What makes you angry? We all have our triggers, don’t we? We all have certain things, certain situations, certain affronts to our dignity or pride that stir anger within. I know I’ve got mine. And actually, I know quite a lot about anger, as Aileen could attest (and probably will if you think to ask her!). When she and I talk about God’s grace in our lives, and evidence of it, she will often point this out—that God has mellowed me, taken away that anger that often bubbled within and occasionally boiled over. When I moved out of my parents’ home on the day I got married, I left behind a hole in the wall (hidden from their view by a strategically-placed poster) that I had smashed in a fit of anger a few months before. At one of the first homes Aileen and I lived in I cracked a door frame when I tried to smash it shut, once more in a fit of stupid anger. My immature anger just sometimes boiled over and got me into trouble. I always felt like an idiot after acting out, but in the moment my anger got the better of me; I often surrendered to it. I am profoundly grateful that God, in his mercy, has blessed me and blessed my family by taking away much of the immaturity, the irrationality, the lack of self-control that caused me to lash out like an angry toddler. I still known what it is to be angry, but no longer tend toward violent reaction.
As I sat yesterday and pondered anger I eventually turned to a dictionary to seek a definition of it. According to one, anger is a strong feeling of displeasure, a kind of belligerence aroused by a wrong. And from experience I can say it is equally likely that it is anger aroused by a perceived wrong. If someone truly wrongs me, I may well express anger and do so with some justification. If someone slights me or otherwise damages my pride, it may also cause me to act angry but with no justification at all. Anger is inherently reactive, awaiting a trigger and then waiting to react in accordance with my nature.
I think we’ve all met angry people, haven’t we? People who react to tough situations with anger and people who often act out in this anger. Such people may react in surprising, unexpected and terrifying ways. They act as they do out of emotion. And anger is not one of those enjoyable emotions. It may channel a strange, sick kind of pleasure for a moment or two, but like all sin, it very quickly loses its luster. There is something scary about seeing a person act out in anger. And the bigger that person, the more powerful his position, the greater the fear. If my three year-old gets angry and lashes out, I am bothered but not much afraid. But if I were to become angry and act out in anger, she would rightly be terrified because of what I could, I might, do to her in my emotion.
It is little wonder that man fears an angry God. If we believe that God is so much greater than we are, so much stronger, so much more powerful, and if we believe that God is capable of anger and wrath, then we have little choice but to fear him as a child may fear a parent. And, indeed, man’s history with deity, whether with the true God or with any number of idols has often been a position of terror, seeking by deed or sacrifice to appease his wrath. And so often, I think, we confuse human anger with divine wrath, imposing our own sinful, irrational, emotional anger upon God’s just, perfect, holy wrath. So no wonder, then, that we seek to appease him, to assuage our guilty consciences and to hope against hope that we may have turned aside his wrath for another day.
And here it strikes me just how different the wrath of God is from my anger, from what we see in most human anger. Charles Leiter has said it well: “God’s wrath is not a temporary loss of self-control or a selfish fit of emotion. It is His holy, white-hot hatred of sin, the reaction and revulsion of His holy nature against all that is evil.” God’s wrath is revulsion. It is not mere emotion and is not at all irrational. It is so much more than emotion. You may know what it is to be revulsed. Some time ago I heard of a woman who, upon finding out that her husband had been cheating on her, immediately vomited. It was as if her whole body was so affronted, so repulsed by her husband’s sin that it acted all on its own. Revulsion may be our reaction to a lukewarm sip of water when we were expecting ice cold or piping hot. We spew it out, repulsed. And this is sin to God. God’s wrath is a holy reaction, it is a holy and white-hot hatred of all that is evil. This is a good and just and fair reaction to something that is absolutely, fundamentally opposed to God’s very nature. For sin is against all that he is and all that he wants us to be.
God’s reaction to sin is the good and the necessary, the absolute best and perfectly just reaction. He will not act rashly in anger but will act justly in wrath. He will express this wrath against all sin. He must express this wrath against sin, for sin opposes all that he is as the perfectly holy creator of all that is. And how good it is, when we ponder God’s wrath, to know that his wrath has already been satisfied for those who trust in him. For there on the cross, Jesus Christ took that wrath upon himself on behalf all those who were his own. There God required the just penalty due for that sin. And there the Father found perfect, eternal satisfaction for his wrath. And there you and I can turn our eyes and turn our hearts and trust and believe and know that Jesus Christ has paid it all and has paid it for us if only we cast ourselves upon him.
Comments (29) »
1. Renee
August 24, 2009
10:23 AM
Excellent Tim.
