The Ninth Beatitude: Blessed Are Those Who Get Angry!
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: It is not always wrong to get angry.
The Beatitudes are so gentle and peaceful that it not only seems, but also is incongruous to propose one that lifts anger to the status of a virtue. We find ourselves confused over the propriety of anger. We have been told that it is definitely wrong. While I wouldn't give a blanket endorsement to the idea that there is a time for every activity as Ecclesiastes 3 suggests, I would say that there is a proper time to get angry. There is no better example than that given in John 2:13-17 where, shortly after Jesus hits town, he is in the Temple and angry over the moneychangers and animal sellers. I believe Jesus' actions give us permission to become angry. The only question is: What are the limits -- the when and how? I would suggest these requirements for appropriate anger:
a. We get mad at activities and attitudes and not people. People are precious even when they do bad things. We hate actions that hurt others as well as the perpetrators, and still we must love the perpetrators. Our anger is motivated by our love for others, including the perpetrators. We are angry over the threat to their well-being.
b. If it is a just cause. We can dress anger up with more polite euphemisms such as "righteous indignation" or "determined moral concern," but the cause should be the same. Our goal is to right a wrong, to eliminate injustice, or correct an immoral outrage. It is not a matter of having God on our side, but trying to be sure we are on God's wavelength.
c. If no one gets hurt. Jesus did not beat the moneychangers and animal sellers with his whip. He used it to drive out the animals. Since our anger is directed to the well-being of others, we refrain from physical harm and personal insults. If, on occasion, physical restraint is called for and harm results, the harm must be less than the harm prevented. And most important, when the first opportunity arises, we immediately seek reconciliation.
d. Love is never lost sight of. During the altercation, if possible, and certainly as soon as possible afterwards, we show the other persons our love for him. This means that we must constantly be aware of our own feelings and motives to be sure that love is always behind our actions.
The Beatitudes are so gentle and peaceful that it not only seems, but also is incongruous to propose one that lifts anger to the status of a virtue. We find ourselves confused over the propriety of anger. We have been told that it is definitely wrong. While I wouldn't give a blanket endorsement to the idea that there is a time for every activity as Ecclesiastes 3 suggests, I would say that there is a proper time to get angry. There is no better example than that given in John 2:13-17 where, shortly after Jesus hits town, he is in the Temple and angry over the moneychangers and animal sellers. I believe Jesus' actions give us permission to become angry. The only question is: What are the limits -- the when and how? I would suggest these requirements for appropriate anger:
a. We get mad at activities and attitudes and not people. People are precious even when they do bad things. We hate actions that hurt others as well as the perpetrators, and still we must love the perpetrators. Our anger is motivated by our love for others, including the perpetrators. We are angry over the threat to their well-being.
b. If it is a just cause. We can dress anger up with more polite euphemisms such as "righteous indignation" or "determined moral concern," but the cause should be the same. Our goal is to right a wrong, to eliminate injustice, or correct an immoral outrage. It is not a matter of having God on our side, but trying to be sure we are on God's wavelength.
c. If no one gets hurt. Jesus did not beat the moneychangers and animal sellers with his whip. He used it to drive out the animals. Since our anger is directed to the well-being of others, we refrain from physical harm and personal insults. If, on occasion, physical restraint is called for and harm results, the harm must be less than the harm prevented. And most important, when the first opportunity arises, we immediately seek reconciliation.
d. Love is never lost sight of. During the altercation, if possible, and certainly as soon as possible afterwards, we show the other persons our love for him. This means that we must constantly be aware of our own feelings and motives to be sure that love is always behind our actions.
