From the Pastor's Pen

Anger It’s been 40 years ago, when as a newlywed, the battery in our car died. We were in the parking lot of a Tampa, Florida library. After several attempts to start the car didn’t work, I took the wrench I was using to tighten the battery cable, and began angrily beating on the battery. Now, beating a dead battery did not bring it back to life – but it did guarantee it would stay dead! I think my new bride must have wondered if the man she married had these bouts of wrath often. I was a Christian - yes. I was a Bible college graduate – yes. I was an assistant pastor in a Tampa church – yes. But my temper was out of control. I soon realized that this anger was not a benefit to my walk with God. Nor did it help me minister to other people, or have a better marriage. The Bible says in James 1:20 – “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” We just can’t do what is right in God’s eyes when we have a hot temper. Galatians 5:19-20 calls “wrath” a work of the flesh, that is the old sinful, fleshly nature. Sometimes we try and justify our hot tempers by blaming other people or the situation. But the truth is, a hot temper says more about us – than them. Not every believer in Jesus Christ is equally yielded to Him. Nor is every Christian equally mature. Even some who think they are really strong, show their weakness by explosive anger. As disciples of Christ we need to daily rely upon His strength and power to live the Christian life. I could not save myself from my sin – Jesus Christ did that for me at the cross. And I cannot live the life He calls me to, in my own strength – I must depend upon Him. When His Holy Spirit is empowering me, Galatians 5:22-23 says that the evidence of that will be love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, etc. These are the exact opposite of wrath, an out of control temper. As we walk in the power of the Spirit we automatically conquer anger, and all kinds of addictions and bad habits. Not every believer in Jesus Christ seeks God’s wisdom for each situation. And when we don’t, we are more likely to get really upset with life. The book of James tells us to pray for wisdom. It also says that there is a worldly, demonic wisdom that is bitter and envious and argumentative. James says that “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable…” (3:17). Peaceable – not a hot temper. Obviously, when I angrily beat on my car battery I was not walking in the Spirit. Nor did I have the wisdom from above. The problem wasn’t the battery – it was me. And my anger simply revealed the truth. You can be a Christian, know the Bible, be involved in ministry, and still not have a close walk with God. I know from personal experience. The only way to live a victorious Christian life is trusting the God of Heaven to grant us His supernatural strength. Pastor Dan Lindsey Calvary Baptist Church, Sauk City, WI