2. donsands
August 24, 2009
10:55 AM
Anger, wrath, justice in righteousness, and even vengeance, is a deep subject. I shall ponder what God’s anger must be like forever. I can deal with my own anger by His grace through faith, but that’s the only way i can.
I remember in my last church there was a fellow helping with the powerpoint, and he made a couple mistakes. He was losing it. he began to cuss, and throw paper, and hit the deak. I went to him, and began to speak with him, when he said, “Excuse me a minute.” He took off.
He later came back and showed me his knuckles were all red with blood. he went up in the attic and punched the brick wall.
I can lose my anger at times as well. Thanks for ahring this good teaching, and sharing of your own sin. Very edifyine all around post.
3. Samuel
August 24, 2009
11:02 AM
Very good post. I dealing with anger issues myself. I realize how much I walk in the flesh in those moments, especially toward my wife. I solicit your prayers and any advice you could offer.
4. Curtis
August 24, 2009
11:31 AM
Very well written Tim. This subject is in large part my Romans 7, but the Lord has begun His good work, and I trust He will finish it. Here is a video I found that touches on this subject, thought you’d be interested.
http://www.youtube.com/user/illbehonest#play/uploads/7/gub5uaiT3fo
5. Tony Zabala
August 24, 2009
12:26 PM
Excellent reminder to all Christians, Tim that God takes sin seriously, and so should we.
6. Mike
August 24, 2009
2:01 PM
I have a tendency to focus more on Gods grace and justification over the wrath of God. It is not to say that Gods wrath should not be taken serious by any means. But Gods wrath was spent fully on Christ towards us who believe and we have no reason to fear His wrath in our lives. Any judgement that might come on us now as His children is of a disciplining father and although it can feel like His wrath it is NOT. I watched Curtis’s Vid #4 comment that’s a little,no, much to radical to radical for me I would go more for the vid on Renee’s blog #1 Grace verses Law.
Mike
7. Michael Duenes
August 24, 2009
2:39 PM
Very well said, Tim. I also think that God’s wrath is not only revulsion at sin, but also love for its opposite, holiness. God loves His own glory and reputation so much that anything that tarnishes or diminishes it draws His white-hot anger. We struggle with God’s wrath not only because we don’t feel proper revulsion at sin, but also because we are so much unlike Moses who asked: “Now, show me your glory.”
8. Curtis
August 24, 2009
4:31 PM
Mike, I realize that the video presents hard truth, but is really that radical, at least no more radical than Jesus saying to cut off and pluck out. He takes sin that seriously, that there needs to be drastic and “radical” steps. What is repentance if not radical, to turn from everything you ever trusted, forsake all, even family if need be, to take up the torcher devise(the cross) and follow Christ on the road of suffering. That to be a follower you must die if you will live. That’s radical! Or is THAT supposed to be normal, and anything less is nominal?!
9. Curtis
August 24, 2009
4:40 PM
Also the video was geared to confront, false Christians. Those who attatch to the name of Christ, but will be of the many who say Lord, Lord, and He casts into Hell. Hopefully it will make the soft hearted take Christ and the coming judgement a little more seriously. The soft, watered down gospel has done so much harm to lost souls, tickling there ears all the way to Hell.
The wonderful contrast is that, for as angry and wrathful God is towards our sin, He is just as merciful and loving. I thank God for not only grace but that He cares enough to be wrathful, and distain sin. The cross is the center in which the attributes are most clearly seen all in one magnificent diplay, of anger, love, hatred, mercy, wrath, kindness…
10. Renee
August 24, 2009
5:39 PM
I think at the crux of this grace vs. wrath issue is the human heart. God knows the human heart. While we may struggle and stumble all the day long, our intents are what God considers.
The Bible tells us to work out our “…own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil 2:12-13) It is clear that while we are saved by God’s amazing grace, we are not to take it for granted. Christians and Pseudo-Christians alike, we are all subject to sin and to deception - I think Tim’s post and what it teaches is an important reminder.
“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” Screwtape to Wormwood
11. KMS
August 24, 2009
5:44 PM
Ill be honest and say that this snippet of Al Martin’s sermon as portrayed with all the melodramatic imagery on you tube does nothing for me to draw me closer to understand the wrath of God. I’m sorry shouting preaching like this with a booming voice turns me right off… even if it is a big name in the reformed world. (I’ll listen to the full sermon on sermon audio. Maybe the youtube snippet is taken out of context….)
Tim’s illustrations of anger I can relate to. But I can’t relate to the youtube sermon. Tim’s last paragraphs expresses sound gospel thinking.
