Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 22
June 25, 1970
NUMBER 8, PAGE 9b

Sometimes Hard, But Not Impossible

Carol Bates

There are many things that are hard, but not impossible. To run a mile is hard. To bake an angel food cake that doesn't fall is hard for some. To memorize a long poem is hard. But these things are not impossible. One of the things that is not only hard, but almost impossible for some Christians is being angry without sin. When one lets his emotions take over in anger, he loses control of himself and speaks words better left unsaid. Some of the most disgraceful displays of anger I have ever observed have taken place in business meetings. If there is any place where anger ought to be controlled, it is certainly in meetings held to discuss the work of the Lord.

In Eph. 4:26, 27 Paul says, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." Paul is not admonishing us to be angry; but when we become angry we are not to become sinfully angry. Christ displayed "righteous indignation" on occasion and Paul manifested his anger at Elymas the sorcerer.

Much of the anger in business meetings and other places, does not come from righteousness, but rather from childish motives. Sometimes we simply do not like the person we are angry with, sometimes we are angry because we are not getting our way about things. Such anger comes not from a heart filled with love for one another (John 13:34, 35) but from a heart that the devil has filled with malice.

How many congregations would not have been rent asunder if things had not been said in times of anger? How many times would we not have had to ask our brother's forgiveness, if we had controlled our emotions and our tongues?

"Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." (James 1:19, 20) You will notice that James says we are to be swift to hear, not swift to speak, nor swift to anger. We ought to learn to control our emotions so that we do not disgrace God and ourselves. If we have not yet learned to control our emotions perhaps we should just leave the room when we feel our anger coming on. Go into another room and fall down upon our knees and pray God to strengthen us in our fight against anger. If we cannot associate with a person without showing our hostility toward them, then maybe we ought to stay away from that one until we can have a Christ-like spirit. What is a Christ-like spirit? In Romans 12:10 we read: "In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another."

Now here is something that really is impossible: to have a Christ-like spirit and be filled with anger and malice toward our brethren.

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