Anger: Is Mine Righteous?

Anger may be America’s favorite sport. Political polarization plus the loss of physical safety and financial security has led to fear and anger. Long-term conflicts have risen to the surface, resulting in rage. Some defend their indignation, calling it “righteous anger.” With sporting events canceled, we have fewer opportunities to expel negative energy. So, rather than cheering for our team or shouting at the umpires, we’re screaming at one another. Sometimes in the streets and often behind closed doors. How should Jesus-followers respond? Can we be righteous and angry at the same time? 

Some people point to Jesus’ temple cleansing (Mark 11:15-18) as justification for righteous anger. Yet, there’s no word about Jesus’ emotions, only his actions. He drove out animals, overturned moneychangers’ tables, and ran off dove-sellers. Why? Merchants had converted the Court of the Gentiles into a market. Rather than destroying persons or property, Jesus disrupted businesses that dishonored God and desecrated the only place gentiles could worship. A revealing response but not proof of a temple temper tantrum.

Biblical authors only twice describe Jesus as angry:

• Upon entering a synagogue, Jesus saw a man with a shriveled hand. Jesus gave the Pharisees an opportunity to show compassion, but their silence spoke volumes.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

Mark 3:5

• When the disciples rebuked parents, who were bringing their children to Jesus so he could bless them, Mark described Jesus as “indignant” (Mark 10:13-14).

Anger Warnings

Jesus’ anger never devolved into rage. Instead, he controlled his ire, reserving it for the hardhearted. For those who were more concerned about law-keeping than life-restoring. For those who wanted to reserve God’s blessings for themselves. 

The Bible doesn’t condemn all anger but does warn us of its danger. Jesus cautioned his audience:

Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.

Matthew 5:22

Paul admonished his readers to deal quickly with their anger lest they “give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27). Wrath is risky because it so easily leads to sin.

Pastor Jeffrey Gibbs observes: “There is no such thing as a genuine, clear, biblical definition of or justification for ‘righteous anger’—unless the anger is the Father’s or the Son’s wrath.” Instead, Scripture warns us anger is spiritually dangerous, usually leading to sin.

Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

James 1:20

Standing against injustice doesn’t require rage. In fact, rage reveals that our righteous anger has turned to self-righteous fury. 

As a result of recent events, emotions are high. Our reactions expose our hearts. What have we discovered about ourselves? How can we share people’s pain in God-honoring ways? How can we offer hope to the hurting?