My Theological Reflections

Read James 1:19-20

James 1:19–20 NASB95

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Introduction

As I was talking to my son (Mark) yesterday I mentioned that I was thinking about taking an airplane flight in the near future when he commented on the hostile conditions aboard airlines in recent days. It was today 8/30/2021, as I was spending a few moments on social media that I came across a video clip of a fight on an airplane. As I watched in dismay, I began to feel the need for theological reflection to help me grapple with the reality of what I saw. People are so angry and hyper-sensitive to offense.

Offenses

An offense is a thing (n): such as

a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act. synonyms: crime

a thing that constitutes a violation of what is judged to be right or natural. synonyms: affront (slap in the face)

annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles.] synonyms: annoyance, anger, resentment 

the action of attacking someone or something. synonyms: attack · offensive · assault 

Jesus spoke about offenses in

Luke 17:1–5

1 He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!

2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.

3 “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

4 “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

Complication

See Eph 4:26

Ephesians 4:26 NASB95

26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Humanity’s wrath can become sinful because it is wayward, fitful, and spasmodic.

wayward: difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior

fitful: active or occurring spasmodically or intermittently; not regular or steady.

spasmodic: occurring or done in brief, irregular bursts.

The mayley in the aisle of that Jetliner was started by an offense which could have been resolved by a deferring to a defensive posture, however, the offense triggered a counter offensive fueled by wrath and rage. All self control was gone and only revenge remained.

It is a frightful matter when people are at one another’s throats like what we are witnessing currently. Anger is out of control and for what? At the end of the day no one gains from it. the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Anger Illustrated

Eric Zorn writes in the Chicago Tribune of a tragic accident that shows the terrible power of anger.

According to Zorn, a man and woman were driving a van in the far left lane of Chicago’s Northwest Tollway in April 1994. In back were their two children. A white Cadillac driven by an ex-convict suddenly pulled up behind them, tailgating mere inches from their bumper. The man driving the van slowed down. The Cadillac driver pulled into the right lane, passed the van, and then swerved suddenly back in front of the van, so suddenly that the van driver felt he had to swerve to avoid a collision.

The white Cadillac sped away.

The van driver accelerated and gave chase. He eventually pulled alongside the white Cadillac and reportedly began yelling and screaming. According to a witness, the two men gestured angrily at each other.

The driver of the Cadillac then pulled a handgun and fired at the van. The bullet entered the side of the van and hit the baby girl, entering under her left ear and exiting above her right ear. The little girl lived, but she is blind in one eye, half-blind in the other, partially deaf, and suffers severe mental and physical disabilities.

The man who fired the bullet is in jail.

The parents of the little girl must now live with the terrible pain of regret.

Anger usually escalates—often in tragic, tragic ways.

Forgiveness, Regret, Self-Control, Temper

Matt. 5:21–22, 38–42; Eph. 4:26–31; James 1:19–20

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