Anger Opens the Heart to Satan—Those who, at any supposed provocation, feel at liberty to indulge anger or resentment are opening the heart to Satan. Bitterness and animosity must be banished from the soul if we would be in harmony with heaven [1].
1972 American Air Raid In Vietnam
The haunting image of a young girl, stripped and wailing in anguish, her body contorted in pain with arms outstretched, evokes a profound sense of sorrow.
This heart-wrenching scene is from the devastating aftermath of the 1972 American air raid during the Vietnam War.
As Trang Bang village is attacked, Kim Phuc’s family tries to find safety. But their refuge is short-lived, forcing the young girl to run desperately into the dangerous street.
Napalm, a fiery chemical weapon, falls from the sky, burning the girl’s body. The searing burns inflict such agony that she resorts to shedding her clothes in search of relief. It seemed impossible to survive.
John Plummer, the American soldier who ordered the air strike, may evoke feelings of anger and a desire for him to suffer for this atrocity.
However, before the bombing, he had been assured twice by his commanders that the village had no civilians in the area. In dutiful obedience, he remained oblivious to the full extent of civilian casualties until confronted by the now-famous photograph of Kim Phuc.
After The Vietnam War
Nearly 25 years later, Kim Phuc thrived after extensive plastic surgery, marriage, and a successful relocation to Canada.
In 1996, John Plummer, now a minister in the United Methodist Church, learned that Kim Phuc would be addressing thousands at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
His attendance turned into astonishment as Kim expressed her desire to meet the pilot responsible for the napalm in her village, forgiving him and hoping to collaborate in the future toward peace.
This brings us to a critical question:
Could you extend such forgiveness or remain angry and bitter instead?
Anger Pop Quiz
Do you find yourself frequently caught up in moments of anger?
Angry people can be overly defensive, so this true-or-false checklist will prepare you for some tough self-reflection.
When You Feel Your Anger Is Justified
Have you ever had that moment when your rage-fueled performance felt like the pinnacle of virtue, mainly because you unleashed it upon someone who had it coming 100%?
Maybe it’s a so-called friend whispering betrayals behind your back. You channel your inner detective, unearthing the truth that was supposed to remain a secret.
Or perhaps your parents, with dreams of becoming doctors, have coerced you into a career you despise. Every lecture feels like a countdown to the day you can finally throw that degree back at them.
And then there’s the church routine – faithfully attending, singing your heart out in the choir, praying like a saint – yet you’re left feeling like God’s holding back on those dreams you’ve been crossing your fingers for.
But Isn’t Anger Permitted In The Bible?
Before discussing approved anger, it’s important to note that this category is extremely narrow, with only one clear exception.
The Bible strongly disapproves of the kinds of anger we often indulge in as sinners—holding grudges, popping like popcorn, and trying to justify inappropriate outbursts.
Jesus Himself showed anger in three instances—John 2:13-17, Matthew 21:12, and Mark 3:5. To understand why we can’t simply be angry like Jesus, we must examine these stories closely.
Was Jesus angry because He was frustrated with people, or was His anger rooted in their hardened hearts, resistant to the Truth and Light? Was He looking to condemn them, or was His heart aching over their lost potential for salvation?
Is Anger Always Wrong, Or Are There Exceptions?
What about Moses, who angrily smashed the sacred tablets when he found the Israelites worshipping idols? Did God punish him for that?
Or Samson, who, in his final act, brought down the pillars, killing the Philistines and himself. Does his story make him righteous?
Is it possible to live without anger, or can you be angry without sinning?
We often feel our anger is justified, especially when it seems tied to justice.
However, the Bible consistently warns against most forms of anger, with verses like Ephesians 4:26-27, James 1:19, 2 Corinthians 12:20,Galatians 5:20,Ephesians 4:31,Colossians 3:8, 1 Timothy 2:8, allowing anger only against our sinful nature and nothing more [2].
Should You Be Angry At The Sin or Sinner?
If we consider this case, where a Chinese woman, in a fit of “justified rage,” severed her cheating husband’s manhood.
Somehow the husband was rushed to hospital, “where doctors were able to save the appendage and sew it back on.”
In a plot twist, the wife was able to sneak up into the recovery room, re-chopped it, and this time threw it out of the window.
In court, will her anger be seen as righteous (her hatred for the sin of infidelity) or as simply vengeful (her hatred for her husband)?
The folly of this anger lies in its self-talk.
Since the angry person feels so upset, hurt, and betrayed, then they must have been mistreated.
