Anger and Its Consequences
The outrageous emotion within the human’s heart is anger since it leads to uncontrolled harmful consequences. It is therefore dangerous and sin resulting the feeling of hate, betrayal and avenge. The pupil in spiritual life are man of patience and humility but not but not violent or odious. Unwanted rage is the outcome of impatience but not proper act of Christianity. The emotion of anger arises a feeling of hatred and avenge. It changes pupil into becoming bad, contentious and devious.
The more brethren become furious, it is likely to change into a bad man where a thought of evil comes in to his mind to harm others as well. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, “You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22)
This is the command of the Lord which we shall keep. If we are not to be ruled by His law, it is definite to separate us from Him. Our Lord has spoken about this on the sermon on the mount saying,” Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
These words of God are the clarification of the order to be clean from anger so that our prayer, fasting, alms giving or other Christian endeavor of us will be accepted before Him. The passion of anger is incompatible with God. Though it is written in Holy Scriptures, especially in the Old Testament, about God rage which moved to wrath, but that doesn’t mean God is subject to the passion of anger. It is His way of showing we are on the wrong path and call for repentance.
Saint John Cassian wrote in his spiritual classic, The Institutes as “Don’t take references to God’s anger in a crude and literal way, since these things cannot, without horrible sacrilege, be literally understood of Him Who is declared by the authority of Scripture to be invisible, ineffable, incomprehensible, simple, and un-composite. The disturbance of anger, not to mention wrath, cannot be attributed to Him and to that immutable nature without monstrous blasphemy. When we read about God’s anger and wrath, we must not think of that in terms of lowly human disturbance, but in a manner worthy of God Who is free of all disturbance. In other words, we should see in Him the judge and the avenger of every wicked deed in this world and fear Him as the terrible Re-payer of our acts and be afraid to do anything against His will.”
Humans might be anger on some occasions due to loss of patience; This is however, proper if we are to correct and put into right the word and law of God, when misread, misinterpreted, or else misspoken.
Anger also deprives us from the Holy Spirit. Saint John Klimakos, in his famous work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, wrote, “There’s nothing in our lives that drives the Holy Spirit away from our hearts more than anger.” If man is apart from Holy Spirit, it is likely to be consumed by evil spirit. When the spirit of evil is upon a person, he is conceived into sinful act and devious work.
All this mentioned facts show the consequences of anger and thus shall be overcome. Faith is the first key to overcome anger. A faithful Christian must be patient but not angry. A true Christian is always reminded about God’s word to be patient and pass all the trials in life. He chose to tolerate if facing obstacles and seeks resolution from Lord rather than attempting to upfront the evil by self with pride. He would choose to let pass the time of conflicts, deterrents, or harms though patience and humbleness by keeping the order of God.
The second key is the unison with Christ. This is the truth about our closeness with the Lord through keeping the law of God and living under His command. We are to live by His order diurnal and thus can have the strength, patience and humility to pass all the quandaries instead of becoming angry at things.
Repentance is the third key to overcome anger. Being aware of our sin and regret can enable us to pass our anger and let go of things for God to resolve for us. We have to admit our sin but not say we deserve to be above things and even show our rage. It is His mercy that we live until today.
May God’s mercy and benevolence be with us, Amen!