AN ANGER CHECKLIST
By Dr Don Dunlap

Many people do not know when their anger crosses the line of acceptable expression to become sinful.

We learn from God's Word that the anger of man cannot achieve the righteousness of God. God commands us to put off every kind of anger, whether it is violent and explosive in nature, or sullen and seething in its expression. The writer of Ecclesiastes 7:9 warns,

"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools".

In God's perspective, an angry person is a fool.

We should not form an intimate friendship with someone who is given to outbursts of anger.

Angry outbursts are deeds of the flesh and God condemns them. We read in Proverbs 29:22, "An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgressions." Again, in Proverbs 22:24-25 we find a warning against forming a bond of friendship with a person who has a problem with anger,
"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."

A person who has an angry spirit should not be in a position of church leadership.

In Titus 1:7 we read that God does not permit a person with a quick temper to assume a position of church leadership: "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre."

Christian leaders must demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. An angry person who has been appointed to lead other people will wrongly influence them because he or she will constantly be in trouble.

Many Christians do not know how to determine when their anger crosses the line of acceptable expression and becomes sinful. Several questions are helpful for someone who wishes to search his or her own heart, to discern whether or not he or she is guilty of unbiblical anger.
When I am angry:

1. Do I demonstrate unconditional biblical love to my neighbor?

"A violent man enticeth his neighbor, and leadeth him into the way that is not good."
Proverbs 16:29

2. Do I use hurtful words that do not encourage or edify other people?

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1

3. Do I have angry outbursts and am I quick-tempered?

"He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated."
Proverbs 14:17

4. Do I seek vengeance or try to retaliate against my offender?

"The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression."
Proverbs 19:11

5. Do I respond in a manner that is displeasing to God and dishonoring to His name-unmercifully and without compassion?

"But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
Matthew 5:22

6. Do I fail to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in my thoughts, words and actions?

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."
Proverbs 16:32

Someone who sincerely intends to overcome the sin habit of unbridled anger should help himself win the war by committing God's Word to memory.

An excellent strategy for overcoming the temptation to be sinfully angry is to memorize the six scripture verses listed above. It is helpful to quote these verses aloud in the midst of a temptation to respond angrily to a person or a situation.