I want you to think back on a time that you acted out on your anger. How did that end up for you? I’m not saying that anger is always misplaced; usually we have reason to be angry. However, the majority of acts motivated by anger rarely end up well.
The Bible tells us “To be angry, and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). There are numerous biblical accounts of people acting in anger and committing sin. There is an example of an act of righteous anger that ended up well:
“Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’” (John 2:13-16)
So what about this act of anger by Jesus is righteous? Three things in particular: first, Jesus’ anger was focused. He turned His whip on the money changers. Second, it was controlled; Christ did not turn His anger on everyone in the temple. Third, it caused improvement. Jesus returned the temple back to its original purpose.
When I talk to most voters who are supporting Donald Trump for president, anger is always at the forefront, followed closely by frustration. I understand both emotions; I feel that way about our government almost daily. Nevertheless, we should not make decisions that affect our lives based on anger and frustration.
We also should not vote based on a cult of personality. I’ve attended a Trump event; they are indeed entertaining. Trump uses many platitudes and promises, never getting bogged down in the specifics of how he plans on achieving victory for America. We know Trump is going to make America great again, we just don’t know how.
I find it perplexing that so many Christians have been swept up in the Trump fishing net. Exodus 18:21 instructs us to select as our leaders, “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.”
We’re only guessing that Trump has the ability to do what he says he’s going to do. We clearly know that he doesn’t fear God because Trump has never felt a need to seek forgiveness. We know Trump doesn’t tell the truth, just this Tuesday he said Ted Cruz had left Nevada during the caucus, which was not true. Trump’s covetousness is legendary.
So dear voter, I ask you to focus your anger, get it under control, because our nation is seeking improvement. Do not believe the lie that things can’t get any worse than they are today. That is patently false. Things can always get worse. Let’s not throw gasoline on the fire.
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