APPROPRIATE ANGER
by Henlee Barnette
Emeritus Professor The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Recently a seminary Board of trustees dismissed the president for "misappropriation of anger." It is reported that "expressions of anger had "irreparably damaged his ability" to lead the seminary.  Such behavior, of course, is reprehensible especially from the CEO of a Christian institution where he is to be a role model.

 Jesus expressed anger. But it was appropriate and responsible anger. Paul declares that we may be angry, but sin not (Ephesians 4:26). He is saying even though you may be angry do not commit a sin. An instinctive impulse of anger is human but not necessarily sinful, if aimed against evil depersonalizing forces. This would be creative anger, sinless anger. Following are three examples of creative anger of Jesus.

Legalism and Tradition

Jesus became angry when tradition stood in the way of healing human beings.  He healed a man on the Sabbath and was denounced by the Pharisees. The Sabbath law was one of the great contributions of the Hebrews. It gave humanity a day of rest  and protection against exploitation of workers.

But the legalists in Jesus day had made it a yoke of oppression so that He could not heal on the Sabbath. Jesus became angry and laid down  two basic principles: (1) the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath (2) works of mercy and necessity are lawful on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6).

Millions of Americans, babies, children ,young people, adults and elderly, have no access to health care in this fabulously rich nation. Members of Congress have the best medical care in the world paid for by your tax money. Now, don't you want the same kind of health care?

Now, do you not have just a bit of righteous indignation when the poor, the sick and dying have no access to health care when  it is blocked by tradition of free enterprise, insensitivity, greed and sheer selfishness? If so, turn your anger into action for social justice.

Powerless and Privileged

Jesus became angry when the powerless,  especially the little children, were barred from coming to Jesus for a blessing (Mark 10:14) Children have always been politically powerless; hence politicians have paid scant attention to them and their problems.

But Jesus paid more attention to little children than any other major religious leader. He made them and their qualities of character models of the Kingdom of God. He saw something divine in them. He was the first to bring to light the value of every person, the preciousness of human personality.

To cause any one to stumble, especially little children, is a horrible sin. Does it make you angry to see the liquor, gambling, prostitution and pornography forces exploit the weak and powerless? You can measure the character of a person or institution by the way they treat defenseless persons. Channel your anger toward action against dehumanization in all forms.

Mammon and Greed

Jesus became angry when he discovered people in the house of God using religion for economic gain ( Mark 1:1-15). Jesus drove them out declaring that his house was a house of prayer and they had made it a  den of thieves.

Some ministers become so obsessed with money, power and wealth that they, like the priests in the temple, team up with worldly forces for economic gain. On TV and radio and in the houses of God they preach the theology of success. Allegedly, seed money sent to them will make the giver wealthy.

"Just keep them letters with checks coming in and God will make you rich," so they claim. As for themselves they shear rather than serve the flock and live in million dollar homes and off the fat of the land by use of religion as tool to gain wealth. They widen the eye of the needle enough to drive their Porches and Jaguars through. Jesus warns all of us against the use of religion for any kind of gain such as  joining a church and going into ministry for prestige, power and prosperity.

Remember that anger is natural human impulse. It is a part of being human. Unless turned toward creative action, like acid, it can destroy persons who become angry. So be angry but sin not. Turn your anger toward personal and social righteousness

October 1999