Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk
Ask the Pastor: Is Anger Sin?
A
by Reagan Marsh
s a pastor and biblical counselor, I receive many questions about the Bible’s application to life. Here’s one. Q. MOUTH SHUT, MOUTH SHUT, MOUTH
SHUT!!! Is anger sin? Can I just throw a table at someone? (Asking for a friend!) A. An excellent question and a challenging struggle, for sure. I must confess that sinful anger is one of my besetting sins, a favorite way to dishonor God, so I write as one still working to put it to death by the Spirit’s grace (Romans 8:5-8, 13; Ephesians 4:22-24). Anger itself isn’t sinful. Jesus was angry at both cleansings of the Temple (John 2:13-17; Matthew 21:12-17), God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11), and Scripture requires that in our anger we do not sin (Ephesians 4:26). Unless we’re prepared to assert 1. that Jesus sinned (1 John 3:5), 2. that God habitually sins (Habakkuk 1:13), and 3. that God also commands us to sin (James 1:13), anger itself cannot be sinful. Anger becomes sinful when it’s not grounded in “zeal for the
mourn and grieve, even passionately, over my own sinful response
Father’s house.” The sense of John 2:17 is an all-consuming desire for
to their sin against me, others, and God (Matthew 5:4)—but it is
the glory of God. By contrast, most of my anger is an all-consuming
wrong to sit there feeding my anger, stoking its fires, rehearsing
zeal for my name, agenda, or preference, but not God’s glory.
the wrong, replaying the conversation, or engaging the “if only’s”
If I’m honest, I want my name magnified. Sinful anger is my
or “if I could do it again’s.” Such activities tempt to further sin and
response to my wife, kids, or others not giving me the worship,
strengthen it (Ephesians 4:27), invariably defiling others (Hebrews
fear, reverence, and obedience owed to God alone. I respond by
12:15). I must respond by repentance, humility, and renewing my
various protests—see Ephesians 4:29-31—demonstrating my zeal
mind by Scripture, prayerfully wrestling (Psalm 57:2; 2 Corinthians
for honoring the greatness of my name. Sinful anger is ultimately a
10:5) to exercise godly self-control (Galatians 5:16-26) and godly
response to idolatry and self-worship, of having another god besides
thinking (Philippians 4:8-9).
God (Exodus 20:3)—in this case, me. Righteous anger is God-given energy to be directed against
Ultimately, anger drives us to the Cross, because it’s there we see God’s holy anger against our sins poured out on the One who
problems, not people, so issues are handled promptly and
was righteously zealous for the glory of his Father (John 2:17). It’s
righteously (Ephesians 4:26-27); sinful anger reacts and attacks
there we see him enduring such shamefully wicked sinners so we
others directly or indirectly (Ephesians 4:29-31). We prefer a tidy
don’t lose heart (Hebrews 12:3) …there we’re instructed as to our
renaming of sinful attitudes and actions in modern psychologized
own response under unjust treatment, accusation, or suffering (1
circles, but Scripture presents a different picture. Bitterness exposes
Peter 2:21-25) …there that all my guilt must be laid on him as the
itself in irritability or manipulation; wrath reveals itself in rage
only atoning sacrifice which makes me acceptable to God (Acts
or outbursts (rage rooms, anyone?); anger presents in settled
4:12; John 14:6).
indignation; clamor rattles around the house in loud voices or brawling attacks; slander speaks in profane or abusive words, and malice nurses desire to harm. What’s common to all such sinful anger? Self-centered, godless reactions to things that displease me
From one sinner to another: there’s hope and mercy in Christ. Let us look to Him alone to find rest for our souls (Psalm 62:5). Feel free to submit your questions at reformationdalton.com—I’ll seek to answer them from God’s word.
or disrupt my little kingdom.
51:4) …a sobering and quieting realization. It’s not wrong to
6 // May 2022
About The Author
By contrast, righteous anger grasps that when someone has sinned against me, they’ve ultimately sinned against God (Psalm
Reagan Marsh, MATS, MDiv (eq.) is husband to Kara, daddy to RG and AG, and founding pastor-teacher to Reformation Baptist Church of Dalton, GA. An SBTS graduate, certified biblical counselor, and Th.D. student in Puritan studies, he has served in gospel ministry since 1998.
