Why So Angry?
In my lifetime I have never seen so many people so angry. Road rage, shootings in schools and at work places unrestrained words – shouting “Liar!” at the smallest disagreement – what is happening in our culture? Why so angry? The American heritage Dictionary defined anger as “A feeling of extreme displeasure, hostility, indignation, or exasperation toward someone or something”. Synonyms of anger: Rage, fury, ire, wrath, resentment.
In a time characterized by the emotion anger, we hear these negative expressions:
• “I exploded”
• “I lost my head”
• “My blood was boiling”
• “I was mad”
• “I was furious”
We don’t often hear: “I was wrong. I am sorry.”
Anger is first expressed by words. It may then come out in acts of violence or in delayed reactions of unforgiveness and bitterness. People excuse themselves from outrageous displays of anger by saying: “it runs in my family – my father and grandfather threw fits of rage.” Some folks feel justified in exploding on others because they feel they have the right. They are victims in their own eyes and it is their right to strike back.
We may respond to our anger three different ways:
1. Suppress it: try to manage it or control it. Often that only seems to work outwardly, but lets the anger grow and fester inwardly, only to later explode like a volcano.
2. Express it: by blowing up on people. This lets you feel better temporarily with disregard to the feelings of others. A guaranteed way to lose friends.
3. Confess it: recognize anger is a sin in most cases. Don’t blame anyone else. Admit you sinned in losing your temper. Confess it as a sin.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. (1 John 1:9) The scriptures say, “Be ye angry and sin not, let not the sun go down on your wrath.” Settle it before the sun is down. Don’t let it fester as a boil of unforgiveness and bitterness.
Why so angry? Because so many don’t live a Christian life by obeying the Word of God!