Anger is a normal human emotion, but this normal emotion can surely express itself in selfish and destructive ways. If you have ever been the brunt of an evil anger, you know whereof I speak. It violates the golden rule and the royal law of love. Some have testified that they experienced a cleansing from evil temper after a deeper surrender of the self to its Lord. There is righteous anger that is certainly essential for upholding justice. In this regard, it is the servant of the Lord. However, anger serving us is tainted with self and needs to be faced, controlled, and cleansed.
“You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” James 1:19-20 (NRSV)
(You are reading from the book “The Master’s Table”, by H. Lamar Smith.)
