anger as we walk in the Spirit. (6) Let the Gospel free us from anger.