He’s An ‘Angry’ Christian

I have met and seen many Christians that are just angry.  They are:

• Angry at the government
• Angry at sinners
• Angry at the church
• Angry at their brother or sister in the Lord
• Angry at their neighbor
• Angry at their boss
• Angry at their spouse
• Angry at their children
• Angry at the driver ahead of them, behind them, or beside them.
• Angry at ________________ (you fill in the blank)

And these people are Christians. At least that is their profession. They worship God and yet have an acrid attitude toward anyone who disagrees with them. And as a result “out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.  Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?” (James 3:10-11).  I think James’ inferred answer to his question is no, a spring does not send forth two opposite types of water and neither should a Christian bless God and curse their brother or an institution that God has established.

So how does one explain such anger being spewed from the mouths of Christians? The same mouths that bless and worship God will curse and degrade one of God’s children or one of God’s institutions.

The Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit of God.  This Spirit produces fruit in the life of the Believer.  The fruit is as follows:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Longsuffering
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-Control

As I examine that list, (Galatians 5:22-23) I see nothing of anger, hatred, and cursing. What I see is the fruit and life of the Holy Spirit in the Christian. When we are “walking in the Spirit” the above list is the fruit that is produced in our lives. On the other hand, there is another list that Paul calls the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21)  This list includes:

• Adultery
• Fornication
• Uncleanness
• Lewdness
• Idolatry
• Sorcery
• Hatred
• Contentions
• Jealousies
• Outbursts of Wrath (Anger)
• Selfish Ambitions
• Dissensions
• Heresies
• Envy
• Murders
• Drunkenness
• Revelries
• And the like

When we are walking in the flesh, and not the Spirit, this list becomes the work of our flesh. I don’t know about you, but when someone refers to me, I hope they see the “fruit of the Spirit” and not the “works of the flesh.”  Which is showing in your life?  The fruit of God’s Holy Spirit or the works of the ugliness of your flesh?

— Keith