Healthy Anger
During the Indian Mutiny of 1857, the British troops detailed to relieve the besieged Residency at Lucknow had to fight their way through a well-equipped, disciplined enemy many times their number but did so partly because they were enraged at the merciless foe who had savagely butchered their children and women (Perrett, Impossible Victories, p. 8).
Outbursts of anger is listed as a work of the flesh, as a sin, in Galatians 5:20. If we would be realistic and gracious toward both others and ourselves, we must admit that we will never be completely free from acting in fleshly ways in this life. Our sinful nature strives against God’s Spirit (Gal 5:16). Since none of us are perfectly under the control of God’s Spirit, works of the flesh, while they are to be resisted and minimized, are inevitable (Prov 20:9).
Aristotle said that “anyone can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not easy.” Proper anger should be directed at sin. When faced with a fight or flight response, anger can raise us to new levels of courage and strength to accomplish the seemingly impossible. The British at Lucknow experienced this. Yet, their rage was against the outrageous mercilessness that would slaughter innocent women and children – their women and children. Sometimes, anger is a sign of health. May the Lord help us to be appropriately angry over sin that hurts others (Jn 2:13-17).
When God wants a couple or family to alter course, the revelation is normally clear.