Anger's cousins.

The experts debate whether or not anger is a primary or secondary emotion. It's a basic but circular argument: do our other emotions ignite anger in us, or does anger activate and inflame those other close relative emotions? It's certainly not a case I'd be prepared to argue. It's way over my pay grade. But, I do note in Scripture that when God inspired the Bible writers to record instructions about anger he also taught them the close association between anger and several other dark side emotions. In my simple thought process they are anger's cousins, emotions and actions that typically visit us when anger comes calling. Like anger, these behavioral kin are elements of our human nature. In Scripture they are often referred to as works of the flesh.

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Proverbs 29: 22, ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry,

sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy,

drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that

those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5: 19-21, ESV

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,

along with all malice.

Ephesians 4: 31, ESV

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk

from your mouth.

Colossians 3: 8, ESV

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger

or quarreling.

1 Timothy 2: 8, ESV

So, here they are, angers many cousins:

strife transgression sexual immorality impurity

sensuality idolatry sorcery enmity

jealousy fits of anger rivalries dissensions

divisions envy drunkenness orgies

bitterness wrath clamor slander

malice obscene talk quarreling

You see, anger unleashes emotional, physical, and spiritual responses in our life systems. The synapses are firing, sending stress hormones throughout our bodies, shunting blood away from our inner systems to our muscles, energizing us for physical exertion. Our heart rate increases, blood pressure and respiration are quickened, and our fight or flight instincts are activated. Many health issues result from uncontrolled anger management. The cousins often amplify the emotional and physical aspects created by outbursts of anger. Many of them are next phase amplification of the provocation that lit our fuses. They wreck our human systems, relational integrity, what is best for the people around us, and of course, our own self-esteem and view of the world around us.

And, there are spiritual consequences to life dominated by anger. Reliable and practical James defined the spiritual elements of anger in a simple and profound statement---

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1: 20, ESV

Many of the cousins are active expressions of the aggravations we experience when anger guides us---jealousy, bitterness, malice, rivalries, quarreling, impurity, enmity, dissensions, and others---that angle us against others, and therefore, in angst with God. The aftermath of an explosive outburst can cover us with clouds of doubt, fear, untrust, forgiveness issues, love, discipline, witness, and obedience, surely complications in our spiritual well being. Uncertainty here places question marks around how we live.

And, the cousins can take us in directions that complicate life in many other ways. So, tomorrow we'll discuss what it means to be slow to anger, and then Friday, ways we can control the angry impulses of this human nature, and hopefully deal with anger's cousins.

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Throwing a fit.

Anger is a complex human emotion. It's puzzling because anger has the spark to propel us through so many layers, from simple vexation to explosive rage. Chase Mr. Roget's ideas around to meet the anger family, from Ms. Miff to Mr. Fury, and dozens of kin in between. Most of us are on a first-name basis with them because they're such frequent visitors. We know the problem solving savvy of that milder frustration or aggravation. Just the same, we're up close and personal with those angry bursts that send us over the edge. I mean, who hasn't kicked a car door or slapped the laptop? Get real. We humans know all of the dimensions of this emotion and understand at least the many ways anger challenges us and rocks our lives.

It's a big Bible topic, anger. This truth reminds us that human nature remains constant in a world of exponential change. This human foible is mentioned in every Bible book from Genesis to Revelation. Interestingly, two Greek terms are primary when thinking about anger in the New Testament.

ὀργή (orgay)

Well yes, this term defines passion, even sexual passion in the New Testament. Regarding anger, orgay usually expresses a swelling of passion, the gradual building of anger over time. It is seldom used of sudden explosions of anger and often portrays building wrath. It is often used in Revelation to reference the wrath of God. Mark used this word to describe Jesus' anger at the Pharisees---

And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart.

Mark 3: 5, ESV

θυμός (thumos)

This concept of anger is basically explosive and sudden, like throwing a fit. You know, the kid in the grocery store or the neighbor having prayer meeting with this lawnmower. It is also translated as passion and wrath but usually in a more instant experience. The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Galatia warned them about the many works of the flesh, those emotions and actions contrary to the work of the Spirit in a human life. He warned them about fits of anger. This anger erupts in a flash. It is also translated as passion and wrath but usually in a more instant experience.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry,

sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy,

drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that

those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5: 19-212, ESV

This blowup of anger, the outburst that is unexpected and sudden, is a work not of the new self in Christ but of the old self and the human nature. It is the anger that is destructive and dangerous, a repeated detonation of anger with little regard for problem solving or reparation. Expression is the deal, impulsive and circumstantial.

