Numerous times in the Old Testament God was angry. He was angry with Moses and Solomon (Deu. 1:37; 4:21; 1 Kings 11:9) and He was “very angry” with Aaron (Deu. 9:20) and Israel (2 Kings 17:18). Yet, He was still “slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psa. 103:8). Also, Jesus was angry with those who were buying and selling in the temple (Mat. 21:12,13), with the hard-hearted Pharisees (Mark 3:5), and even as Mary was weeping at his feet over the death of Lazarus (John 11:33).
So, if God and Jesus were both angry, it is not a sin (1 Pet. 2:22). However, it can become sinful if we are not careful. For instance, if our anger leads us to use profanity or other “evil speaking” we have sinned (Eph. 4:29-31). If we hold on to wrongs against us and allow anger to become a grudge, cause us not to forgive the penitent, or let it lead to hatred, we have sinned (James 5:9; Eph. 4:32; Gal. 5:20). If we are angry with a brother or sister in Christ and refuse to resolve the situation, we have sinned (Mat. 5:21-26). If we allow anger to turn into wrath or intense fury that doesn’t go away, we have sinned (James 1:20).
The difficulty for every Christian is self-control (Gal. 5:23). Nobody gives us as many problems as we give to ourselves. However, if we can learn to allow ourselves to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit every day (Gal. 5:25) our lives will be better and we will be happier, especially when it comes to anger. Someone has said, “A person who is angry on the right grounds, against the right persons, in the right manner, at the right moment, and for the right length of time deserves great praise.”
Derrick Coble