Who has the right to be angry?

As I was reading through First Timothy I had a thought...yes I do have them on occasion. Think on this have you ever been mad at someone because they did not do what you wanted; or they did it, just not exactly how you wanted it done. This could be a random person at the store, a friend...or your spouse.

Now, truly think on this and dig into yourself as you do; be honest with yourself here. The only way to be truly angry at someone is to elevate yourself above them; this directly goes in contrast to the following scripture.

There is only One who has the right to truly be angry, and even His angry is filled with righteousness. Any thoughts guys?

1 Timothy 1:12-17
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Absolutely agree, brother! I love the way you put that... to be angry at someone is to elevate yourself above that person. So true! In fact, I would say that when I get angry at someone it is also a pride issue. When in an argument for example and I become angry, it's one of two things. 1. I truly believe what I'm saying is right and am angry that you won't fall in line or 2. I'm more worried about being right than I am about getting to the truth. Both are completely unproductive because I've come at it with the wrong heart or the wrong spirit. I've come at it with a spirit of pride.

In fact, we are called to be loving and humble. To count others as more important than ourselves.

Phillipians 2:3 - Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

If we do this, it is impossible to be angry at the same time. However, the Scripture also tells us in Ephesians 4 to be angry but not to sin and not to let the sun go down on our anger, thereby refraining from giving opportunity to the devil. Being human there will be times that anger jumps up on us but it's so important not to allow it to take over the situation or the disagreement.

I dug into Ephesians 4; specifically 4:17-32 because you brought up a good point when is it okay and how does it look to be angry as a Christian? This verse explains that very well.

The scripture makes clear we are no longer "of this world" we are to begin by "putting off our old selves" to not react as we have done in the past but put on Gods way instead. Our old way of thinking of anger is corrupt and filled with "deceitful desires."

A huge step is honesty, we can not beat around the bush or sugarcoat truth; we have to be open and honest with one another remembering that we are all together here on Earth and in a very serious way responsible for one another.

Our talk should not be corrupted with personal issues that we just do not like, but instead be geared toward strengthening one another; now that does not mean it will always be a pleasant talk, but it must be a meaningful talk. The ultimate purpose is to expose and bring about the Gospel, to reflect Grace "to those who hear."

While talking bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice must have no place; these things are part of our old "worldly" selves and have no place in who we now are in Christ. Rather we must now be kind, tender hearted and forgiving just as we were forgiven of much.

So what would we possibly have to be angry over? According to this passage in scripture it boils down to watered down false doctrine. The people here had become confused, they were so far off course from the Gospel of Christ they did not reflect it in anyway; yet they assumed that they were in fact the ones who were right...kind of sounds familiar! They were hanging on to their old selves and most likely told each other it was okay till their hearts became callous to the truth. Now they gave themselves over to their desires, and left behind Christ.

Now this is talking about fellow believers in Christ, not sinners. A sinner is just that; they are our mission field. A Christian however, who has fallen astray is a much different thing. Even in this anger however scripture makes clear; do not allow yourself to fall into your old ways, do not sin as you confront the one who has gone astray, and finally resolve the issue quickly; we all know the longer we sit thinking about an issue the angrier we get...and not only are we leaving another in their fallen state, but the bigger the chance that we will fall to sin as well!

You know, that's a good point Myles. If we're coming with the Word in order to correct a brother or a sister, our spirit should be right. It should be humble. I think if it's the right spirit you can then replace the word correct up there with the word... help. Whereas if it's with the wrong spirit, you can replace it worth the word... damage. I am coming with a humble spirit and am therefore coming to HELP my brother or sister by presenting the Word of God to them. Or... I am coming with a selfish spirit (I have to be right and I have to make them see "my way") and am therefore coming to damage my brother or sister, thereby making the Word of God seem harsh and damaging and in the process, being a bad ambassador of the Lord. Granted, we can't help the way a person takes our approach but we CAN decided ahead to come at them in love and prepared for them to attack us. This way we refrain from becoming angry but if we do have that emotion, we're prepared to contain it and stay focused on God's will and not our own. Keeping in mind that whatever person we're talking to is more important than yourself.