Following what appears most obvious to our mind’s eye, what seems most evident to our self-affirming inclinations – we imagine the world could be a better place if it would only conform to our capricious notions of what “better” should mean. But within such a paradigm, what refuses to conform is perceived as an obstacle – impeding our imagined better way forward . . . and therefore must be removed by any means necessary. Now, this language may strike you as extreme – but this is precisely the type of rationale that lights the fuse, igniting the irrational myopia of our anger . . . and our perverse justification for what might come next.
I once heard Andrew Klavan call anger “The Devil’s Cocaine,” and I thought — that sounds about right. Because when an obnoxious outburst of someone in a full-blown meltdown of anger begins an unhinged diatribe on the verge of a display of chaotic vandalism – it has all the appearance of someone possessed. But that’s only anger when its in it’s most conspicuous state – anger doesn’t always boil over, most of the time it simmers on a back burner slowly consuming every other emotion until it takes the shape of a controlled sanctimonious outrage . . . which has far more social acceptance than the person who completely loses it, and quickly regrets doing so afterward.
No doubt, like me, you’ve known both the hothead who pops off every now and again and the person who just always seems to be mad in general. Both are susceptible to the influence of the Devil’s cocaine (anger). The occasional hothead likely already knows they have issues, while the simmering anger within the other type of person has likely convinced themselves that it’s the world that has issues . . . and someone should do something about it. The occasional hothead will likely experience some degree of shame for allowing their anger to seize control of them, while the one convinced that their anger is justified proudly declares the self-righteousness of their opinions about the world.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus seems to be inviting us to rethink our paradigm in regards to anger (Matthew 5: 21-26). We all know that murder is bad (v21). But I say anger is a systemic form of murder (v22). So before making your offering to God – remember the damage your anger created between you and another bearer of God’s image, and deal with that first (vs 23, 24). And make peace quickly with the image bearer of God that your anger has harmed, so that you might avoid the cost of a greater judgement . . . of being imprisoned alone with your own anger (vs 25, 26).
Here’s the thing – murder doesn’t occur in a vacuum. So, when we allow our anger to demean those who bear God’s image, we are on very dangerous ground. Which is why Jesus wants us to deal with it before it effects our relationship with him (vs 23, 24), and isolates us from everyone else (vs 25, 26) – or like Cain, sin will be crouching at our door (Genesis 4:6) . . . and we all know how that story ended. So clearly, the better world we seek isn’t found in the self-involved neurosis of us passing judgement, and thereby diminishing, those who we view as an obstacle – rather it is found in seeing the face of God on everyone we meet . . . reminding us, not only of why their lives matter, but why our own life has significance.
So let us pray that God will bind us together . . .
This is an updated post originally published on Still Chasing Light
Featured Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
