The Battle to Overcome Anger

“I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to the judgment.
Again, who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin.  And
 anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fires of hell.”  Matt. 5:21-22

One of the most universal struggles of Christian men is with our tempers.  We know that our anger causes us to wound our wives and drive our kids away from us—but we feel powerless to overcome this foe.  Feel free to download and use our free Bible Study on anger (click here).

Understanding Anger and Its Source

Fundamentally, anger is a response to pain.  It is a secondary emotion, always a  reaction to some form of pain.  In fact, you could say that anger is deflected pain.  Pain comes in and our self-protective instincts put up a shield of armor and that pain is reflected back out as anger.

This response to pain that we call anger is usually an emotion of hostility towards others.  It is true that Jesus got angry, God gets angry, and at times Christians ought to get a lot more angry.  But most of the time our anger is selfish anger that directs feelings of hostility, even if only momentarily, towards others. 

Many sources of pain can generate anger.  When her husband is late for dinner for the 4th time that week, the dinner gets cold and the wife gets hot.  What is the cause of her anger?  It is the pain of disappointment, combined with the pain of feeling like she isn’t as important to her husband as work. (click the graphic to read more)

The Destructive Paths Anger Can Take

“In your anger do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and
do not give the devil a foothold. 
Eph. 4:26-27

1.  Venting it.  Most of the time anger is expressed through hostility towards another.  Cain became angry and murdered Abel.  In Matt. 5:21-22, the angry person sends a barrage of verbal bullets that tear into the tender self-esteem of another person.  Angry words have deeply wounded the spirit’s of many wives and children.

2.  Ignoring it.  This can be a deadly response because the anger is suppressed, but will still float around in our souls until it is dealt with.  It can lead to bitterness, revenge, future explosions of pent up anger, the hardening of the heart towards a mate. 

Bible Study on Men's Anger

Paul saw the destructive potential of ignoring anger, when he commanded us not go to bed angry lest we expose ourselves to further temptations, which simmering anger will expose us to.