Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Dealing with Anger Part 2

God's perspective on anger is deeply rooted in the distinction between righteous anger and sinful anger. While righteous anger can arise from a God-given sense of justice when witnessing true injustice (like child abuse or murder), it is always directed at sin against God, not self-interest, and reacts with compassion. Being unmoved by such injustices can indicate a problem.

However, the sources primarily emphasize sinful anger, which God views as highly corrupting and a "deed of the flesh" that "makes things worse" and "leads to more sin." Its fundamental root is self-focus: "you want what you want when you want it the way you want it." This often reveals an underlying dissatisfaction with God's sovereignty and providence, essentially telling God, "scoot off your throne, God, I got this." Sinful anger, therefore, is ultimately a "worship problem."

God's method for dealing with sinful anger in humans is a transformative process, not mere coping. It involves three key steps:

• Confront Yourself/Examine Your Heart: This means introspecting to identify why you're angry, what you're demanding, and if that demand is biblical, often revealing hidden idols of the heart.
• Put Off (Confess and Repent): Acknowledge anger as sin (e.g., bitterness, wrath, malice) and make a "full U-turn" from self-focus to living for Christ, confessing this sin which Christ bore on the cross.
• Put On (Live in God's Way): Actively cultivate kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness, even when it feels contrary to your emotions. These actions are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Ultimately, God's solution is "anger mortification"—putting to death the deeds of the flesh and making it your ambition to live for the Lord, trusting His goodness and wisdom.

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