Sermon for February 5, 2006

The Faith Full Family:
The Idol of Anger
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Introduction: I don’t know how many of you are or were comic book fans in your life. I was when I was a young person and when I was a teenager a lot of great comic book characters came into being. Spiderman, the X-Men, and the Hulk are several that have become cultural icons to a certain extent now that movies are being made about them. The Hulk always fascinated me as well as many others. For those that don’t know the Hulk is a man who was exposed to some strange radiation and when ever he becomes angry he grows into this incredibly strong green monster. You don’t mess with the Hulk and you don’t want to make his human alter ego, Bruce Banner angry.

Today as we examine anger as an idol it is important to note that we all have experienced anger. It is an emotion that is human and universal. It is not so much that anger itself is an idol as it is what we do with anger and what it becomes to us is the idol.

I. Looking at Anger
Anger grows out of many different causes. It can arise out of jealousy and envy as it did with Cain and led to Abel’s murder. People can get angry when they are afraid and so sometimes someone who has been abused can turn from fear and cowering to do some amazing and terrible things. People get angry when they are wrong, when they have been wronged, when they see wrong and injustice. Anger can come from selfishness when we don’t get our way.

Anger, as an emotion, does things to our body. When we are angry our senses become sharper, our tolerance of pain become greater. A person can do physical things requiring strength that they could not do otherwise. It not only does things to our bodies and minds it does things to other people. When we are confronted with an angry person we will try to get out of the way, give in to their demands. With all of this in mind it is easy to see why people can become addicted to anger. It is physically addictive, many people feel more alive and in control when they are angry and it is psychologically addictive, we find we can get our way, control people with our anger. Since we all get angry sometimes we learn strategies for dealing with it.

II. Anger in the Family
The idol that we really want to look at today is anger in the family. In one sense the idol is not anger itself. Anger is sometimes called a secondary emotion; that is, it is almost always in reaction to something else. Anger is inevitable in a fallen world that hurts and disappoints us. What we do with our anger, how we handle our anger determines whether it becomes an idol or not. Can anger keep a family from following God? Yes, and it can hinder the growth and development of family members in the ways of God.

Anger appears early in scripture in the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:5-7) but we see it in many forms and in many people. Even meek, godly people like Moses become angry (Exodus 32:19). God is described as becoming angry, sometimes very angry with his people. So from that standpoint we know anger in and of itself is not sinful. But anger is a powerful emotion that can come upon us suddenly and can lead us to words and actions that we can regret.

It seems we have an anger problem in our society and in our families. It is easy to pick on men because I think we often struggle with anger. The difficulty is that violence seems to have become more acceptable in our society as an outlet to anger. We hear more about violence against women in domestic settings. There are disturbing images of violence against children, the aged, and innocent by-standers. It is not just happening “out there” either; levels of domestic violence among church people happen all too frequently. And anger is often at the heart of the violence.

As I consider this whole issue of anger and violence I believe that much of it comes back to the decline of self-control in our society. Hedonistic self-fulfillment has become the value by which many, including some Christians, live their lives. We are told we really can’t control our sexual appetites and really don’t need to. Why should I deny myself luxuries today when credit is so easily available? Such attitudes are easy to carry over to other over whelming emotions like anger. Of course people can be very controlled when the police are present. That fact points to the fallacy of this type of thinking and living. We can and do control our emotions and appetites when we want to. A man or woman may come home after a bad day at work and abuse their spouse but they controlled their anger in front of the boss.

III. Anger and Idolatry
Paul helps us to see a biblical view of anger when he writes, "In your anger do not sin," Ephesians 4:26. The implication is that we can be angry and it not be idolatrous. The idolatrous aspect of anger is what we do with that anger. It becomes an idol when our goal becomes revenge and payback. We see this when an argument or insult becomes a death sentence and a person is killed. Someone hurts and we want to hurt them back, with interest. Paul’s command to not sin when we are angry is difficult if not impossible when we act out of anger.

Peter gives us the example of Jesus who had every right to be angry with those who were hurting him and would eventually kill him. But Jesus knew something we often overlook, only God can ‘payback’ with any justice, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly,” 1 Peter 2:23. One idol associated with anger that we need to cast out is the desire for vengeance. Paul wrote, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse,” Romans 12:14. It is only by yielding to the Spirit and allowing the Spirit’s fruit of self-control to be born in our lives that we are able to act in this way.

But we are not talking about enemies here but family. Paul wrote these words, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs,” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.
I don’t get angry with Diane very often. There were times early in our marriage where I did become angry but the difference now is that my love for her has grown and become more what Paul described in these verses. Paul is directing these words not just at husbands and wives but also at the church. When people live and work together anger is going to erupt at times. It is inevitable. Sometimes the anger has good cause, sometimes not but the result of anger should be blessing and not cursing. The rest of Paul’s words in Ephesians are, "’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. Holding on to anger is more dangerous that we can imagine. Anger may make us feel powerful, it may get us what we think we want but in the end only the devil wins. Choose whom you will serve but if you choose the Lord then examine your heart, scrutinize your life and cast out the idols that keep you from following the Lord.

Livonia Church of Christ: February 5, 2006