THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, 2010
“ANGER”
BY
STEVE ARTERBURN
Better a patient man than a warrior. A man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32
Let's look at a few popular, but sad, bumper stickers:
My kid beat up your honor student.
Welcome to America, now learn English!
Keep honking, I'm reloading.
All men are idiots, and I married their King.
What do these bumper stickers have in common? The messages are dressed in humor but they're actually about anger. While some people struggle with anger, these people are flaunting it, celebrating it, and inviting you to join in.
This type of anger--aimed at hurting or ridiculing--is obviously wrong. Yet not all anger is wrong. Anger can also be an appropriate and good response.
If You're Not Outraged, You're Not Paying Attention is another bumper sticker I've seen. Injustice, cruelty, and greed should evoke anger because they contradict what the Bible teaches. William Wilberforce, sickened with anger over the slave trade in England, devoted himself to ending slavery there. If you don't ever feel anger, you need to worry about your heart.
"Anger is never without a Reason, but seldom with a good One."
- Ben Franklin (1706-1790)
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