Angry Preacher

I think there is some truth to that, when you are angry you are focused, if you are angry you don't have the temptation to space out, or day dream. You also don't have the temptation to put it off, if it made you mad, you usually want to address it.

However, from my experience, while the above is true, if I'm angry, my line of reasoning isn't at its best. So I'd be more apt to jump to illogical conclusions or say something that doesn't help my cause.

 

Be angry and sin not, but let not the sun settle on your wrath.

There is a time to be angry, but so often we are angry at the wrong things and at the wrong time. Anger should always be tempered by kindness, but so often when we "lose" our temper, it means just that, we "lose" it.

I could never preach in a state of anger. Emotion, yes, but anger, no.

Cheers,

Jim

 

The Pastor Dr. Bob quoted says he is "inspired" by anger, and it apparently evokes a sort of passion in his soul. Preachers definitely need a passion in their souls, but it should be inspired by something other than the emotion of anger.

 

Charles Spurgeon and Jonathan Edwards had some mighty powerful and angry sermons.......

Diane

http://www.jonathanedwards.com/sermons/Warnings/sinners.htm

 

What about righteous indignation? What was the angry preacher angry about? Money changers in the temple? Woman drivers? Anger usually makes me obnoxious(sp)or at least ineffective.

 

Hi Bob. Proverbs 14: 17 says the angry are FOOLISH. Proverbs 22: 44 commands us to avoid angry men. Angry men stir up contentions and grief according to Proverbs 29: 22.

Charles Spurgeon and Jonathan Edwards may have preached ANGRY, but the inerrant Bible advises us to do differently.

Fortunately for us, we serve the author of the Bible, not the men who are inspired by "anger." Thanks! latterrain77

 

And that's why I mentioned Spurgeon and Edwards. I knew that reference because of something our pastor shared a few years ago.

Many of our great theologians had righteous indignation and rightly so.

You GO Dr. Bob! (I think that STILL is a compliment, right?)

Diane

 

Perhaps if Luther had been inspired more by God and less by anger, he might not have railed against the Jews and peasants???

He did some incredible things for the positive as well as for the negative.

I would rather sit under a pastor who spent a great deal of time in prayer first, rather than working himself up into some kind of passion or anger.

 

James says that the "wrath of man does not bring about the righteousness of God". I guess James never saw the TV show, The Incredible Hulk. Weekly, the gentle Doctor would get angry, turn into a raging, green monster and do a good deed by destroying the bad guys.

Anger produces adrenaline which gives a person a short burst of energy. It is is healthy and normal. However, it is not healthy to live off of adrenaline, nor the anger that produces it. Sometimes I think that people who are in ministry and who are driven by anger mistake the rush of energy that they get from the anger for the filling of the Holy Spirit. That is why they think anger helps them serve God.

Remember Martha? She was working hard and trying to serve the Lord, but showed a flash of anger because Mary did not help her. Jesus rebuked her, not for serving, but, in part, for the improper motivation she had for her work.

 

Hey, I remember that show! Next to the six million dollar man. Some righteous indignation wouldn't hurt today either.

I heard another story about Luther, seems he mulled around the house for several days as if he had lost his best friend, finally his wife asked him if God was dead, he was astonished and asked her if she had lost her mind, she said no, but the way you have been acting lately I just supposed this to be the case.

Don't know if it is true or not, but I did hear it told.
Bro. Dallas

 

Anger pointed in the right direction is very useful when controlled, not as a "passion" as some have alluded, but with definite intent.

Controlled anger would be in line with "BE angry, and sin not".

Being angry with the devil for what he's done to destroy men's lives is following the character of God. The LORD was "wroth" enough with satan when He cast him out of heaven and down to the earth. One Glorious day, satan will be bound hand and foot and cast into the Lake of Fire, where the smoke of his torment shall ascend up forever and ever!

Anger when accompanied by malice is sin, but wrath against sin is justified.

I used to be really LOST, when I see those in the same shape I was in, my heart goes out to them, but my anger is stirred towards the devil.

I preach at times, like I'm mad at the devil , not mad at men . I would love to be able to say that about all preachers but that's not possible with all.


In Christ,

Brother Ricky

 

I can get a lot accomplished when I am angry. Working off my anger or confrontations that need ot occur--all when I am angry.

I don't like being angry. There has been a time or two that I have sinned in anger.

But not lately. In fact, the last few times I have been angry, my cause has been furthered.

 

Hi istherenotacause. The verse you alluded to is: "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:..." (Eph. 4: 26).

The phrase "SIN NOT" is the key to understanding this verse. One may feel anger within yet one may NOT act upon anger, or express it outwardly in any manner, which is prohibited (Proverbs 14: 17, 22: 44, 29: 22). Even the anger that is "within" must be thoroughly removed promptly; within hours according to Eph. 4: 26. One may not hold onto the inner anger once the sun goes down (literally).

Pastors have an even higher anger standard. They are not permitted to even "feel" inward anger hurriedly (Titus 1: 7). Anger from the pulpit is unwise. Passion should not be confused with anger. Passion preaches love while anger preaches hate. Although shouting is a common anger trait, one can whisper anger too (Psalm 41: 7, Proverbs 16: 28).

Hi SW. You said; In fact, the last few times I have been angry, my cause has been furthered.

It has been said that "squeaky doors" do get oiled (sometimes). But not always! Often, the squeaky door gets replaced with a non-squeaky one. Sooner or later anger catches up to the ones who use it. Anger begets anger; and then all hell breaks loose (pardon the phrase).

Earthly causes have been furthered without outward anger. Heavenly causes can never be furthered with anger. Confrontation can be handled with kindness and diplomacy, yielding wonderful LONG LASTING results. The old saying "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" is well said.

I can't image that Pilate would have granted the body of the LORD to Joseph of Arimithea had Joseph confronted Pilate with anger (Matt. 27: 57-59). By contrast, the ANGER of the mob and religious rulers were the fuel that brought the LORD to the Cross (Matt. 26: 65-68). Thanks! latterrain77

 

http://www.jonathanedwards.com/sermons/Warnings/sinners.htm </font>[/QUOTE]If you study Edwards you'll find that he refers to God's anger and God's indignation. He did not rant and rave, in anger, in the delivery of this message.

The problem with pastors yielding to anger is that teaching tends to be about their own outrage rather than God's outrage.