Transcript
I want to talk about what righteous anger produces and I think the best way to do this is to give a parenting example that you'll be able to relate to. You put your children to bed at nine o'clock. It's now 10:30 and they're fighting in their beds. And you say to yourself, "I can't believe it. I can't believe they never give me a moment's sleep." And you stomp down the hallway saying, "They're dead. They'll never do this to me again." And you burst into room and you say, "Do you know what my day's been like? Do you know what I do?"
Screaming at Nine O'Clock
Now, as you're screaming and yelling, do you think your children are saying, "My this is helpful. This is a truly wise person. I'm so thankful that of all the people that could have been my parent, that this wise person is my parent"? I don't think your children are saying that at all because what's motivated you in that moment is unrighteous anger.
Think about it. Why are you angry in that moment? You're not angry because your kids have broken God's law, because that would be righteous anger. You're angry because your children have broken your law and in your system of law, there better not be any parenting after ten o'clock.
Now, think of the difference of understanding that if my eyes ever see and my ears ever hear the sin, weakness, and failure of my children, it's never an accident, it's never an interruption; it's always grace. And I hear that fighting going on and I'm tired. I don't want to face another parenting moment.
Praying in the Middle of Righteous Anger
But I know that grace is operating and I know that wrong is being done. And I pray, "God, I know You don't want me to ignore this. I know You don't want me to call wrong right. I know I should be rightfully angry at this moment, but I want to represent You well and I need your grace."
And I go into the room and I say, "Can we talk about what's going on here right now?" And in that conversation, I love my children, I forgive my children, I impart wisdom to my children, instruction and correction to my children. And I leave and God has had a moment in the lives of my children.
If I scream at my children, all they remember is the look on my face, the tone of my voice, and my inflammatory charges. There's nothing helpful in that moment. Listen. Rightful anger always produces good fruit. Peace, wisdom, love, instruction, correction, hope, grace. Those are the fruit of righteous anger.
