Navigating Anger in the Christian Walk: Is it Okay for a Christian to Be Angry?

Children are notoriously open with their emotions. Phrases like, "It's not fair! and "I hate you!" come flying out of their mouths in the heat of the moment. Though we have all probably felt similarly at one time or another, most of us know (by experience!) that, "human anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires" (James 1:20). But does this mean we shouldn't be angry at all? Not necessarily.

Surprisingly, the Bible never says, "don't be angry." Instead, we are told, "In your anger, do not sin" (Eph. 4:26). God's word tells us that we are made in His image (Gen. 1:27), and God gets angry. The Hebrew scriptures are full of references to God's anger and wrath. Yet He is primarily known as one who is, "slow to anger and abounding in love" (Num. 14:18, Psalm 86:15). As God incarnate, Jesus also got angry (Mk 3:5). Being human, however, our anger is tainted with sin, and so we tend to "miss the mark" in how we express it.

Maybe this is why Paul so often encourages us to get rid of anger (Eph. 4:31, Col. 3:8, 1 Tim. 2:8). We do not want to get rid of our emotions altogether, as they are a reflection of God and an essential part of who we are. However, it is imperative that they be put them in their proper place: submitted to God and His final authority. We must train our children and ourselves to communicate and behave in ways that honor God and one another. When we do get angry, especially with fellow Christians, we need to deal with it and let it go as soon as possible.

In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27

Anger is a potent emotion that can make us uncomfortable, but it is not, in and of itself, a sin. It is a warning sign; letting us know that something is not right. When we experience anger, we are reacting to wrongdoing and unfairness in a way similar to our creator. As Christians, we ought to be angry at all that is wrong in this world. When we see abuse and evil, our hearts need to cry out alongside our Heavenly Father's, "This should not be!"

God regularly gets angry with His people for hurting one another through their injustice, greed and abuse of power, which continues to this day. In this way, it can be quite appropriate for a Christian to be angry. It's what we do with with our anger that makes all the difference.

As the singular perfect example, God only acts on His anger after an inordinate amount of long suffering. In addition, He only takes action against His children in an effort to get their attention and call them back to behavior that is more in line with His loving nature. James encourages us to do the same.

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry... James 1:19.

As Christians, we are called to walk in the footsteps of Christ: Above all, we are to love one another (John 13:34). And, as Paul tells the Corinthians, "Love is not easily angered" (1 Cor. 13:5). Strictly speaking, anger is not wrong. It reminds us of God's own righteous anger. However, instead of acting out of our human nature when we're angry, we are told to be more like Him: kind, understanding and forgiving (Eph. 4:32).

While this may feel impossible at times, we have the help of a mighty God who works within us through the power of His Holy Spirit to make all things possible, including moving from a place of anger to one of peace and love. I pray to this end for all of us today.