Biblical Answer

Is it a sin to be angry?

The Bible teaches that anger is not inherently a sin, but rather it can be a sinful expression. There are two primary kinds of sinful anger: explosive anger and simmering anger. Both are equally harmful. Explosive anger is a sudden outburst of anger, while simmering anger is a prolonged and suppressed anger. Both types of anger can be destructive and lead to harm to oneself and others. On the other hand, righteous indignation, or anger that is directed towards objective moral evil, is a right and necessary reaction. God is only angry where anger is called for, and He is never described as being angry in the sense of a verb of action, but rather as being opposed to all that is sinful.

The key to understanding whether anger is a sin is to examine one's own heart. Anger can reveal more about one's own heart than it does about the other person. To be more specific, anger is between you and God. When we grumble or become angry, it reveals a lack of trust in God's sovereignty and goodness. It is a shortcut that is doomed to fail. Anger is ultimately about God, and it shows that we don't trust Him. It becomes an opportunity to know Him better, and what we come to understand will surprise us.

Therefore, it is not a sin to be angry, but it is a sin to let anger control us. We must put away anger (Eph 4:31; Col 3:8) and not let it work the righteousness of God (Jas 1:20). We must recognize that anger is a work of the flesh (Gal 5:19-20) and seek to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2). By doing so, we can experience the righteousness that God desires, and we can learn to trust Him more fully in the midst of difficult circumstances. Ultimately, it is not about being angry or not being angry, but about living a life that reflects Christian values and teachings.