Choosing Love Over Anger in an Offended World

 

Summary

In today's world, it seems like the temperature of offense is constantly rising. Everywhere we look, from social media to sports events, people are easily offended. As followers of Jesus, we must ask ourselves how we should respond in this age of offense. The Bible offers guidance on this topic, particularly through the lens of anger. The book of James instructs us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Yet, many of us operate in the opposite manner, quick to anger and slow to listen.

The concept of being "unoffendable" challenges us to reconsider our relationship with anger. Often, we justify our anger as "righteous," but scripture does not support the idea of humans carrying righteous anger. God, being holy and sinless, can hold righteous anger, but we, as sinful beings, are not equipped to carry anger without it leading to sin. The New Testament consistently instructs us to rid ourselves of anger, as it does not produce the righteousness God desires.

Anger is not a necessary catalyst for action. In fact, it can impede true, meaningful action. The best law enforcement officers, for example, are those who de-escalate situations rather than escalate them through anger. Similarly, in our personal lives, anger can prevent us from taking the right actions. Instead of anger, love should be our driving force. Jesus commanded us to love one another, and it is through love, not anger, that we can truly change the world.

Martin Luther King Jr. exemplified this principle. Despite facing immense injustice, he chose love over anger, and through this, he brought about significant change. As Christians, we are called to do the same. We must release our anger, act in love, and trust God with the results. This path of being unoffendable does not mean we ignore injustice; rather, it means we approach it with a heart of love, not anger.

Key Takeaways:

- The Rising Temperature of Offense: In today's world, offense is rampant, and as Christians, we must consider our response. Scripture guides us to be quick to listen and slow to anger, challenging us to live counter-culturally in an age of offense. [01:13]

- The Myth of Righteous Anger: While God can hold righteous anger, humans are not equipped to do so. The New Testament consistently instructs us to rid ourselves of anger, as it does not produce the righteousness God desires. [09:34]

- Anger vs. Love as a Catalyst for Action: Anger is not necessary for action and can actually impede it. Love, not anger, should be our driving force, as demonstrated by Jesus and figures like Martin Luther King Jr. [19:04]

- The Role of Love in Overcoming Injustice: Love, not anger, is the true catalyst for change. By loving our enemies and acting out of love, we can bring about meaningful change in the world, as exemplified by Martin Luther King Jr. [26:23]

- Trusting God with the Results: Being unoffendable means releasing anger, acting in love, and trusting God with the outcomes. This approach allows us to address injustice without destroying our own lives in the process. [30:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:13] - The Age of Offense
- [03:04] - The Church and Offense
- [04:48] - Personal Reflections on Offense
- [06:14] - Biblical Perspective on Anger
- [08:39] - Righteous Anger: A Misconception
- [09:34] - The Biblical View of Anger
- [11:43] - Anger in the New Testament
- [13:04] - Anger and Sin
- [14:11] - Examples of Anger in Scripture
- [15:45] - Anger as a Manly Trait
- [17:33] - Anger and Action
- [19:04] - Love as a Catalyst for Change
- [22:41] - The Dangers of Anger
- [24:01] - Love Over Anger
- [26:23] - Martin Luther King Jr.'s Example
- [30:18] - Trusting God with Injustice
- [33:15] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. James 1:19-20 - "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
2. Ephesians 4:26-27 - "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
3. Proverbs 14:29 - "People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to James 1:19-20, what are the three actions we are instructed to take regarding anger? How does this compare to how people often behave today? [06:14]

2. In the sermon, the pastor mentioned that anger is not listed as a fruit of the Spirit. What are some of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in the New Testament? [11:43]

3. How does the example of Martin Luther King Jr. illustrate the principle of choosing love over anger in the face of injustice? [26:23]

4. What does Ephesians 4:26-27 suggest about the nature of anger and how we should handle it?

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might the Bible instruct us to be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry"? How does this align with the idea of being unoffendable? [06:14]

2. The sermon suggests that holding onto anger can be destructive. How does this align with the biblical instruction to not let the sun go down on our anger? [14:11]

3. How does the concept of "righteous anger" differ between God and humans according to the sermon? Why is it important to understand this distinction? [09:34]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that anger can impede meaningful action, and how does this relate to the biblical perspective on anger? [19:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt offended or angry. How might applying James 1:19-20 have changed your response? [06:14]