12. Renee
August 24, 2009
6:01 PM
Could be that the preachers who shout their preaching have little faith in the power behind the Word of God. His Word has His force, why add human decibel?
13. Mike
August 24, 2009
6:15 PM
Curtis, yes the gospel is radical and I understand shaking up Christians but I think to assume that most of the evangelical church is to flippant about sin is not true. People are tortured over their sin and failures as I am. We should always struggle against our sin nature but we also need to focus on the Gospel and understand that our standing with God is in another’s righteousness. I do not know one person who claims to be a Christian who does not hate the sin in their lives and it does not take much persuasion to convince them that they are not saved. Paul went through excruciating emotional pain to assure christians of their salvation in fact he hated the legalists who destroyed peoples assurance of salvation through faith alone. There are plenty of Christians that are convinced that Im not saved and they are misserable individuals, i have to stop Im getting that anger thing that tim was talking about.
Mike
14. Curtis
August 24, 2009
7:53 PM
KMS
The you probably wouldnt’ have liked Spurgeon or Martin Lloyd Jones.
Renee
Or it could be they have passion, something missing in much of the rpeaching over the last 30-40years. I don’t think Albert Martin has little faith in the power of Gods word, that was just an irrational comment.
Mike said..
“I think to assume that most of the evangelical church is to flippant about sin is not true.”
Actually, I would be surprised if even half of the evangelical church is even saved, let alone whether or not they really care about sin, other than diving into and loving it. If people are living in sin there is good reason to lose their assurance. If people are continually going back into the same old sin, they not only have reason to question, but sould examine themselves to see if they are even saved. That is the point of that video, to confront professing Christians and cause them to examine what they are trusting in, Christ or anything else. Most of the evangelical church seems to think that asking Jesus into there heart is how they get saved, that alone should cause us to question the validity of their faith, and then share the gospel with them. A firm understanding of Gods wrath and our sin always preceeds saving faith and the riches of Gods grace.
15. KMS
August 24, 2009
8:38 PM
Sorry Curtis - I generally do love the preaching content of these men - but that doesn’t make them infallible or their ‘methods’ always justifiable. Many people have come to Christ - or rather Christ has drawn his children to himself by weak vessels and preachers over the years. All I’m saying is that the snippet shown did nothing for me (especially with the visual makeover). I’ve sat through too many sermons where shouting was used to create an emotional response, even fear and tears. I’m not talking about charismatic pentecostal emotionalism - rather hard nosed reformed teachers (some with the baggage of their own concealed sin and legalism). Again - sometimes we just go on style. God moves despite the style we might bring to our preaching. Methinks you are being a bit sensitive to criticism of your favoured preachers.
I’m way off topic - please delete as needed…
16. Mike
August 24, 2009
8:59 PM
Curtis, be hard on yourself and not on others, things are way to complicated to make blanket judgements on the church and others who sincerely consider themselves Christians. I know I hear it every Sunday in church my “reformed” church where all the dead guys and living reformed guys are quoted every Sunday. Reformed teaching has established my faith but like most doctrinal issues they are taken to an extreme and to the point sometimes of error. I do not believe you need a firm understanding of Gods wrath and sin before you experience saving faith. I believe a person can receive salvation and then the Holy Spirit will show him his sin. Visit my blog and see where I’m coming from. JI Packer who I have read quite a bit is the most reasonable in my opinion has probably had the greatest impact on my faith and that didn’t happen for many years after I had been saved. http://staff2rock.blogspot.com/
17. KMS
August 24, 2009
10:19 PM
Dear Curtis - you made a statement here - “A firm understanding of Gods wrath and our sin always preceeds saving faith and the riches of Gods grace.”
I’m not convinced that I understood as a 9year old when I first trusted in Jesus anywhere the measure of God’s wrath against my sin. An understanding of God’s wrath wasn’t on my 9yo radar….. but faith came ….. as gift. Yes - I understood that I was a sinner. Yes I understood that there was hell. Yes I understood that Jesus came to save me from my sin. I repented I believed. I was drawn by His love. John 3:16 was my favourite verse as a 9yo. It wasn’t until I was older and spent the last 40 odd years under reformed teaching that the depth and breadth of God’s love has been unpacked. Reformed teaching taught me of what God says about how he propitiated His own anger and that wrath was poured out on the death of His son…. pure love that propitiated holy wrath. It didn’t have to be shouted at me - explained with grace - just as Paul unpacks the gospel in Romans.
