Forgiveness and Anger Management in Christian Living
Christian living emphasizes both forgiveness and the management of anger, viewing them as essential components of a life transformed by faith. Forgiveness is presented as a characteristic of saints [3], with Christ himself serving as the ultimate example, forgiving those who crucified him [5, Luke 23:34]. Believers are commanded to forgive others, mirroring God's mercy and Christ's forgiveness of them [5, 11, Col 3:13]. This forgiveness is to be unlimited, as taught in Matthew 18:22 and Luke 17:4 [3].
The motivation for forgiveness stems from God's mercy, one's own need for forgiveness, and God's prior forgiveness of the believer [5, Eph 4:32]. It should be accompanied by forbearance, kindness, blessing, and prayer [5, Col 3:13, Rom 12:20, Matt 5:44]. Forbearance involves avoiding irritation and provocation, while forgiveness means being ready to pardon an offense upon acknowledgment of the fault [6]. John Gill notes that "forbearing one another" includes refraining from seeking revenge for affronts [5]. The absence of forgiveness from the heart can hinder one's own reception of forgiveness from God [5, Matt 6:15].
Anger, while a natural human emotion, is not inherently sinful [2]. However, it can become sinful if it is causeless, excessive, or prolonged [4, Matt 5:22, Eph 4:26, Col 3:8]. The Bible warns against anger that leads to sin, as seen in Psalm 37:8, which advises, "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing" [1, 4]. The Apostle Paul similarly instructs believers to "be ye angry, and sin not" [14, Eph 4:26]. This suggests that righteous indignation, such as anger at dishonor done to God or wrong done to man, can be justifiable, provided it remains within proper bounds and does not become sinful passion [7].
Uncontrolled anger is identified as a "work of the flesh" [6, Gal 5:20] and a characteristic of fools [6, Prov 12:16]. It is often connected with pride, cruelty, clamor, malice, and strife [6, Prov 21:24, Eph 4:31, Col 3:8]. The Scriptures forbid revenge, urging believers to overcome evil with kindness and to "give place to wrath" by allowing God to handle vengeance [3, Rom 12:19]. Instead of seeking revenge, Christians are called to exhibit love, exercise forbearance, and bless those who wrong them [3, Rom 12:14].
Sources
- Psalms “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing. -- Psalms 37:8”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Anger — The emotion of instant displeasure on account of something evil that presents itself to our view. In itself it is an original susceptibility of our nature, just as love is, and is not necessarily sinful. It may, however, become sinful when causeless, or excessive, or protracted (Matt. 5:22; Eph. 4:26; Col. 3:8). As ascribed to God, it merely denotes his displeasure with sin and with sinners (Ps. 7:11).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forgiveness of Injuries — Christ set an example of -- Lu 23:34. Commanded -- Mr 11:25; Ro 12:19. To be unlimited -- Mt 18:22; Lu 17:4. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 7:4. Motives to The mercy of God. -- Lu 6:36. Our need of forgiveness. -- Mr 11:25. God's forgiveness of us. -- Eph 4:32. Christ's forgiveness of us. -- Col 3:13. A glory to saints -- Pr 19:11. Should be accompanied by Forbearance. -- Col 3:13. Kindness. -- Ge 45:5-11; Ro 12:20. Blessing and prayer. -- Mt 5:44. Promises to -- Mt 6:14; Lu 6:37. No forgiveness without -- Mt 6:15; Jas 2:13. Illustrated --”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger — Forbidden -- Ec 7:9; Mt 5:22; Ro 12:19. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. A characteristic of fools -- Pr 12:16; 14:29; 27:3; Ec 7:9. Connected with Pride. -- Pr 21:24. Cruelty. -- Ge 49:7; Pr 27:3,4. Clamour and evil-speaking. -- Eph 4:31. Malice and blasphemy. -- Col 3:8. Strife and contention. -- Pr 21:19; 29:22; 30:33. Brings its own punishment -- Job 5:2; Pr 19:19; 25:28. Grievous words stir up -- Jdj 12:4; 2Sa 19:43; Pr 15:1. Should not betray us into sin -- Ps 37:8; Eph 4:26. In prayer be free from -- 1Ti 2:8. May be averted by wisdom -- Pr 29:8. Meeknes”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 3:13: Forbearing one another,.... Not only bearing one another's burdens, and with one another's weaknesses, but forbearing to render evil for evil, or railing for railing, or to seek revenge for affronts given, in whatsoever way, whether by words or deeds: and forgiving one another; all trespasses and offences, so far as committed against themselves, and praying to God to forgive them, as committed against him: if any man have a quarrel against any; let him be who he will, high or low, rich or poor, of whatsoever age, state, or condition, and let his quarrel or com”
- Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 3:13: Forbearing one another - Avoid all occasions of irritating or provoking each other. Forgiving one another - If ye receive offense, be instantly ready to forgive on the first acknowledgment of the fault. Even as Christ forgave you - Who required no satisfaction, and sought for nothing in you but the broken, contrite heart, and freely forgave you as soon as you returned to Him. No man should for a moment harbour ill will in his heart to any; but the offended party is not called actually to forgive, till the offender, with sorrow, acknowledges his fault. He should ”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:26: Be ye angry, and sin not--So the Septuagint, Psa 4:4. Should circumstances arise to call for anger on your part, let it be as Christ's "anger" (Mar 3:5), without sin. Our natural feelings are not wrong when directed to their legitimate object, and when not exceeding due bounds. As in the future literal, so in the present spiritual, resurrection, no essential constituent is annihilated, but all that is a perversion of the original design is removed. Thus indignation at dishonor done to God, and wrong to man, is justifiable anger. Passion is sinful (d”