Holy Wrath

Introduction

I have entitled this sermon “Holy Wrath,” because it explores the proper use of the emotion and sensation of anger.

Common question: “Isn’t being angry a sin?” True response is – “Sometimes it is a sin NOT to be angry.”

We read:

Eph 4:26, 27

From that passage, we see that the apostle makes a clear distinction between being angry and sinning. Certainly, anger is not a pleasant emotion, and if we are not careful we can “give place to the Devil,” who often finds it easy to use humans who are experiencing a strong emotion of almost any kind. This is one reason why in the last talk I gave, I included a check for “inappropriate emotions” as we examine ourselves to see if we are firmly on the path of sanctification.

It was wrath that led to the transgression of Levi and Simeon, two of Jacob’s children:

Gen 34:1, 2, 7, 13-16, 25

Because of this their tribes were not given a blessing under the administration of Moses:

Gen 49:5-7

Levi did, however, redeem himself in his offspring by standing with Moses during the golden calf incident at the foot of Mount Sinai.

So again, to fail to be angry at certain situations reflects an unchristian character:

Mark 3:1-5

Taking the letter above the spirit of the Law, when doing so results in suffering, is one thing that angers the Almighty, for this was not the purpose of His giving us the Law:

Deu 5:29

1Tim 1:8

There is a proper, or “lawful,” use of the law: to draw people closer to Heaven. There is a wrong use of the Law, to restrict our ability to render comfort and assistance to those in danger or distress. Remember that the highest aim of the Law is to express love for God and our fellow man, and if we lose sight of this, we fall from the path of holiness (e.g., Jehovah’s Witnesses and the “blood transfusion” issue – even if they understood Acts 15 properly, it would not alter the fact that even the Sabbath can be broken if it is necessary to save a life or relieve suffering – Mat 12:11).

Certain things anger Yahweh and His Son. If we share their character, and their spirit, they will anger us too. This is not a small point, for it is a measure of the degree to which we have taken on their likeness. This is an unusual way to think about anger, but just as the new way in which we must think about the concept of the Church Covenant, so now we must see anger – if it is directed toward the things that make our Heavenly Father angry – as a legitimate means of measuring our degree of closeness to Elohim.

Righteous Indignation

Yahweh, at times, can become very angry. In fact, His people at times have justly prayed that His anger should be revealed, that the sinners that repent should be saved, and the unrepentant should be removed to trouble the righteous no longer:

Psa 69:20-25

Here are some of the things that make the Father and Son angry, in addition to the hardness of those who turn away from those suffering, as above. They are:

Backsliding and idolatry:

1Kings 11:9

Num 25:3

Wickedness/sin in the life:

Psa 7:11-13

Hesitation among those called to a special work:

Exo 4:10-14

Complaints against Yahweh’s providence:

Num 11:1

Irreverence:

2Sam 6:6, 7

The transgressions of those in positions of authority, AND those who remain under that authority without protesting:

2Ki 23:26

Failing to help the afflicted (this is similar to our first example of Yahshua’s anger at the Pharisees):

Judges 5:23

We have had an entire New Moon study on this topic: The Curse of Meroz

Acting when one is not called to act:

Deu 18:22

Jer 14:14-16

Psa 46:10

This is not limited to prophecy; the principle applies to officiousness, to haste in committing to tasks that one cannot complete, and making frivolous vows.

These things also ought to make us angry, and angry enough to act, not merely to “feel bad” about what has happened. Anger, pure anger, is a lot like repentance or faith – it must go beyond the mere emotion, and work in us a good work. If we see one among us sliding back into the world, ought this not to make us angry? And if there is hesitation among those called to a special work, should we not be upset? And if there are unnecessary complaints, irreverence, failure of religious authorities, failing to come to the aid of one in trouble, or acting without wisdom on different occasions… are we not moved to rebuke these things?

Of course, these things, even our angry words, must be done with love, and with agape love specifically, as I will discuss later in this talk. But it must be done with love – the emphasis being on getting the work accomplished. The Scripture says:

1Tim 5:20, 21

There are three main reasons why one that has taken on the name of Christ will fail to become angry at these things.

Spiritual Insensitivity

Not a big deal…

Pro 19:11

But to “pass over” a transgression does not mean to ignore it. It means to forgive it.

The Scripture also says:

Pro 27:5, 6

We must work with one another to help each other heavenward, as it is written:

Gal 6:2

Heb 10:23-25

James 5:19, 20

THAT is how we “hide” or pass over sins; not by ignoring them, but by facilitating the “conversion” of our brethren from error to righteousness.

Fearing Retaliation

Another reason is the fear retaliation. One may think, “If I tell this person what I do not think he or she is doing properly, I will not be treated well as a result.”

First, it needs to be pointed out that a fear of anything should not be a motivating factor for the brethren. We are told:

1John 4:18

But that verse should not merely be limited to the love we feel for Yahweh; it is also the love we have toward one another. If my brother and I love each other, why should I be afraid to tell him something for his good?

The true and spiritual family stays together. Paul, in his letters, talks about schisms, or splits, that happen because of carnality. John says this of those who depart from the Body:

1John 2:19

If those in the Church are truly seeking to please Yah, they will want to know what the problems are… and if our reason for hesitancy in pointing out the errors in others’ behavior is that we suspect they may NOT be seeking Heaven above all else, this is something to take to prayer even more fervently than the thing that seemed to cause offense.

