Anger is a common experience for pastors. It comes with the territory in ministry. Things don’t go as we expected, hoped, or wished. The challenge of working with people is great. On the other hand, maybe we don’t need much provocation to elicit anger.
Anger may be one of the least understood emotions. Let’s explore this, reserving judgment until we create some understanding. The Scripture has much to say about anger and illustrates it in helpful ways.
First, let’s clarify that anger ranges over a wide spectrum of ways of expression. We each develop ways peculiar to us as individuals. But there are commonalities. The range is great. Irritation, indignation, a disposition of frustration, exasperation, flaring emotion, bitterness, or wrath outline the experience from low to high. The New Testament has words for each of these representative words. The Old Testament provides a similar range of words. The imagery in the words is very instructive, indicating not just the depth of emotion but the physiology involved.
To understand our anger, it is necessary to understand the physical/emotional experience, and also the sources of anger, and the expression that is personal for each of us. Understanding is a prerequisite to controlling or using our anger effectively as we minister to others. This and several succeeding blogs will expand on these possibilities.
