Anger as a root to bigger problems

"You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-26 (NRSV)

Part of the Sermon on the Mount [from which these verses come] include 6 sections in which Jesus tries to correct some misunderstandings of Old Testment laws. This is the first of those six. According to the Expostitor's Commentary, Jesus in these six sections is showing the true direction of what the law was to point to originally [p. 147]. This would make sense because murder comes from hatred and anger. Murder is the symptom while anger is the root.

I've been thinking about roots the last few years. While most Christians I know would never murder anyone [myself included], what about these roots of anger, hatred, greed, etc. that lie in so many of us? Do we feed these roots or do we give them to God asking for him to forgive and heal us of these roots? To be sure, there are times when anger is justified. But it is what we do with that anger that is important. There are healthy ways to deal with anger: work for a peaceful resolution to the issue, ask God to intervene in the situation,  stand up on behalf of those who can't for themselves, pray for the other person/situation, express in prayer how you feel asking God to heal your anger or find a healthy way to vent about your anger such as in a journal or to a trusted friend. There are unhealthy ways: allowing the anger to fester until it overtakes one's life, leading to hateful actions such as put downs, cut downs, verbal abuse [what the word Raca signifies - it means 'imbecile, fool, blockhead' [p. 149], rage, holding grudges, seeking revenge, wishing a curse on them instead of God's blessing, gossip, back bite, slander. And even when one has enough self-control not to do any of these actions, anger that still controls [especially if it is internalized, which is what powerless people often do when faced with a situation that angers them] can cause depression, self-hate, high blood pressure and other mental if not physical health issues.

As stated earlier I can't think of any Christians I know of who would commit homicide, but I do know of plenty who think nothing of hating another person, using verbal abuse, gossiping, talking behind one's back, hold grudges, and seek revenge. I also see Christians who don't know how to what to do with their anger so it becomes internalized into depressed, obsession, self-hate, addictions or other health issues such as high blood pressure.

For those in this situation, ask God to help you deal with the anger appropriately. Since there are many reasons for anger, a simple devotional can't cover all the issues but God can. Pray everyday or more about your anger and what to do with it. Pray for healing of the cause for the anger. It may take some time for healing to come but it will if you let God help you. Doing so will bring healing to you, your relationships around you and your witness as a Christian. Getting rid of the anger in your heart will allow God's grace and joy to abundantly flow in your heart and flow out to others bringing to them healing, grace and joy.

Jesus said "'Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, 'What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.' For he had said to him, 'Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!' Then Jesus asked him, 'What is your name?' He replied, 'My name is Legion; for we are many.' He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, 'Send us into the swine; let us enter them.' So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus refused, and said to him, 'Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.' And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. Mark 5:1 - 20 NRSV

Though maybe not as dramatically as with this poor soul who could only live amonst the tombstones, there are many of us who carry with us a similar, albeit smaller burdens that prevent one from living life to the fullest.One can be saved but if old wounds are never exposed to Jesus for his complete healing, these wounds will fester and eventually control us, thereby affecting ourselves and affecting others around us. Since one in this state can survive in society, or have the inner strength to deal with wounds, most often people don't realize that truly living in abundance [John 10:10] means giving to God ALL of our wounds even the little ones that don't seem that big of a problem. But eventually, a time will come when is old and infirm and can't control the anger and pain caused years ago and out it comes...only to affect the innocent. Plus by the time it is often too late to deal with it properly.

A friend who worked at a nursing home told a story of an elderly woman who would walk the walls constantly fightly with her father. Said father had died years ago but the two never worked things out so this lady in her dementia continued the fight. We are all like this. Imagine holding a basketball under water. As long as one's arms are strong one can keep the ball underwater. But when the arms weaken or the body gets sick, up comes the basketball and it hits us in the face. This is what happens when we don't resolve long lasting issues - we'll be ok until something happens and we no longer have the strength to stuff the pain.

Ask God today, everyday and if need be every second of the day to heal you of these words. Everyday give God your pain, wounds and anger. Over time, you'll notice a differnce for the better.

Jesus changed the world

Children and Parents

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise– “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.  Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

I've never liked this particular passsge as it didn't seem to be truly freeing to those who were undertrodden. But, it is important to know the context of the situation in which Paul is speakingn to the Ephesians. To our modern ears, it seems like Paul is saying that we must have a hierarchial view of life. But really, as my friend James puts it "I believe Paul intends to put stress into the reading because while wives, children, and slaves all are expected to submit as those who are the least in the society and culture he writes in, the idea that husbands, fathers, and masters should become like Christ and make themselves the least and serve the wives, children, and slaves undermines these hierarchal systems." When Paul tells husbands to treat his wife sacrificially, and slave owners as equals and fathers with care to how their children will be affected by this fatherly treatment he's showing them a better, godly way. While not as  'revolutionary as we in the 21st century would like, it definitely was revolutionary for its time.

For more imformation see :Does Ephesians 5 and 6 endorse or subvert hierarchical systems and relationships?