Owning Anger
Almost immediately after my initial admission....remember, it was just recognition...I ran across a blog post "Recognizing Our Anger."
I do not know if I could summarize the article accurately or completely, but after my initial reading I took two things to heart.
1) Let's just own that virtually all our anger is sin.
2) Begin confessing that anger.
My poor friend who tolerated my initial discussion had to listen to me process this new information. Actually, what I really wanted to do was justify myself. We discussed the favorite verse "be angry and do not sin." I tried to justify scenarios and the allowances this verse provides. I tried to add the righteous argument about "righteous indignation." But if my Sophomore English teacher Mr. Ammerman had anything to say about justification it would be, "If you have to justify something it's probably wrong." Ultimately, I had to admit that almost all of my anger was personal irritation, self-focused and (probably) sin.
I pulled out these two ideas, mulled them over, incorporated them a bit, pondered them, and checked them against other scripture. I made a small step and began acknowledging my anger in short, quick prayers, attempting to agree with God. It was a simple act. It was un-announced, but it could be done immediately. It was personal, but it affected others.
I cruised along in this vein for a while.
...to be continued...
I do not know if I could summarize the article accurately or completely, but after my initial reading I took two things to heart.
1) Let's just own that virtually all our anger is sin.
2) Begin confessing that anger.
My poor friend who tolerated my initial discussion had to listen to me process this new information. Actually, what I really wanted to do was justify myself. We discussed the favorite verse "be angry and do not sin." I tried to justify scenarios and the allowances this verse provides. I tried to add the righteous argument about "righteous indignation." But if my Sophomore English teacher Mr. Ammerman had anything to say about justification it would be, "If you have to justify something it's probably wrong." Ultimately, I had to admit that almost all of my anger was personal irritation, self-focused and (probably) sin.
I pulled out these two ideas, mulled them over, incorporated them a bit, pondered them, and checked them against other scripture. I made a small step and began acknowledging my anger in short, quick prayers, attempting to agree with God. It was a simple act. It was un-announced, but it could be done immediately. It was personal, but it affected others.
I cruised along in this vein for a while.
...to be continued...
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