FAITH: School Shooting Demonstrates The Danger Of Sinful Anger

Last Wednesday in Parkland, Florida our nation experienced another school shooting. Seventeen lives ended by the senseless rage of one person. Alyssa, aged fourteen, played soccer and attended a Jewish camp last summer. Scott Biegel, aged thirty-five, died as he ushered students back into his classroom. Miguel, aged fourteen, was funny and outgoing. Nicholas, aged seventeen, was described as “an all around great guy.” He earned a swimming scholarship to the University of Indianapolis. Seventeen people died because of the senseless rage of one person.

The Bible warns over and over about the sin of sinful anger. In the Bible people got angry for many different reasons. We often get angry for the very same reasons.

First, we get angry when inanimate objects or animals do not do what we want. Balaam’s donkey laid down and would not move forward. In Numbers 21:27 Balaam became very angry and struck his donkey. You may not have a donkey but perhaps your dog makes you angry. Computers and printers can make me angry. They will often not do what I want them to do!

Second, we get angry when others sin against us. Esau believed Jacob sinned against him. In Genesis 27:43 Rebekah warned her son Jacob, “Stay with a relative a few days until your brother Esau’s fury subsides and he forgets what you did to him.” Jacob never saw his mother again. Sometimes we become very angry when people sin against us.

Third, we get angry when others confront our sin. Jesus returned to His hometown synagogue in Luke 4 and preached a tremendous sermon. The people became angry and tried to kill Him. Why did they get so angry? He told them they were spiritually blind and spiritually deaf and prisoners in need of relief. They were sinners who needed a Savior and they didn’t want to hear it.

Stephen preached the truth in Acts 7. The people did not thank him for saying the truth. Instead, they killed him. “But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him” (Acts 7:57-58).

Fourth, we get angry when people don’t do what we want them to do. Nebuchadnezzar saw the vision of the great statue. He constructed an image made of gold. When the orchestra played he commanded everyone to worship the statue. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow. What was Nebuchadnezzar’s response? “Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face changed….” (Daniel 3:19). The three men were thrown into the fiery furnace.

King Saul hated David. Saul wanted his son Jonathan to conspire against David. When Jonathan refused, Saul became angry. He exploded and said, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?” (1 Samuel 20:30).

Fifth, we get angry when God doesn’t do what we want Him to do. Has this ever happened to you? It has certainly happened to me. Jonah was told to go to Nineveh. Nineveh commanded the great Assyrian empire. Jonah taught the Word of God and, amazingly, the people of Nineveh repented. It was the greatest evangelistic campaign in history. Jonah’s response was intense anger. Jonah’s response was, “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly and he was angry” (Jonah 4:1).

Every single example that produces anger has one common denominator- a perceived right that is violated. How do we overcome sinful anger? There are three keys. First, list the perceived right that has been violated. Ask yourself, “What right do I perceive is being violated that makes me angry?”

Second, acknowledge that you have no rights! We are called to be God’s servants. I deserve nothing from God but His wrath. We deserve eternal separation from God. Thankfully, God offers forgiveness through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son. We have no rights.

Third, let God fight your battles. Romans 12:19 reads, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the anger of God.” Let God fight for you! If God wants to get angry and fight for you that is His business. It is not your rights that are violated- it is His rights that are violated.

Pastor Ethan Hansen

Faith Bible Fellowship

Big Lake, AK