I like this a lot. You can only grab the whip verse if you’ve already touched a leper and had dinner with a tax collector. Reminds me of Rich Mullins saying how much he liked highlighters so he could just highlight the Bible verses he liked :D Thanks.
The 'righteous anger' argument is deeply embedded here in [mostly white] hyper conservative evangelical Bible Belt America. I have witnessed angry dad/husband preachers first hand who should be immediately removed from pulpits and any place of authoritarian influence until they have dealt deeply with the emotional rage held so tightly in their wounded souls. Sadly, this Boomer-WarBaby era of believers and congregations seem to exalt, platform, and monetize such behavior, all in the name of 'holiness' and 'righteousness'.
God help our American churches. And, God forgive us as we confess, repent, and turn away from our wrath-filled experiences and into a spiritual baptism of Goodness and Kindness. This is truly The Better Way.
For your consideration…could it just be that Jesus—as a fully human person—had the same full range of emotions as the rest of us? Anger, as an emotion, gets a bad rap. Anger has its place, when expressed appropriately.
A spiritual director friend of mine asked me once, when I was job hunting, “What makes you angry?” She asked that because behind much anger is passion. She wanted to know what I was passionate about. As it turns out, my answer was social justice.
Anger isn’t bad at all. It’s actually a healthy emotion. I hope that isn’t what came across in the essay. I was hoping to argue against the desire to use the one time Jesus got angry as a permission slip to beat people up.
Just had a conversation with this with one of our pastors at Bible study Sunday afternoon. His take was that Jesus was upset that those who were coming to sacrifice, specifically the poor who were needing to buy doves, were being burdened to the point where they couldn't afford to offer sacrifice. They were placing obstacles in the way of worship. This anger was also directed at those who were of Gods chosen people, the Jews. They were "inside the church". Regardless of what the intent was, the situation is 100% used to weaponize anger and hatred. Jesus didn't ever deal with sinners outside the church that way. I think we need to find a spot where we can discern sin, and interact with sinners like Jesus did, without condemnation, but with empathy and kindness. Not denying the sin is sin, but treating the sinner with compassion, which shouldn't be difficult when we remember we are also sinners.. Inside the church, firmer action can be necessary.
We need to stop talking about the woman caught in adultery. That story was added to the Bible and isn't true Scripture.
We can also point out James 1:19-20: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." Humans are not capable of acting out of righteous anger.
I really appreciate this view, especially the idea that it is the hypocracy amongst worshipers and temple worshipers that motivated the act, not the money lending itself.
Also, people often use these verses to show how we should act in righteous anger to those "sinners out there", but it wasn't Rome's tables Jesus flipped, it was the Temple's aka the Churches'.
I like this a lot. You can only grab the whip verse if you’ve already touched a leper and had dinner with a tax collector. Reminds me of Rich Mullins saying how much he liked highlighters so he could just highlight the Bible verses he liked :D Thanks.
Absolutely!!
The 'righteous anger' argument is deeply embedded here in [mostly white] hyper conservative evangelical Bible Belt America. I have witnessed angry dad/husband preachers first hand who should be immediately removed from pulpits and any place of authoritarian influence until they have dealt deeply with the emotional rage held so tightly in their wounded souls. Sadly, this Boomer-WarBaby era of believers and congregations seem to exalt, platform, and monetize such behavior, all in the name of 'holiness' and 'righteousness'.
God help our American churches. And, God forgive us as we confess, repent, and turn away from our wrath-filled experiences and into a spiritual baptism of Goodness and Kindness. This is truly The Better Way.
Spot on, sir! Thanks for adding your thoughts to the conversation!
For your consideration…could it just be that Jesus—as a fully human person—had the same full range of emotions as the rest of us? Anger, as an emotion, gets a bad rap. Anger has its place, when expressed appropriately.
A spiritual director friend of mine asked me once, when I was job hunting, “What makes you angry?” She asked that because behind much anger is passion. She wanted to know what I was passionate about. As it turns out, my answer was social justice.
Just an alternative viewpoint.
Anger isn’t bad at all. It’s actually a healthy emotion. I hope that isn’t what came across in the essay. I was hoping to argue against the desire to use the one time Jesus got angry as a permission slip to beat people up.
Thank you
You’re welcome!
Wow! So true!
I want the t-shirt: Practice Radical Compassion 😁
Maybe I should make one! Ha.
Thanks for reading and sharing!
Just had a conversation with this with one of our pastors at Bible study Sunday afternoon. His take was that Jesus was upset that those who were coming to sacrifice, specifically the poor who were needing to buy doves, were being burdened to the point where they couldn't afford to offer sacrifice. They were placing obstacles in the way of worship. This anger was also directed at those who were of Gods chosen people, the Jews. They were "inside the church". Regardless of what the intent was, the situation is 100% used to weaponize anger and hatred. Jesus didn't ever deal with sinners outside the church that way. I think we need to find a spot where we can discern sin, and interact with sinners like Jesus did, without condemnation, but with empathy and kindness. Not denying the sin is sin, but treating the sinner with compassion, which shouldn't be difficult when we remember we are also sinners.. Inside the church, firmer action can be necessary.
Thanks for the comments, Tony!
Thank you. God has been leading me in unlearning habits of this aspect of my woundedness. Appreciate this word.
Glad it resonated, Randi!
We need to stop talking about the woman caught in adultery. That story was added to the Bible and isn't true Scripture.
We can also point out James 1:19-20: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." Humans are not capable of acting out of righteous anger.
That holy spirt convicts me of my quickness to anger often. 😞
I really appreciate this view, especially the idea that it is the hypocracy amongst worshipers and temple worshipers that motivated the act, not the money lending itself.
Also, people often use these verses to show how we should act in righteous anger to those "sinners out there", but it wasn't Rome's tables Jesus flipped, it was the Temple's aka the Churches'.
I’m so glad it resonated, Denise!