Biblical Answer

Understanding Righteous Anger

Righteous anger is a noble outburst that is a sign of holiness reacting to evil in a way that is morally right and glorious. It is growing, inner anger that swells like sap in a tree on a hot day, but it does not boil over into wrath. Wrath is a quick temper, malice, or intense anger and indignation that is a shortcut to failure. Righteous anger, on the other hand, is a moral response to injustice that leads us to do something about it.

The Heart of Anger

Anger is ultimately about God and reveals more about our own heart than it does about the other person. It is a matter between us and God. When we grumble or exhibit sinful anger, it is a sign that we do not trust God. Grumbling, in particular, is a form of sinful anger that erodes bodily health and gives the devil an opportunity to divide and conquer. The Bible commands us to be angry and sin not, which means that we should not let our anger control us. We should bring our anger daily to Jesus for redemption and repentance.

Two Kinds of Sinful Anger

There are two primary kinds of sinful anger: explosive anger and simmering anger. Both are equally harmful. Explosive anger is when we want to hurt others, and simmering anger is when we let our anger simmer and erode our bodily health. Both kinds of anger are a sign that we are controlled by our anger or hot temper, and we need to repent of it and bring it daily to Jesus for redemption. We should strive to be angry yet not sin, by responding to injustice in a moral and righteous way, rather than letting our anger control us. By doing so, we will grow in our relationship with God and become more like Jesus.