Studies

Righteous Anger

reat leaders who have turned the tide in days of spiritual decline have been people who could get angry at the injustices and abuses that degrade mankind and dishonor God. Righteous anger at sin awakens the hardened conscience of the sinner and brings him to a sober realization of the consequences of his actions. Righteous anger is a necessary catalyst for radical change.

• Exodus 32:15-20 Moses gets FURIOUS at the Israelites' sin, breaks the tablets and smashes their idol to dust.
• Num 16:28-38 God himself is ENRAGED at Korah's rebellion. He opens a hole
  in the earth which swallows him and his family and then sends fire from heaven to destroy his followers.
• Num 25:1-13 Phineas is zealous for God's honour and is deeply ANGERED by the Israelites' blatant sexual immorality. He disciples the Israelites to NEVER do it again !
• Neh 13:23-27 Nehemiah goes NUCLEAR over the men who had married foreign women.
  ~ He doesn't avoid conflict but confronts it head on
• Mark 11:12-19 Jesus is INDIGNANT about the misuse of his Father's house and clears the temple.
• Ecclesiastes 8:11 Deal with issues QUICKLY !
  ~ Delays make the matter worse

But be careful:

• Eph 4:26 In your anger do NOT sin.
• Prov 19:2 It is not good to have zeal without KNOWLEDGE.
• Prov 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger - a wise man CONTROLS it.
• 1Tim 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man HARSHLY but exhort him as if he were your father.
• Prov 18:17 Get both sides of any story before jumping to any conclusions.

Practical Challenges:

• Write down the sins in your own life, get indignant and repent.
• Do the same for the sins you see in the lives of your disciples.
• Don't be a "conflict avoider".
• Get angry at any backsliding you see in your ministry.