Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Virtuous Anger – Mixed Emotions

September 21, 2022/in Bible Study, Week 2

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Do you think it’s possible for anger to be a healthy emotion? Believe it or not, it can be. Last weekend, we continued our series, Mixed Emotions, by unpacking ANGER. We learned our anger is a signal, not a solution.

The healthy anger that I’m referring to is virtuous anger. The dictionary defines virtuous as “having or showing moral standards.” So, virtuous anger would be when someone with high morals or standards expresses their anger at the right time and in the right way.

John 2:15-17

15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

Many Jews had no way of bringing their own animals to the temple, so vendors provided a way to purchase proper sin atonements. Sacrificing sheep and cattle were part of worshiping God, so why did Jesus get angry? We need to ask ourselves a simple question: What was the problem?

The problem was not the merchants or money changers themselves but the fact that they were selling their wares inside the temple, in an area called the “Court of the Gentiles.” Because the Gentiles were restricted from other parts of the temple, this was the only place where they could pray. So by setting the market there, the Jews were no longer allowing a space for the Gentiles to worship. Jesus’ action showed that everyone mattered to God, not just the Jews. This story inspired our church’s mission to introduce all people to Jesus and the opportunity to know God.

As a redhead, people automatically assume that I have a flash temper and get easily angry, unlike Jesus’ intentional behavior at the Temple when he took the time to make a whip. He did not express his anger quickly; his actions were well thought out. His display was a virtuous anger for those who were being restricted from worship, not simply a show of violence.

Psalms 69:9

Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

Anger is not always a bad thing but rather a signal that a value is being threatened. And if that threatened value needs to be protected and defended, the holy discontent and anger that wells up inside of us can be useful when it’s channeled into purposeful action.

Questions:

Do you ever get angry? Would you say that your anger is virtuous? Are you a wise person when it comes to anger? If not, how could you change your thought process to recognize the important signal of your anger?

Next Steps:

The next time you feel angry, try journaling about it. Recognize that your anger is a signal that you need to acknowledge and pay attention to. Work through why you’re angry and how to express your anger in a virtuous way.

The Groups’ directory is open, and the fall semester begins this week. Click on https://cedarcreek.tv/groups to find a Group that’s right for you.

Prayer:

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for the emotion of anger. Grant me the wisdom to understand how to deal with my anger. Help me to take a deep breath and not overreact when I am angry. Thank you for the grace you extend to me every day. Thank you for sending Jesus to atone for my sins. It’s in his glorious name that I pray, amen.