October 22, 2019
“I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
I see a lot of people fighting in America lately. I’ve watched such quarrels all my life, but it seems a little worse this past decade, and the fighting is not good. There is such a thing as a good fight. A disagreement confronted in a constructive way where everyone grows in understanding and finds a respectable resolution to their conflict.
A good fight may involve some anger, but not the abusive, name-calling, judgmental anger I’ve seen so much of in the medial and from my friends on Facebook. Politics and religion seem to bring out the arrogant, rude fighters in us.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:22 that we will face God’s judgement for our anger. He tells us if we call someone a “fool” we’re in danger of the fires of hell. That’s a pretty harsh warning. I don’t see the label “fool” very often, but I do see other names such as “hater” “pervert,” “bigot,” “traitor,” etc.
Anger is a natural reaction when we disagree on passionate issues. What we do with that anger is critical. If we allow our anger to spill over in judgmental condemnation of others, we are putting ourselves in a position of superiority. We’re looking down on them as ignorant, morally inferior, foolish, whatever. In our hearts we see them as lesser humans. We’re all hypocrites, because we’re guilty of this sin. We all condemn others in our hearts for failures that we are also guilty of. Or maybe we’re guilty of something worse. (Matthew 7:3)
So, my friends, I admonish you all to check your anger. It’s okay to get a little angry when you think someone is causing harm, but pray before you react. Confess that you’re no better than the person making you angry. Acknowledge that the people you’re angry with are fellow believers, citizens, family members who are striving to do what they think is right, just like you. Then go ahead and fight!
Fight for what you think is right. Fight with grace, respect, and dignity. Fight with determination, love, gentleness, kindness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Love those you struggle with (Matthew 5:44) and strive to understand them (James 1:19), not just to defeat them.