2. Consider a relationship in your life where anger has been a recurring issue. What steps can you take to address this anger in a way that aligns with Ephesians 4:26-27? [14:11]

3. The sermon highlights the importance of love as a catalyst for change. Identify a specific area in your life where you can choose love over anger this week. How will you do this? [24:01]

4. Think about a time when you justified your anger as "righteous." How does the sermon challenge this perspective, and what changes might you need to make in your thinking? [09:34]

5. How can you practice being "unoffendable" in your daily interactions, especially in environments where offense is common, such as social media or the workplace? [01:13]

6. Reflect on the example of Martin Luther King Jr. How can you apply his approach of responding to injustice with love in your own life? [26:23]

7. What practical steps can you take to ensure that love, rather than anger, becomes the driving force in your actions and decisions? [25:23]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: Responding to Offense with Grace
In a world where offense is rampant, Christians are called to respond differently. The Bible instructs believers to be quick to listen and slow to anger, challenging them to live counter-culturally. This means actively choosing to listen and understand rather than react with anger. By doing so, Christians can reflect the love and patience of Christ in their interactions, standing out in a culture that often prioritizes immediate emotional responses. [01:13]

James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt offended. How can you practice being quick to listen and slow to anger in similar situations in the future?


Day 2: The Illusion of Righteous Anger
Many people justify their anger as righteous, but the New Testament consistently advises against holding onto anger. Humans, being imperfect, are not equipped to carry righteous anger without it leading to sin. Instead, believers are encouraged to rid themselves of anger, as it does not produce the righteousness that God desires. This calls for a reevaluation of how one perceives and handles anger, recognizing that it is not a tool for justice but a potential barrier to it. [09:34]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt your anger was justified. How might releasing that anger and choosing forgiveness instead change your perspective and actions?


Day 3: Love as the True Catalyst for Change
Anger is often seen as a motivator for action, but it can actually impede meaningful change. Love, not anger, should be the driving force behind actions. This principle is exemplified by figures like Jesus and Martin Luther King Jr., who chose love over anger to bring about significant change. By prioritizing love, believers can engage in actions that truly reflect the heart of God and lead to lasting transformation. [19:04]

1 John 4:18-19 (ESV): "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are driven by anger. How can you shift your motivation to love in this area, and what practical steps can you take to make this change?


Day 4: Overcoming Injustice with Love
Addressing injustice with love rather than anger is a powerful approach that can lead to meaningful change. This does not mean ignoring injustice but approaching it with a heart of love. Martin Luther King Jr. exemplified this by choosing love over anger, even in the face of immense injustice. Christians are called to follow this example, trusting that love is a more effective tool for change than anger. [26:23]

Romans 12:20-21 (ESV): "To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Reflection: Consider a situation of injustice you are passionate about. How can you approach it with love, and what actions can you take to reflect this love in your response?


Day 5: Trusting God with the Outcomes
Being unoffendable means releasing anger, acting in love, and trusting God with the results. This approach allows believers to address injustice without destroying their own lives in the process. By trusting God with the outcomes, Christians can focus on acting in love and leave the rest in His hands, knowing that He is ultimately in control. [30:18]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you are struggling to trust God with the outcome. What steps can you take to release control and trust Him more fully in this area?

Quotes

"Let's say that you had a magic thermometer that we all had that we could just measure the temperature of how offended all of us are walking around in our world today. Would you say the temperature is rising or is it going lower? It's kind of like the temperature in Phoenix, right? It should be going down and it just keeps ticking up and up and up again, right? And it's almost like we're living in an age of offense. And it's everywhere, right? You get on social media, you see people just blowing everybody up on social media, turn on the news, same things happen in there. You go to a sports game on the field, everyone's offended. The parents on the sidelines, they're offended. Everybody's offended in the stands. You show up to your workplace, your home, everybody's offended." [00:01:06]

"And I'll tell you something right up front. Reading this book, it bugged me on occasion in like the best possible ways. I mean, it just got crawled up under my skin. It was kind of getting up in my business like crazy. Because the author has the audacity to suggest right up front that, as Christians, we should be maybe the most unoffendable people in the world. That we can learn to be unoffendable. And reading that, I took offense to that. I was like, who is this guy? Does he live under a rock? He obviously doesn't have to deal with the people I deal with, right? I mean, I'll just be personal. He obviously doesn't pastor a church." [00:02:43]

