Commands of Christ-27a

Wednesday, September 8, 2022 Commands of Christ – 27

A Christian's Character: Dealing With Anger

Handout Anger: Facing the fire within: Explore on your own (or with a partner)

I admit to trying to cover a HUGE lesson:

Civil war

Anger

And yet the two are very closely related.

A possible civil war in the US will occur because of not just anger, but rage and fury are consuming its citizens.

Like I quoted from the article on Sunday:

In [the book] Tribe, combat journalist Sebastian Junger writes,

“People speak with incredible contempt about – depending on their views – the rich, the poor, the educated, the foreign-born, the president, or the entire U.S. government. It’s a level of contempt that is usually reserved for enemies in wartime, except that now it’s applied to our fellow citizens.”

Anger:

Lord willing, NEXT week we will look at what Jesus had to say about anger.

Last week we looked at the “proof text” of anger:

Ephesians 4:26–27 (NASB95) Be angry, and yet do not sin;

In our zeal to justify our anger, we fail to even read the whole sentence let alone the full context of that portion of the verse (verses 17-22) (That may be making some angry right now!):

Ephesians 4:26–27 (KJV) Be ye angry, and sin not : let not the sun go down upon your wrath : 27 Neither give place to the devil.

UBS: In a formal sense it is a command, “Be angry” (so RSV), but this imperative functions as a concession, that is, “Be angry, if you must” or “You are bound to get angry, but …”* The main point the writer makes is that anger should not be nourished: “do not let the sun go down on your anger” (RSV). Sunset marked the end of one day and the beginning of another day; a Christian should not continue to be angry with his fellow believer from one day to the next but should seek reconciliation at once. The Greek noun for “anger” occurs only here in the New Testament.*

In some languages it is necessary to indicate the reasons for being angry, and therefore the conditional clause If you become angry must sometimes be expanded as “If you become angry with someone” or “It may happen that you get angry, but.…”

The second part of this condition, namely, do not let your anger lead you into sin, may be translated as a causative, for example, “do not let that cause you to sin” or “do not permit how you feel to cause you to do wrong” …

Bratcher, R. G., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (p. 117). United Bible Societies.

Ephesians 4:26–27 (NLT) And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Perhaps this aligns with Vs.31&32 better?

Ephesians 4:31–32 (NLT) Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Complete Biblical Library: In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:22) and in Ephesians 4:31, both Christ and the apostle Paul urged Christians not to “be angry.” Christ spoke against “anger” at a brother who is a follower of God, while Paul emphasized that even one with a righteous “anger” must not let it become sin.

So, I would guess that we will tend to believe that our anger is “righteous” anger

Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets:

In the books of the OT Prophets, there are 2 kinds of anger: (Relational -vertical relationship 1st 4 of Ten Commandments)

Righteous anger focuses on “horizontal,” human-human relationships. Yahweh is angry because humans are mistreating other humans. Just as he had compassion on Israel while they were oppressed in Egypt, so they should have compassion on the weak in their society. Their oppression of their neighbors prompts divine wrath. … Yahweh’s … righteous anger [particularly] involves the last six commandments (Ex 20:2–17; see also Jer 7:5–9, 18–20).

Respecting parents.

Killing

Adultery

Theft

Lying

Covetousness

But, even IF (and that is a huge and unlikely “if”) we have RIGHTEOUS anger let’s be clear:

James 1:18–22 (NASB95) In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

More to come on anger.

Let’s go back to the question of another U.S. Civil War:

Based on the article: 3 Steps Churches Can Take To Help Prevent a Second American Civil War:

We talked about the poll data and other assertions of the author of the article.

There were questions about “Christian nationalism”:

Read article portions ...

Squid Game (South Korean children’s game - turned into TV show and video games) There are two main purposes, either for the attackers to achieve the purpose of the attack, or for the teams to annihilate each other.

Read Bobert speach…

Read about Charles III

As you read the original article and theses subsequent articles, do they stir feelings of anger, sadness, other? Why?

What do you think about the 3 Steps pastors can take to prevent the second American civil war?

1. Acknowledge that the church has a discipleship problem.

Do we?

If so, in what ways?

2. Create space for the middle ground (it’s bigger than you think)

As we discussed last week, there is no middle ground on many of the htly contesteed issues of our day:

Abortion - special allowance for rape, incest, health of the mother?

Joe Scarborough article

Marriage

What about other issues?

Critical Race Theory - if not that could we at least teach history? What if tried to see both sides of the racial history

The perspective of slaves from Africa (including that their own race captured them and sold them)

The perspective of Native Americans (same as above) plus needless killing of others (including other tribes), whites, etc.

Others:

Crime?

Inflation?

Energy (no gasoline cars?)

3. Equip your congregation to be Peacemakers, not just Peacekeepers.

Matthew 5:9 (NASB95) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

What about these approaches to politics from 1 Peter 2:11-17?

1 Peter 2:11–17 (NASB95) Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

1 Peter 2:11–17 (The Message) Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. 12 Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives. 13 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; 14 they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. 15 It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. 16 Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. 17 Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

[4 Principles for Political Engagement as a Christian by: Jared C. Wilson]

1. Remember Your True Citizenship

First, Peter reminds the brethren that their citizenship is in heaven (“sojourners and exiles”). This world is not our home, so we should not live like our ultimate treasure is anything temporary, whether it be good or bad or neutral.

And yet Peter is not necessarily advocating a withdrawal from the system. He is advocating honorable citizenship, a participation that commends the gospel of the kingdom. The level of political participation will vary from Christian to Christian, culture to culture, as conscience and conviction demands. Certainly there is no biblical legality for voting or not voting, politicking or not politicking. Let us be ruled by the Spirit in the matters on which the Scriptures are silent.

