When to Get Angry and Fight

Galatians 5:13–17 KJV 1900

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

How We fight:

From God - Spiritual

From the love of the cross, against the sin of the world, for the restoring of the damaged relationships.

Satan takes it to a personal level - Natural Fleshly

From our own point of view, against the offending party, for our own self gratification.

Meekness and love are the fruits of the spirit that should be cultivated during a conflict, but meekness and love do not equate to weakness and apathy. It is wrong to classify all anger as an emotion that should be pruned. In , we see that Jesus was angry and grieved at the same time because of the hard heartedness of the religious hypocrites. According to , It is possible to be angry and not sin. However, quick and vengeful anger that exposes itself in violent (both verbal and physical) outbursts is considered wrath. Wrath in humans is a work of the flesh that needs pruning.

It is also very important to understand meekness does not mean that we never confront people when they are wrong (). We must stand for the truth of God’s word, and it should incite anger and grief within us when we see God’s truth being perverted. Righteous anger against the sin, but grief for the person entangled in it. Through being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, we can, in the spirit of meekness and privately at first, confront the issue at hand with the ultimate goal of restoring that person, pulling them out of the fire, and gaining a brother or sister for the kingdom of God.

Here we see that Jesus is meek.

Matthew

Matthew 11:28–30 KJV 1900

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Here we see that Jesus with anger was grieved because of their hard heartedness.

Mark 3:1–5 KJV 1900

1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Here we are taught that it is possible to be angry without committing a sin.

Ephesians 4:26–27 KJV 1900

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.

Here we see quick anger rests in the heart of a fool.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 KJV 1900

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Here we are taught meekness does not mean bing non-confrontational, and that there is a Biblical way to confront people.

Galatians 6:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Here we are first taught to take up our grievances one on one and privately.

Matthew 18:15 KJV 1900

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Here we are taught meekness is associated with being quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath.

James 1:19–22 KJV 1900

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.