They conclude, by all means, that their anger is righteous and deserving.
Contrary to the Bible’s description of righteous anger directed at sin rather than the sinner, theirs is based on the intensity of feelings, and not facts.
And can we trust our emotions?
May Our Thoughts Go Along With Actions (and vice versa)
As Christians, we are called to “let the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus.”
Just as His words went alongside His actions and vice versa, our actions harmonize with our thoughts.
That is why Christ calls anger toward a brother murder; it begins in the mind.
We cannot afford to view anger as only manifesting in physical aggression and excuse insults and passive-aggressive statements as mere slip-ups.
Similarly, if righteous anger is stirred in our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit, it should align with our actions.
When Jesus’ righteous anger was stirred by the money changers in the temple, did He keep it to Himself, or did He consciously express His anger in the manner God allowed?
Sinful Anger
When anger drives someone to set a personal score, selfish pride often fuels it.
Paul calls this kind of anger “inordinate anger”—a deep, burning desire to get back at someone, driven by a craving for revenge.
This type of anger can be broken into the 3 commandments:
- Thou shall seek revenge without cause, tossing justice out the window.
- Thy revenge shall be grander than the original offense because why settle for small when you can go big?
- Revenge shall linger, turning into long-lasting sentiments of bitterness, hatred, and spite.
When this excessive anger is nurtured rather than resolved, it becomes an intense, inappropriate craving for revenge.
The Challenge of Dealing with Anger
Hidden anger is sneaky and dangerous.
It often blames others even when the fault is obvious.
When it becomes a permanent fixture, the person struggles with forgiveness, accountability, and self-improvement.
Focusing instead on trying to fix everyone else.
Unfortunately, this quest never succeeds.
The Science of Anger
Neurophysiologically, anger is a multidimensional emotion. It activates both positive and negative emotion systems simultaneously [4].
Understanding the science behind anger helps us realize why it’s such a powerful emotion and why handling it with care is critical.
As we approach the remedy of anger, let us emphasize that anger is a bittersweet experience.
The bitterness — the pain we cause ourselves for the wrongs people have done to us.
The thrill — revenge and projection.
Human nature makes avoiding anger tough.
Therefore, it is crucial to learn how to express anger nonviolently, considering our needs, desires, values, and expectations.
Stimulus And Cause Of Anger
Returning to Kim Phuc’s story, we see how her initial anger from war’s pain gave way to the realization that holding onto anger only focused her energy on revenge rather than healing.
The critical lesson is this:
While others’ actions may trigger our anger, the actual cause lies in our internal thought processes.
Receiving Negative Messages
Here’s your point of reflection.
Which of these 4 options should you choose when you receive negative messages:
1. Blaming Yourself:
- Leads to damaged self-worth.
- Results in shame, guilt, and depression.
2. Blaming Others:
- Involves judging and punishing others.
- Overlook our faults.
- Leads to inordinate anger.
3. Sensing Your Feelings and Unmet Needs:
- Identifies anger’s roots in our unmet desires.
- Example: If someone is late, recognizing your need for time efficiency can help shift anger to a more positive activity like reading a book.
4. Sensing Others’ Feelings and Unmet Needs:
- Understands the other person’s anger as stemming from their unmet needs.
- Example: If your boss calls you as lazy, though untrue, empathize with his perspective on meeting a deadline.
Real-life Application on How To Deal With Anger
Let’s say a friend makes a hurtful comment about your new outfit, which you spent so much time picking out.
Instead of yielding to the door of vulnerability that Satan eagerly seeks to exploit, follow these steps to align yourself with God’s will:
1. Pause before you react. This should give you time to ask God for His guidance and wisdom to respond effectively.
2. Consider why the comment hurt—maybe you already felt insecure about the change.
3. Think about your friend’s state of mind—perhaps they’re dealing with their own issues.
4. Express your feelings calmly, like, “I felt a bit hurt by your comment earlier. I was really excited about this change.”
5. Finally, make a request, such as, “Could you tell me what you think in a more supportive way next time?”
So There You Have It
The dangers of uncheckedanger, and practical ways to align your emotions with God’s will, so that you can transformyour angerinto positive action.
May Christ plant seeds of forgiveness in your heart for those who hurt you.
May He grant you patience to recognize both your unmet needs and those of others during confrontations.
INSPIRATION
1. What Your Counselor Never Told You by Dr. William Backus
2. Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
3. Character, Strengths, and Virtues by Christopher Peterson & Martin E. P. Seligman
4. King James Bible