Knights Becoming and a Lady in Waiting

Anger Anonymous: Introduction

[Oops.  Yeah, I'm a little past my August 2nd return date.  Sorry.  Got caught up in some stuff that distracted me for a bit. ]

I've recently decided that anger may be the most denied sin in Christianity.  I think it's more ****ing to admit to being an angry person than it is to being a free-spender, a clutter-bug, or being lustful.  Admitting your angry is about tantamount to admitting that you like to kill small animals and tear their heads off.  (Okay, some angry people do do this, but that's a whole 'nother ball of wax.)

There's an AA-style group for almost everything-- but when I Googled(tm) "anger support", there were only a handful of sites that actually dealt with the issue of anger management on the first three pages.  The movie Anger Management makes fun of being angry.  Parents hide even the thought that they might be angry sometimes because it could raise the question of abuse.

Okay, let's just stop right here.  I am an angry person.  I admit it.  "My name is Chelo, and I'm an anger-holic.  It has been 30 minutes and 19 seconds since my last angry thought and only 14 hours, 10 minutes, and 3 seconds since my last angry outburst."  I get angry.

Now, let's take this a step further.  All those perfect-seeming people around me-- you included-- get angry.  Sure, some of you get angry and immediately sublimate that anger inside.  Some of you get angry and work it off in physical activity.  Some of you attack the problem, finding a solution.  A few of you have even learned how to give your anger to God.  But we all get angry.

One more step: God becomes angry.  Now His anger is a righteous anger, but He still feels anger.  Jesus felt anger.  They didn't sin in anger, but they did have anger.

Of course, there are Biblical examples of sinning in anger.  It starts with Cain and Abel, moves on to Moses (remember him beating that poor rock just because he was frustrated?), and carries through to Peter cutting off a guy's ear a la Van Gogh because he was angry (and a little fearful) that they were coming to take away his lord.

Okay, so we get angry.  Really, getting angry isn't the issue.  The issue is when you get angry and can't find a bit of self-control.  Ephesians 4:26 says, "Be angry and do not sin," while Proverbs 29:22 says in the second-half, "... a hot-tempered [man] commits many sins."  It is a struggle to get angry and not fly off the handle for some of us.  This has always been my biggest problem with anger.  I get mad and I let the world know it.

There is another type of sin with anger.  Sometimes we get angry and keep it inside.  This is just as much a sin as flying off the handle.  The second-half of Ephesians 4:26 says "Do not let the sun go down on your anger."  The first half of Proverbs 29:22 says something similar: "An angry man stirs up dissension."  People who fly off the handle don't stir up dissension.  They may leave a wake of destruction in their path, but they get past it and move on.  Angry people who keep it inside stir up dissension.

I used to just be the first type.  I'd fly off the handle and into a fury faster than the other person could finish the perceived insult or injury.  Ten minutes later, not only was I not angry, but I was truly penitent.

Something has happened lately.  I stay angry.  I harbor grudges and let tiny wounds fester.  This isn't something I'm proud of, mind you.  It kills a small part of my spirit each time I admit to my anger.  I can feel it simmering below the surface some days, tightly lidded, but ready to explode the moment the cover is lifted.

I'm not living in anger anymore.  Alcoholics Anonymous uses a 12-step program that admits that they can't control their alcoholism themselves.  I'm going to go through a 12-step AA program of my own... Anger Anonymous.  I invite you to join me as I take the steps through this program to find release (in God, not in the program!) from my anger.

Untitled Comment

8:20 PM, Aug. 6, 2006 .. Posted by Emily23

Oh my I can not say enough how wonderful it was to read this post from you. I can relate to everything stated. I'm looking forward to following your progress and hopes to trigger myself into not being angry or as angry. I dislike it much. I've improved greatly in the past few years but there's more to be done.

Thanks for sharing

Wow! I deal with this too...

8:36 AM, Aug. 8, 2006 .. Posted by tallenmomof5

...huge surprise to you I'm sure...

Thank you so much for your honesty! I am so encouraged when Christian women can peek out from behind their Sunday morning masks and show the real woman God created and is trying to work on....you are such an encouragement!