Righteous Anger?

Well here we go again; Another day, another life lesson to be learned.

This week's lesson: Anger.

Is there such thing as righteous anger? I used to think that anger was always negative all the time, but in getting to know God better I'm seeing that that obviously isn't true. Look at Jeremiah. Look at Exodus. And of course, look at Jesus in the temple. In Matthew 21 it says that Jesus overturned tables and drove out all who were buying and selling there. When Jesus says "My house is a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers"... I picture him with fire in his eyes. Anger turning his face red. His fists clenching. I don't picture Jesus serenely and calmly saying this to the people there. He was angry!


On the other side of it, we are told not to sin in our anger. Ephesians 4:27 says "and do not give the devil a foothold".. and this just after Paul tells us not to let the sun go down on our anger.


With all that said, am I justified in being angry at a group of people who are purposefully and negatively trying to split up our group because of a few small disagreements? Paul dedicates a whole section of his letter to the Ephesians on unity in the church, and how there is one Lord and one body. Verse 2 of chapter 4 says "be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" Sometimes I think the lines between anger and humility are blurred.. at least for me. Lately I've been put in situations that have angered me. some I've had to humble myself and get over it... and others where I feel my anger is completely justified. I have done so much for our college group here... trying my hardest to unite us and bring us together, and after a few of us spent the weekend painting the musty old room and giving up some of our own couches so there would be comfortable seating... the group threatens to split up because they don't like what we are doing/have done in there. A lot of negative things are being said about the
small number of us who are stepping up and trying to make comfortable changes for the group. Maybe our leadership isn't welcome.. I'm not sure. But my anger doesn't sprout from hurt feelings, or hurt pride. My anger comes from the fact that there are people who want to split the group because they don't like the changes we are making. My anger comes from the fact that people will say all of these things when my back is turned, but deny it when approached, or walk away from me completely. My anger comes mostly from us not being a group. Not being united. That's the only reason I do the things I do... it's all for the group. I don't care about the paint, or the couches.. I will put everything back how it was if it will mean the group staying together. I'm frustrated because of my brothers and sisters not wanting to worship with me over things like paint and cold hard metal folding chairs.

The struggle for me isn't in trying not to be angry. I don't think that my anger is wrong. The struggle is being loving in my anger, and not saying hurtful things to anyone. Jesus acted in his anger because he loved those people in the temple. God acted in his anger in Jeremiah because he loved the Israelites so much and wanted them to get things right. My anger in itself isn't a sin.. it's how I handle it and react to it that's important.

I guess these things will happen in the ministry. I am being watched very closely and as a missionary, I will never be able to please everyone. The best I can do is be patient, humble and loving... and pick and choose my battles.

God is teaching me a lot through all of this.