Kinds of Anger

Preface

As is my habit, I will attempt to clear up a certain matter regarding the two types of anger mentioned in the Bible. This is because my experience has uncovered two distinct camps within the Church that are at odds with one another to this day. The good news is that this particular argument does not affect one's salvation, that is the way I now understand it. If one does not have a firm grasp on this distinction, one may still be fully justified and even sanctified and proceed unhindered into heaven either after death or at the "Rapture of the Church." The world does not understand this distinction; but their primary obligation is to first secure their salvation, then proceed to the meat of the word. This distinction does not constitute "meat" per se; but it is highly useful to ward off the "fiery darts of the wicked," who desire all Christians to feel guilty all the time, with or without cause. This is unnecessary and not part of the will of God for any believer. The following is to that very end -- the removal of unnecessary guilt by the exposure of the truth contained herein about this subject.

Two Types of Anger

There are two types of anger mentioned in the word of God. Normally, two particular passages become foundations for either side of the argument. The one taking this passage found in Ephesians 4:26-27, which states, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil." From this passage, they maintain that all kinds of anger are endorsed and licensed and should therefore remain unrestrained, allowing all types and degrees of anger to pass unchecked. Of course, when the anger results in a bludgeoning or a murder, it is immediately apparent that this doctrine is false where it is taught. The text itself implies that there is a danger in sinning when dealing with anger, which it warns against.

The other camp take the passage from Galatians 5:20 where "wrath," among ten other things, is mentioned as a work of the flesh. And another text from Colossians 3:8, which states, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,..." which also coincides with Ephesians 4:31. They then use these verses to maintain that no type of anger is to be allowed at any time. This is even used by the enemy and accusers of the brethren as an attempt to show the hypocrisy of one's Christianity. They hold that if we respond angrily when provoked or pushed too far, that we cannot be a Christian, lifting up our behavior as a kind of proof of their claim. Of course, it proves nothing, because God didn't grant them any authority to test us to begin with; on top of the fact that scoffers must first drop their scoffing and truly seek God before they will ever find Him. Added to that, the verse commanding to "Be ye angry, and sin not" gives us a full passage to certains kinds and degrees of anger. So, any way you look at it, the world (as usual) is wrong, with all of its invalid testing procedures.

These two types are those which humans may possess; that being, a sinful and a non-sinful kind of anger. There is also a type which God Himself possesses, as shown by Psalm 7:11, which states that "God is angry with the wicked every day." And again in Romans 1:18, which reads, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" then it proceeds to explain why this is so. From this has just been proved that all anger is not sin, because God Himself "is angry with the wicked every day."

Although, in this day and age, it doesn't appear that the overwhelming majority would fall into the category of those who possess the kind of anger which does NOT involve sin. Thus, all of the warnings from the Old and New Testament prophets against it, which warnings pass largely unread and unheeded by the mass populace of our age.

I have recently been asked a question which more or less amounts to this: "Why does God allow for Himself what He denies for us?" The answer is that He doesn't. We are allowed to be angry with the wicked just as He is. We are allowed to be angry at sin just like He is, especially our own sin. We are allowed to jealously love our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength just as He is jealous of other gods whom men ignorantly worship. We are not allowed to be angry or jealous of each other, just as Christ was not jealous or angry over anyone else's wife or possessions when He trod this earth 2000 years ago. We are allowed to follow His example of gentleness and kindness to others in a spirit of meekness and fear. And this spirit did and does include calling a spade a spade as when He repeatedly called the scribes and Pharisees "hypocrites, snakes, vipers, blind and fools." This is quite the reverse of the doctrine of "kindness and compassion" as taught today by the humanists and modern scribes and Pharisees. But as this doctrine originates from hell, it may be safely set aside and ignored to allow for the study of more valid observations from God's holy word.

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