And, that is the anger that is so dangerously expressed in our times by people on every side of life realities. It's what happens when anger is uncontrolled and loosed by the harsh conditions that often define us. It's when people personally vent their anger on the rest of the world around them. We humans are quick to criticize others expressing these fits of anger. Even more, our response is often more quick tempered anger, the stuff of evening the score, gaining a little payback, or registering rebuttal to a position that is different from our own. Fits of anger may be our most critical reactions to the wrath so visible in other elements of our culture.

This kind of anger, as a product of our dark side is portrayed as evil, regardless of who expresses them. And, the bible deals with our retributive expressions of anger as well. The Apostle Paul wrote about this evil on several occasions---

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another

and to everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5: 15, ESV

Responding to fits of anger with more fits of anger isn't the deal. This Christian worldview seeks the good of the people around us, not more fits of anger. We should be disciplined to control our anger. Throwing fits isn't the way to express it.

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Emotional beings.

Well, yes, we humans come wired with complex emotional systems. While there is no consensus on a scientific definition of emotions, the people at Merriam-Webster affirm that they are "...a conscious mental reaction (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body" (click here for the full explanation). I know. That's what I thought too. Harriet told me they were our feelings and that's the deal for me. The experts down the hall in the neuroscience or psychology departments debate further how many emotions there are, whether the ones listed are primary emotions or secondary, and how to deal with them when they overcome us. All I know is that at times I'm happy, sad, mad, glad, bad, rad, or had. The emotional whirlwind of life.

Anger is an emotion. For me it's simple---a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. It's the "mad" mentioned in the previous paragraph, an emotion that quickens the breath, activates the synapses, raises the pulse, equips the verbal artillery, and, at times, clinches the fists. Like it or not, anger is our automatic response to provocation. Even more, it's not always bad. Sometimes anger ushers us to the turbulent hallways of problem solving, settling disputes, calming relationships, and repairing disorder. Anger lights our fires. But, not always in destructive ways. When we are angry, we're primed for relief. And, that has a redemptive element too. Anger awakens us and give us the righteous indignation to find solutions.

Scripture addresses the norms and abuses of anger. Moses was angry (Leviticus 10: 16; Numbers 16: 15); King David was angry (2 Samuel 6: 8); Naaman was angry (2 Kings 5: 11); God is portrayed as being angry (Deuteronomy 3: 26; 1 Kings 11: 9); Jonah was angry (Jonah 4:1); and even Jesus experienced a moment of anger (Mark 3: 5). They all portray the flashing aggravation and passion that occurs when our expectations and hopes are threatened. In these particular instances their anger ignited redemptive purpose in their hearts. They were not destructive or dangerous.

And, that's the thing about the emotion of anger. Like all of our emotions it can flame out of control and become self-centered and domineering. Writing to the church at Ephesus the Apostle Paul counseled them----

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.

Ephesians 4: 26, ESV

Evidently the Apostle expected his Ephesian brothers and sisters to experience differences and moments of adversity in their faith community. Surely they knew about dissension, clashes of opinion within the community, and opposition, obstacles from people outside their congregation. Anger would naturally fuel discussion, debate, and argument about the things of faith. He warned them, however, of their anger being elevated by argument. He advised them to settle their matters before the sun went down. Sounds like good, solid biblical advice to me.

Today, we're living in an angry world. Most of us are worn and torn by the perplexities and uncertainties of Covid 19---mask wearing, calendar questions, economic disruption, educational challenges, and life adjustments at every level. Suddenly there are further explosions of racial tension, class distinctions, white privilege, humans rights, how our various governments work, court proceedings, and even neighbor to neighbor conflict. Church people are resistant to state interference. And, the truth is, most of us don't know how to deal with this emotion of anger. How in the world can we keep it from destroying us?

James, thought to be the brother of Jesus, wrote---"the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1: 20). We emotional beings must learn the spiritual disciplines of dealing with anger. That's going to be the deal this week. Please join me.

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