Righteous Anger Against The Abuse of Sacred Matters Is Never Wrong
| Righteous Anger Against The Abuse Of Sacred Matters Is Never Wrong |
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The Lord enters the synagogue at Capernaum and finds a man with a “withered” hand. Even though the Pharisees expect Jesus to work a miracle on this Sabbath day, their belief in the Lord’s power to work a miracle does nothing to convince their hardened hearts that He is the Messiah. These religious leaders of Jesus’ day are much more concerned about their traditions regarding the Sabbath than having compassion upon a cripple man. What a contrast this incident is between blind prejudice and the desire to do good! The Lord asks, “Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace” (Mark 3:4). The question is designed to contrast His act of compassion and kindness on the Sabbath with the Pharisees evil desire to kill Him on the Sabbath. This should cause us to reflect on our reason for assembling with the saints each Lord’s Day. The Scriptures next record that Jesus “looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart…” (Mark 3:5). On another occasion the Lord drives the money-changers from the temple, overthrowing their tables, and saying, “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise” (John 2:16). Christ never harbored malice in His heart, and He does not do so here. He is angry, however, at the these religious leaders' abuse of sacred matters. One might be tempted to argue that God can exhibit righteous anger but man cannot. However, Paul tells the Ephesian brethren, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Eph. 4:26). This clearly establishes the fact that man can be angry and sin not. Anger can lead to malice and a hatred that causes us to give “place to the devil” (Eph. 4:27). Such is wrong, and the Lord never allowed His anger to be channeled in the wrong direction. Alexander Maclaren in his book entitled The God Who Serves comments on anger as follows: Anger is not weakness, but it is strength, if there be
these three conditions, if it be evoked by a righteous and unselfish cause,
if it be kept under rigid control, and if there be nothing in it of malice,
even when it prompts to punishment. Anger is just and right when it is
not produced by the mere friction of personal irritation (like electricity
by rubbing), but is excited by the contemplation of evil. It a part of
the marks of a good man that he kindles into wrath when he sees “the oppressor’s
wrong.”
This writer stated in the 1999 Bellview Lectures [Worldliness]
on
…righteous anger directed against evil is not worldly or wrong. It is amazing to observe those who are quickly consumed with personal anger steadfastly refusing to become angry at the spiritual rape of the Lord’s kingdom. The church is often maligned, attacked, mocked, and criticized while those who profess to be Christians raise not an eyebrow but stand calmly by practicing patience and forebearance. Brethren should be ashamed that they lack such zeal for sacred matters! The truth is always to be proclaimed in love (Eph. 4:15), but it is not unloving to express righteous anger at worldliness invading the precious bride of Christ! Are we not to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered” (Jude 3)? The things “written aforetime were written for our learning” (Rom. 15:4). Many examples are given of people possessing a just and holy anger not concerned with their own personal rights. David was terribly angry with the rich man who took the poor man’s only ewe lamb (2 Sam. 12:1-6). The prophet Nehemiah was “very angry” when he learned of the abuses practiced by God’s people (Neh. 5:1ff). Moses was angry because his people did not trust God (Exo. 16:20), and his “anger waxed hot” at their apostasy on Mount Sinai (Exo. 32:19). A child of God and faithful soldier of the cross is not to allow prejudice, bias, and unfounded suspicions tempt him to become angry and make unrighteous judgments. This is the spirit of Jesus in saying, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matt. 7:1). However, the Savior also commanded, “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Anything that God hates His faithful followers must hate! God’s Word is clear in stating that He hates all wickedness and immorality. Loyal soldiers of the cross will always hate all that is sinful and worldly (cf. 1 John 2:15-17) as these things are opposed to that which is godly and right (cf. Heb. 1:9; Psa. 119:104). Righteous anger against worldliness and the abuse of sacred matters is never wrong! By Marvin L. Weir
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