I’ve been blessed to see many coming to Christ from Hinduism and animism whilst working in SE Asia. I’m not sure any of these had a “firm understanding of God’s wrath.” One of the dearest brothers in Christ I have met - came to Christ because his Hindu god’s couldn’t save the sight of his son. This man prayed to the Christian’s God - his son was healed and now this man and all his family are His children. Yes - they know they are saved by grace through faith. Yes they know that there sins are forgiven - but their conversion was as a result of God demonstrating His power. (Now I know this is extraordinary for us in the ‘west’ - but it does happen).
18. Renee
August 24, 2009
10:53 PM
Curtis,
Except for when He drove out thieves from the temple, I don’t remember reading many instances when Jesus shouted His truth out of “passion”. His passion was evident by actions of mercy and sacrifice. Perhaps even more irrational than my comment is the perverse belief that passionate preachers ought to shout about God’s wrath to their congregations.
Having said that, I do believe that people need to hear the truth point blank. Too many pastors in too many churches have forsaken the truth for popularity and for an increase in attendance. Especially where I live, going to church is a sort of status, a sort of country club, something grandparents and parents have done therefore children do. It’s not a matter of submitting to God’s truth.
I agree with KMS - this shouting is to create an emotional response. Why not let God’s Spirit do His work?
19. Glenn
August 25, 2009
5:29 AM
Tim, thanks for candidly sharing about your anger, and linking that authentically to the theological insights about God’s wrath. In human experience, anger is a natural emotion that floods into the gap perceived between what is and what should be.
20. Curtis
August 25, 2009
7:18 AM
I considered a lenthy response to those who seem to have gone way off base, however I will instead not.
But as far as the evangelical church, you will know them by there fruits.
Professing bornagain believers-Evangelical Christians
only 40% believe in Satan as a real person/force
30% of woman have had or approve of abortion as a form of contraception
30% believe you can be “good” and go to Heaven
20% don’t believe the bible is accurate
Near 50% divorce rate
55% don’t believe in a literal Hell
30% don’t believe homosexuality is a sin, but a preference
and a whopping 25% don’t beleive Christ is the only way to Heaven
So tell me, what do the fruit tell you? The first thing you should question is, are a large portion of those surveyed even born again?
I’m angry, yes, and frustrated that so many default to, “do not judge” or something of the same mix, the moment anyone confronts or questions the validity of someones faith. You will know them by their fruits. People find it, for some reason, unloving to reprove people in open sin, when rather than saying what “style” of preaching you prefer, you should be exercising church discipline, if we can even do that anymore without the threat of being unloving and judgemental.
By the way, I go to a Reformed church and have yet to hear my Pastor shout, or even raise his voice, and I think he’s excellent preacher. There are definately times that it is called for, as you showed by the example of Jesus, though the text doesn’t say that He shouted, though Im fairly sure He did on more than one occation. I wonder how many would say the same of Spurgeon today, and Im sure Whitfield shouted, and Jesus must have to speak to 5-7thousand. Ask yourself if its the shouting thats turning you off, or the message. Self examination can be hard to take. I realize that I am off balance thoughout, but please if what I say is true, just move on.
If you don’t like how I present an arguement now, you’d have hated me before I was saved. I know this is coming accross hard, but really I’m a nice guy, really…I just get a little over zealous. And yes I’ll be in the repentance corner today, sorry if I offended anyone, it was not the intent. I just wanted to point out that there ARE false converts, and we should help them examine themselves, and call them to repentance, which under any circumstance is difficult, THAT is what the video was about. That’s it.
21. julius mickel
August 25, 2009
8:48 AM
Kms and Renee
You should read up on Jonathan Edwards defense of hell-fire preachers.
Regardless of your particular taste for certain types or volumes of preaching, the fact IS that God uses our temperments in our service to Him. (Of course there are many examples of extremes, which are nothing but a form of manipulation.) Just like Worship (songs/music) where some give more credit to standing, shouting, jumping etc… when in all reality the only factor truly important is the heart.
I Don’t believe in doing things for ‘effect’ (or copycatting) but it makes perfect sense for a man who truly believes in the urgency of the gospel call to appear fanatical. How would you reason with a teenager who was cutting herself in front of you, or swallowing pill after pill would you politely and calmly speak if they kept on ??? I don’t think so!! Try ministering in a setting where there are times people are missing, not because they moved but because they’ve been killed and I guarantee you’ll have little emotion mixed with your reasoning (been there, done that).