But if we are afraid of what someone else will do to us, or to someone else, if we tell them the truth, we need to see if we are truly manifesting perfect love. This is not an acceptable reason to fail to rebuke sin in those who are covenanted with us.

Now, this does not mean that CSDAs go around the place pointing out faults in everyone we meet. That is not our calling, and this is where the concept of the Covenant comes in once again. Paul says of those who are in the world:

1Cor 5:9-13

But those who are in covenant with us, these we are in agreement to try and help one another as the passage from Hebrews 10 pointed out.

Fearing to Give Offense

The third reason, fearing to give offense, is a little subtler. It is not so much fearing what will happen in terms of revenge or anger, but it rather wanting to be liked, fearing to be misunderstood. Even if no one “does” anything outwardly as a result of your pointing out his or her errors, you may believe that this person will think less of you.

The verse we already looked at, stating that “faithful are the wounds of a friend” says much about this situation. Are we the friends of those whom we allow a cherished habit to bar their attaining the stature of Christ Yahshua?

We are told this:

John 15:13

If we let that idea be our guide, how then shall we hesitate to sacrifice even the small things for the sake of others? And again, the same principles from above apply. If someone is truly your friend, and respects your opinion, if that’s really true, you risk nothing by being honest with them.

The problem is that people who are insecure will be afraid to risk losing the respect of even false friends. Not a lot needs to be said about this matter, for it should be clear where the transgression in such a chain of thought exists. If we love someone, we will tell them the truth, even if it costs a great deal. Those who return our love will remain close to us, and the others will reveal their true colors.

The Elijah Message

There is a quote from Mrs. White that bears mentioning when we speak about the proper use of anger. Let me read you this passage:

“Those who have been thrust out to bear a plain, pointed testimony, in the fear of God to reprove wrong, to labor with all their energies to build up God's people, and to establish them upon important points of present truth, have too often received censure instead of sympathy and help, while those who, like yourself, have taken a non-committal position, are thought to be devoted, and to have a mild spirit. God does not thus regard them. The forerunner of Christ’s first advent was a very plain-spoken man. He rebuked sin, and called things by their right names. He laid the ax at the root of the tree. He thus addressed one class of professed converts who came to be baptized of him in Jordan: ‘O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. . . . And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.’ [Matthew 3:7-10.]

“In this fearful time, just before Christ is to come the second time, God’s faithful preachers will have to bear a still more pointed testimony than was borne by John the Baptist. A responsible, important work is before them; and those who speak smooth things, God will not acknowledge as his shepherds. A fearful woe is upon them.” [Gospel Workers, pages 89, 90]

When Ellen White speaks about “smooth things,” the way we have applied it in the past, and it is right to do so, is regarding those who undermine the message of urgency. In this generation, even Mrs. White’s own prophecies, such as that of the Sunday Law, have been used to this effect… because it pushes back the judgment to some undetermined point in the future, while the messengers of the Fourth Angel are saying, “It is here NOW.”

Again, this is a proper use of that quote, but at the same time look carefully at the first part. It speaks of those who are praised for their devotion and mildness of spirit, when the truth is not that they are really so mild-mannered, but because they are not committed to the truth as much as those who speak that truth plainly. This is not to say we must not be graceful with our words if we can at all afford to do so. We are told:

Col 4:6

That quote was written to members of Ellen White’s then faithful Church, not to outsiders, and so the proper meaning must be applied to those of us within the Body. We read in 1Cor 6:2-4. We use that to talk about Christians bringing lawsuits… this is a violation of Biblical principle, but at the same time, the concept of judgment IN the Church is often overlooked.

There must be judgment within the Church; Yahweh’s and not man’s – but it must be there, or how else can we exhort one another to righteousness, as it says in Hebrews, unless we are all firm on what righteousness is? How can the Church decide on matters relating to Sabbaths and New Moons, if we do not judge between the actions we can potentially take? How can we help to sanctify one another if we are afraid, ashamed, or too “mild-mannered” to speak to an erring brother and sister in love, but in the kind of love that leads to a change in the life?

I hope you see the point I am trying to make there.

Conclusion: That Perfect Love

Not quick to anger:

Psa 103:8

But nevertheless, He speaks strong judgments when they are necessary for us to hear. We read of our duty as our brothers’ keepers in the book of Ezekiel:

Ezek 33:7-9

This is a clearly described duty; but more than that, more than it being a mere duty, Agape will teach us to do so. And only Agape can do so without turning us into faultfinders. At the same time, we cannot fear being seen as faultfinders or unpleasant people and have that prevent us from doing this task.

Look at how the three kinds of “love” relate to this issue:

Eros, or romantic love, will seek to cover one’s partner, to protect his or her reputation... It is not a sufficient motivation to help another to righteousness.

Phileo will not be sufficient for the task, because the bonds of friendship and brotherhood may overcome the desire for seeing someone sanctified. These are things that happen in practice, and in all these cases there is the danger of familiarity, sentimentality, or affection being a distraction from what the highest form of love would do for the best good of the person involved.

So then, let us think on these things, examine ourselves, and ask, “Am I giving a message more pointed than John the Baptist? Am I capable of doing so? Do I love my fellow men enough to do so?” How we answer these questions is a very good measure of what we ought to be doing this New Moon day.