When we are angry, the thinking part of our brain gets turned off. We are, therefore, not rational. We can be destructive. That’s why the Bible tells us to get rid of anger.

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 encourage 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 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 get rid of anger? (1) Take a break (2) Stop justifying anger. (3) Examine your heart for the sin beneath the sin. (4) Repent of your anger. (5) Let love, not anger, be your motivation to action. (6) Transmute anger into godly sorrow, grief, and mourning. (7) Pray our anger. (8) Let the Gospel free us from anger.