Wouldn’t it be more charitable (and a shocking humble repsonse-not common on blogs) to say ‘personally this is not my taste, though there may be nothing wrong with it’
SIN? True repentance comes from a true understanding that we have sinned against God and that Christ was punished for us, without that what would a person being turning from? and what would they be trusting in? A biblically thorough understanding of sin makes grace all the more glorious!!
22. robut
August 25, 2009
8:54 AM
“Could be that the preachers who shout their preaching have little faith in the power behind the Word of God. His Word has His force, why add human decibel?”
Thank you Renee, for so succinctly expressing how that video made me feel.
23. KMS
August 25, 2009
9:05 AM
I don’t see the preaching in the Acts of the Holy Spirit resorting to this kind of diatribe.
Perhaps there’s a better way - like taking the time to fully expound the glories of the gospel and maybe then people’s lights will come on.
Now we are all off topic and probably become very angry with one another. No - not really. You’re standing on one side of the ditch called the pacific ocean and I another. maybe we have cultural differences. Get stuck into those lilly livid evangelifish that are polluting the waters of Christendom.
Farewell in peace
24. Mike
August 25, 2009
9:39 AM
#21 Julius “How would you reason with a teenager who was cutting herself in front of you, or swallowing pill after pill would you politely and calmly speak if they kept on ??? “
I have to agree with your sense of urgency with this example. I am dealing with teen children and it is often a despairing and disturbing experience although I have spoken and preached and shouted at them because I am troubled for their souls, when you come to the end of all that you need to cry out to God with that urgency and my experience, though not really proof of anything, is that God hears and I see the effects.
#20 Curtis if your still on this post, I would say anyone who rejects Christ his divinity his death on the cross for their sin his resurrection (physical) his position as highest and supreme power of the universe and has not had their eyes open to that truth by the Holy Spirit is not saved. Theological details apart from this primary truth we may disagree it is my expereience that most evangelicals know this pretty clearly. Where you get your statistics I don’t know I am not to smart but I agree with all your points listed, but I do know “christian” people who strugglle to some degree in some of those points listed. I do not.
Mike
25. Renee
August 25, 2009
12:12 PM
Curtis,
You said:
“People find it, for some reason, unloving to reprove people in open sin, when rather than saying what “style” of preaching you prefer, you should be exercising church discipline, if we can even do that anymore without the threat of being unloving and judgemental.”
I 100% agree with you there! There’s something hugely selfish behind the premise that we as the Church ought to be loving enough not to reproach people who are following a distorted theology of God and Jesus Christ. If you love someone, you correct privately, lovingly, and publicly if you must (especially as pastors and teachers).
You said:
“I just wanted to point out that there ARE false converts, and we should help them examine themselves, and call them to repentance, which under any circumstance is difficult”
Absolutely. Take for instance the book The Shack. It’s number two on the New York Times bestseller fiction list. I’ve heard seminary professors who sing the book’s praise. I’ve heard friends, family members tell me that the book inspired them. These are all people who go to Christian churches. God is merciful and His hand is not too short that He cannot reach and save us out of deception…but I think The Shack’s popularity is an indication that many think they know Jesus Christ - but they believe in a God who is not found in scriptures.
Thanks for sharing your very valid points.
26. Libby
August 25, 2009
12:14 PM
Thank you, Tim, for being so candid about your anger. I, too, struggle with anger and sinful outbursts of wrath. I grew up in an angry home and witnessed so much strife. I am a single mom with a precious 4 year old and have railed against her in fits of anger. All because of pride in my heart and perceived wrongs. Sin, sin, sin. It’s hard for me to even type this because the thought of how I’ve yelled at her her makes me sick to my stomach and I’m crying even now. I am begging God to deliver me from this anger and for my little girl not to learn that rage is the way to deal with things. I’m asking for prayers for this. Please pray for me. Anyone.
27. Renee
August 25, 2009
12:18 PM
Absolutely Libby. Will do.
28. Dani
August 25, 2009
5:13 PM
Thank you for writing this post, it really made me think about the wrath of God and how right and just He is in His anger.
29. Curtis
August 25, 2009
8:20 PM
Thanks everyone for the back and forth, it made me see that I, at times, push a point too far, though some points should never be let up.
KMS, go to sermon audio, find Albert Martin, Warning to Christians, and you can hear the entire hour message that this video was made from.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=101803153426
You will find that he did expound his points, and he doesnt yell the whole way through. It shoulds like, from some of his comments in the sermon, that there was some apostasy in his church that he was addressing, we really don’t know the context to which he was preaching this sermon. I’ve listened to several sermon of his and this is the loudest, he seems like a gentle man, with a heart for his people, and Christ’s church, and holiness. Just some thoughts, you may not have thought.