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40 Things NOT to Give up for Lent: 36.Anger

40 Things NOT to Give up for Lent: 36.Anger

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (Romans 12:9, ESV)

Anger might be a strange thing to NOT give up for Lent. Anger seems like it should be something that we would want to let go. But let me make a case for anger.

This week is Holy Week. When Jesus came into the Temple on Palm Sunday, John says that he braided a whip (see John 2:15). I could almost imagine the rage that Jesus had has he prepared to cleanse the temple. His actions were calculated and came out of righteous anger.

Another incident is when the little children come to Jesus. The disciples rebuked the people bringing the children. Mark tells us that Jesus became indignant towards his disciples (see Mark 10:14). We imagine the picture of this situation with the happy Jesus and the kids sitting on his lap. We don’t often think about his reaction to the disciples.

A third instance is when Jesus tells Peter, “Get behind me Satan” (see Matthew 16:23). This is not the nice and safe Sunday School Jesus. I imagine this as the sternest of rebukes that came from Jesus.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see the anger of God stirred. We know that God is holy and righteous. He is without sin. But the Bible speaks about God being angry.

Anger in itself is not sinful. It is what we do with the anger and where we direct our anger that makes it sinful.

Anger can be a good thing. Romans 12:9 tells us to abhor what is evil. It should anger us that people go hungry. The violence that we see in the streets of our cities and many places in this world ought to bring about anger. It should upset us that bullying is a problem in our schools. There is much that is not right in our world. And we should not be okay with that.

Be angry and fight! But fight for what is right. Fight for peace. Fight for justice. Fight for those who are marginalized. Fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Stand up for those who have no voice. Help those who cannot help themselves.

A final word about anger. Consider the words of Paul in Ephesians:

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26–27, ESV)

Notice he says to be angry. But he is also quick to point out that we should not allow our anger to control us. Rather we are to control our anger. Anger is trumped by love. Often love is expressed through anger. But love should always guide our anger. Not the other way around. Consider that we are called to love even those with whom we may be angry.

Reflection
  1. Do you think that anger is a sin?
  2. What is an example of righteous anger?
  3. Where is God calling you, out of love, to have less tolerance for someone’s actions?

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Giving up Bitterness

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Week 3: Friday

Scripture Verses

  • Matthew 6:12–15
  • Hebrews 12:12–17
  • Luke 15:25–32

Questions to Consider

  • What are some reasons people become bitter?
  • What are some of the effects of bitterness on people?
  • How do you respond when you feel bitterness growing inside you?
  • How does Jesus heal us of bitterness?

Plan of Action

  • Take a cotton ball and put some vinegar on it. Touch it to your tongue. Consider what the taste of the vinegar tells you about bitterness.
  • After tasting of the vinegar, eat some fruit. Consider what the differences are between the vinegar and the fruit. How do the differences relate to bitterness and love?
  • Choose love! Release the bitterness you have felt towards a person and ask Jesus for healing.

Reflection

Smoking, drinking, and unhealthy eating are the causes of many illnesses and diseases. But I am more and more convinced that many of our physical maladies are the result of our spiritual condition. Many people carry around bitterness. They are resentful and angry. As the bitterness takes root, it grows within them. Over the days, weeks, and years the bitterness becomes manifested through physical illness and other ailments.

You might be bitter towards a parent or a former spouse. You might be bitter towards a coworker or a supervisor. You might be bitter towards a fellow church member or pastor. But you cannot hold on to the bitterness. The only person your bitterness is hurting is yourself. Bitterness will make you sick. Hebrews 12:17 says:

“the ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble.” Hebrews 12:15 ESV

You need to know that bitterness is a tool of the devil. Bitterness destroys relationships. Bitterness locks us in isolation. Bitterness prevents us from experiencing God’s healing. We need to strive to release ourselves from the bitterness. Nothing good ever comes from holding on to it. Nothing!

Bitterness is the way of the world. We see bitterness between rival political parties. We see bitterness where there are divisions in the church. We see bitterness between nations. We see bitterness in families. Bitterness seems to be a popular choice we make.

It’s not easy to let go – you can’t do it on your own. You can only do it through the strength that God gives you through Jesus Christ. I was once told that the person who says forgiveness is easy has never forgiven anyone.

It would have been easy for Jesus to have been bitter. He could have been bitter towards Judas for betraying him. He could have been bitter towards the other disciples for deserting him. He could have been bitter towards the religious leaders for accusing him. He could have been bitter towards the Romans for failing to protect him. He could have been bitter towards us for trivializing his sacrifice. He could have been bitter towards all these people, but instead he chose to die for them.

I find it interesting that he was given the bitter wine vinegar upon the cross to drink (Matthew 27:48). He physically tasted of the bitterness, but bitter was the opposite of what he chose to be. He chose love. Through his blood he made provision for the forgiveness of all the ways we ever offended him.

Today you may want to be bitter and angry. But let Christ do a new thing in you. Taste of the sweetness of the Gospel!

Next: Distraction

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