"The book of James chapter 1 verse 19 puts it this way. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this. Everyone, everyone, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become what? Angry. Angry. How are you doing with that command? I think we live in a world today where most people operate the exact opposite of this verse. We are so, so slow to ever listen and we are ultra quick to blow up on everyone around us. I mean, our anger levels are at zero." [00:06:14]

"In fact, if you read through all the New Testament, let me tell you what you will never find. You'll never find, you know, with the fruits of the Spirit, for example, the fruits of the Spirit are simply things that should come out of us as followers of Jesus, and what are they? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. You'll never read of the fruits of the Spirit as the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, righteous anger. It is not there. In fact, in the wisdom literature in the Old Testament, like, for example, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, how we're to be wise, anger is never once referred to as something good. It is always, always referred to as making you foolish." [00:11:00]

"Getting angry initially is not the sin. It's when you hold on to it and justify it that it will destroy your life. Now, hang with me because I'm going to give you a deep biblical view of anger. Okay? Anger is listed 49 times in 45 verses in the New Testament. There's two Greek words primarily that are used that are synonyms. And here they are. The Greek word themos and the Greek word. Use the synonyms. The Greek words, the sense to be angry. In other words, to carry anger or to be angry." [00:12:44]

"Let me ask you something. To move the ball down the field on a football field, do you need to do that? Do you need to do that? Do you need to do that? Do you need to do that? to be an angry coach to do that? What about to move the ball down the field in your life? Do you need to have anger to have some movement and momentum? How many of you have ever watched Andy Reid, the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs coach on the field? Anybody out there watch Andy Reid coach?" [00:16:44]

"Here's what you know, and every law enforcement person that's in leadership will tell you this. The best, best officers in the law enforcement community are not the ones that are angry. They are trained, the best of the best, to de-escalate, not to escalate. In fact, the officers that make the most mistakes, the things we see on the news, the mess-ups, are ones that are operating out of anger. And it's like this in almost every area of life. If you study MMA fighters, MMA fighters, the best of the best, do not operate out of anger. They operate out of self-control because God knew what he was saying and he knew what he was saying. In scripture, when he said this in Proverbs 14, short-tempered people do foolish things. Did you know anger, the idea of anger leading us to action, did you know anger can actually keep you from taking the action you need to take?" [00:19:31]

"Anger can be a mirage, almost like that's the end result. But anger is always a secondary emotion. There's always something above it, and we have to really look at our anger and say, what am I angry about? And am I actually doing something to make things right? Someone's thinking, well, I mean, the Bible, like some of the heroes of faith got angry, right? Yeah, Moses got angry and killed an Egyptian. Is that our model? Actually, after that, God sent Moses into the desert for 40 years." [00:21:40]

"Why is it that in Scripture, anger is the only thing we're told to get rid of that we want to lose? We're labeled as righteous, and I'll tell you the reason. Because in Scripture, we see that God can have a righteous anger, but it's God, not us. Because God is holy and righteous and can handle it, but we are told we are not righteous, and when we try to hold anger, it doesn't make things right. It destroys our life." [00:23:34]

"So if anger isn't to be our motive for making things right in this world, in our families, with our kids, in our workplaces, with all the injustices we see in this world, if anger is not to be our motive, then what on earth should be our motive as a follower of Jesus? What is our motive to make things right? is right in this world. Not anger, but what? What is it? Say it out loud. It's love. It's always been love. In fact, Jesus, right before he dies in John chapter 13, he says, I have a brand new command for you. And here's my brand new command. Hey, a brand new command. Be angry with one another as I've been angry with you. So you must be angry with one another. And oh, by the way, by this, everyone will know that you're my disciples. If you'll just be angry, if you'll just get pissed about everything, the world will be like, I love Jesus. Look at these Christians. They're so pissed all the time." [00:24:19]

"And we got to look at our hearts, and I'm talking to myself here. We got to look at ourselves and say, we have to learn to be unoffendable. And if you think we can't change the world with our motive being love, of, let me give you exhibit A, maybe the man in recent history that has changed the world, maybe arguably more than anybody, Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. dealt with one of the greatest injustices in recent history, that we would treat people differently and look down on them because of the color of their skin." [00:26:11]

"We wanna make things right in this world. I'm not saying, listen, being unoffendable does not mean we don't take action. What it means is we release anger. We do what's right to the best of our ability in love. And then we trust God with the results so that we don't destroy our lives in the process." [00:31:13]

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Transcript
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