Hello Anger, My Old Enemy

 I talked about this briefly in a previous post, what is it I said?

" It is better to love and serve others, then to be angry about the loss of freedom. It is better to connect and love one another, then to be angry about the loss of seeing each other physically. It is better to share God's word and open hearts, then be angry at the messed up politics of this world. 

Listen, I know it is hard. Trust me, I really do, but anger, even though presumed to be righteous, is not the answer to our solutions, but rather it is our problem right now. "

Anger tends to be an emotion that eats at your very soul, chipping away at all the goodness, kindness, and compassion in you. When we don't let go of our anger, it grows into a rage, that can lead to violence, revenge, and ultimately regret. Someone would say, "But isn't anger right when it is directed at something that is unjust? Even Jesus was angry." 

Yes, anger should be felt towards things that are unjust, or not right. Jesus was angry because people were selling in the temple of God, in his anger he flipped tables and freed birds. Does this give us a right, though to riot? I don't think so. Jesus never hurt people, he never encouraged violence. Anger dealt with the wrong way, is not righteous.

Is there a way to stand up for others without being violent? Heck yeah there is. In fact, all violence and rioting have done for this world is cause even more strife, divide, and anger. How can one agree to the unjust treatment of minority groups while they are burning places of business, and beating up the forms of protection we have placed for us? How can we hear the voices when they are screaming for blood?

Let today be the day we show people that anger for injustice doesn't have to be soaked in violence, but rather it should be about restoring peace. Fighting for just treatment doesn't have to be drowned in blood, but rather it should be drowned in making amends. To fight a bully, you don't bully back, you show them what kindness is like. Let God do the rest.

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