Philippians 3:20–21 (NASB95) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Hebrews 11:13–16 (NASB95) All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

In a minute we will talk about what heavenly citizenship means as we live on this earth. As Jesu prayed to the Father in:

John 17:13–21 (NASB95)“But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

2. Pay Your Taxes

Second, Peter encourages the brethren to be subject to the human governmental and civic institutions “for the Lord’s sake.” (See also Paul’s words in Rom. 13:1–7.) We obey the laws that do not violate God’s laws, and we do so with the commendation of Christ in mind. So when we have to pay our taxes, we pay our taxes with Christ in mind. And if we vote, we vote with Christ in mind.

John Piper: Christians should deal with the world. … There is no avoiding it. But as we deal with it, we don’t give it our fullest attention. We don’t ascribe to the world the greatest status. There are unseen things that are vastly more precious than the world. We use the world without offering it our whole soul. We may work with all our might when dealing with the world, but the full passions of our heart will be attached to something higher—Godward purposes. We use the world, but not as an end in itself. It is a means. We deal with the world in order to make much of Christ.

So it is with voting. We deal with the system. We deal with the news. We deal with the candidates. We deal with the issues. But we deal with it all as if not dealing with it. It does not have our fullest attention. It is not the great thing in our lives. Christ is. And Christ will be ruling over his people with perfect supremacy no matter who is elected and no matter what government stands or falls. So we vote as though not voting.

“Live as people who are free,” Peter says. We will not be tied to any particular political or legislative outcomes as if our ultimate hope or devastation is tied to them. We will not let our affections be owned by who is in the statehouse or the White House.

3. Obey God First and Foremost

“Live as servants of God,” Peter says, and here we get another perspective on what it means to live as people who are free in a politicized world. It means participating respectfully and respectably, but it also means living as those whose ultimate allegiance is to God and not men.

In Acts 5:27–29 (NASB95) When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

when the apostles are brought before the authorities to be reminded of the law restricting their freedom to preach the gospel, the answer the apostles provide is not mute submission. They say, “We must obey God rather than men.” We are beholden ultimately to God, not our political party or the American government, so when we are called to violate God’s commands, we cannot obey. Indeed, when we see systemic sins and injustices promoted and protected by the powers that be, as servants of God we are required to be bold prophets.

Augustine wrote City of God to address the issue of the fall of Rome (it has parallels to the U.S.).

A masterpiece of Western culture, The City of God was written in response to pagan claims that the sack of Rome by barbarians in 410 AD was one of the consequences of the abolition of pagan worship by Christian emperors.

[He] wrote The City of God to argue against this accusation. Christians are not at all to blame, he asserts, for the pagan gods are not gods at all and cannot punish or protect anyone. On the contrary, Rome fell due to the corruption and immorality of its citizens.

He addresses the social and political climate of Rome and events of the time (410 BCE). Augustine proposes that Christianity actually helped Rome survive.

He outlined his vision of two societies, that of the elect (“The City of God”) and that of the damned (“The City of Man”). These “cities” are symbolic embodiments of the two spiritual powers—faith and unbelief—that have contended with each other since the fall of the angels. They are inextricably intermingled on this earth and will remain so until time’s end.

Augustine said:

What, then, did the Christians suffer in the great devastation of Rome which, if taken in a spirit of faith, would not have served for their greater good? For one thing, if they humbly called to mind the sins for which God in His anger filled the world with calamities, they will not judge themselves to be so little responsible for these sins as not to have deserved some measure of temporal affliction—even though they were far from being criminals and godless men.

Nevertheless, because they wink at their worse sins and fear to frown even on their minor transgressions, the good must in justice suffer temporal afflictions in common with the rest—even though they will escape the eternal.

Martin Luther wrote: The Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms.

On the one hand (the so-called “Right Hand”) there is the Kingdom of Grace: this is the church, the gospel, the free-and-clear gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here there is no social status, no taxation, “no slave or free, Jew or Greek, male and female” (Gal. 3:28), no law or condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom. 8:1). It is not, never has been, and never will be a democracy by the people. It is a divine Monarchy, and God the Father is our King. We live and die by his grace and providence. Nothing you can do will earn his favor, and no offense is too great to be forgiven. You are his citizen, set free to be free (Gal. 5:1) and to serve others as Christ served you.

The other Kingdom (the so-called “Left Hand”) is the Kingdom of Law: this is the world in which you live. So you have relationships: you are a father, a mother, a son or daughter; you have a job with a title, a salary, and a tax bracket. You have papers in your fire-proof safe that legally declare your citizenship of a particular land at a particular time. You are under the law, and there is no grace here. There are only consequences if you break those laws.

This abominable (Dis)Respect of Marriage Act is the left hand invading the right.

What do we do?

I wrote the 2 GA senators:

What I wrote to Warnock & Osoff:

As a local (Georgia) Bible-believing, Bible-preaching/teaching pastor I completely disagree with your statements and stance concerning the sexually confused (LGBTQI+) and their demands of our society. I believe that ALL people should be treated with respect as a fellow human being. As a pastor it is my calling to help everyone discover the love that God has for everyone — no matter what sin or failure. Therefore, I respectfully, but adamantly request that, as my representative to the US Senate, you vote AGAINST the (Dis)Respect for Marriage Act. It is a deeply flawed bill that will destroy first amendment rights as well as destroy marriage and the families that depend on one man-one woman, for-life marriages.