A third-grade teacher was once teaching
the Ten Commandments to her class in school (this was back when they could still teach in
school). She was discussing the commandment regarding honoring one's father and mother.
Then she asked, "Is there any command regarding brothers and sisters?" One young
girl raised her hand and said, "Thou shalt not kill."
We often fail to look beyond the
commandment "You shall not murder" and fail to understand the significance of
this command. The King James Version translates the verse "Thou shalt not kill."
This has left the idea that all killing is wrong; even the killing of animals. However,
this sixth commandment has to do with murder.
Leviticus 24:21 Whoever kills an animal must make
restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death. (NIV)
The law forbid murder but it did not
forbid taking human life when necessary. We should keep in mind that the Law of Moses
sought to define how the Ten Commandments were to be kept.
The law did demanded diligence in
keeping this command. Every effort was to be made to protect life.
Exodus 21:28-31 "If a bull gores a man or a woman
to death, the bull must be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner
of the bull will not be held responsible. If, however, the bull has had the habit of
goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or
woman, the bull must be stoned and the owner also must be put to death. However, if
payment is demanded of him, he may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded. This
law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. (NIV)
This scripture does not only reveal
God's desire for us to be diligent in protecting life, but it also reveals his punishment
for not protecting life. Both the man and the animal were to die.
God sanctioned capital punishment after
the after flood.
Genesis 9:5-6
And for
your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every
animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow
man. "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the
image of God has God made man. (NIV)
The Law of Moses continued to uphold
capital punishment and set forth other crimes punishable by death.
1. Premeditated murder (Exod. 21:12-14). Kidnapping (Exod. 21:16; Deut. 24:7).
2. Adultery (Lev. 20:10-21; Deut. 22:22).
3. Homosexuality (Lev. 20:13).
4. Incest (Lev. 20:11-12, 14).
5. Bestiality (Exod. 22:19; Lev. 20:15-16).
6. Incorrigible delinquency and persistent disobedience to parents and authorities (Deut. 17:12; 21:18-21).
7. Striking or cursing parents (Exod. 21:15; Lev. 20:9; Prov. 20:20; Matt. 15:4; Mark 7:10).
8. Offering human sacrifice (Lev. 20:2).
9. False prophecy (Deut. 13:1-10).
10. Blasphemy (Lev. 24:11-14, 16, 23).
11. Profaning the Sabbath (Exod. 35:2; Num. 15:32-36).
12. Sacrificing to false gods (Exod. 22:20).
13. Magic and divination (Exod. 22:18).
14. Unchastity (Deut. 22:20-21).
15. Rape of a betrothed virgin (Deut. 22:23-27).
The New Testament does not renounce
capital punishment.
Acts 25:10-11 Paul answered: "I am now standing
before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews,
as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving
death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not
true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" (NIV)
Romans 13:1-5 Everyone must submit himself to the
governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
God has established the authorities that exist. Consequently, he who rebels against the
authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those
who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is
right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do
wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an
agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit
to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of
conscience. (NIV)
A distinction is made between murder
and accidental death.
Numbers 35:15-25 These six towns will be a place of
refuge for Israelites, aliens and any other people living among them, so that anyone who
has killed another accidentally can flee there. "'If a man strikes someone with an
iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. Or if
anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he
is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. Or if anyone has a wooden object in his
hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer
shall be put to death. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when he meets
him, he shall put him to death. If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or
throws something at him intentionally so that he dies or if in hostility he hits him with
his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger
of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him. "'But if without
hostility someone suddenly shoves another or throws something at him unintentionally or,
without seeing him, drops a stone on him that could kill him, and he dies, then since he
was not his enemy and he did not intend to harm him, the assembly must judge between him
and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. The assembly must protect the one
accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to
which he fled. He must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed
with the holy oil. (NIV)
The law provided for self-defense.
Exodus 22:2-3 "If a thief is caught breaking in
and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens
after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed. "A thief must certainly make restitution,
but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft. (NIV)
The New Testament Further Defines
Murder
God abhors all the causes of murder,
such as envy, hatred, anger and the desire for revenge.
Matthew 5:21-26
"You
have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders
will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother
will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable
to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go
and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. "Settle matters
quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him
on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the
officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out
until you have paid the last penny. (NIV)
1 John 3:14-16 We know that we have passed from death
to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone
who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in
him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we
ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (NIV)
Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all
such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
(NIV)
As we look at these scriptures, we can
begin to understand the gravity of sin because of its far-reaching consequences.
Matthew 15:16-20 "Are you still so dull?"
Jesus asked them. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach
and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart,
and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery,
sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean';
but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'" (NIV)
Modern Day Practices
Should Christian be a
physician-assisting-people-to-death?
Can you be a doctor assisting suicide?
You’re not supposed to commit suicide. Murder includes self-murder. Suicide is
self-murder. To help someone murder himself or herself is murder.
Should support euthanasia, assisting
others to die?
If they will live with the assistance
of physicians, intentional termination of life is wrong. Perhaps some want to die
because they feel miserable due to a physical deformity or illness, but there is no basis
for euthanasia in Scripture. To assist someone in suicide is just the same as murder.
The unnatural prolonging of life is
not called for either. Perhaps the brain waves are there, but the physical body is dead.
If that person will die naturally, unnaturally prolonging their life may be uncalled for
as well. It may be better for them to die naturally than try to pump something in them and
make them live biologically.
Should a Christian be an abortion
doctor?
People want to devalue that baby and
call it a fetus and make it as impersonal as possible. In Luke 1, when the pregnant women
meet (Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist, and Mary, who was to have Jesus),
it says, "When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting" the baby leaped in her
womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
So Elizabeth w as filled with the Holy
Spirit and the baby responded by leaping!
Jeremiah says, "Before I formed
you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;" (Jeremiah 1:5)
Before the baby is born, there’s a life and a soul. That baby has a soul. As soon as
a sperm meets an egg, it becomes a life, a zygote. It’s a soul according to
Scripture. Be careful if you go into bioengineering.
Learn clearly what’s wrong and
right according to Scripture. Psalm 139:14-15 says, "I praise you because I am
fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame
was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in
the depths of the earth, (Psalms 139:14-15)." David is talking about himself
before he was born. Even in his mother’s womb, his soul was known and seen by God.
Should a Christian be an
executioner?
If Bible sanctions capital punishment,
it of necessity sanctions those who enforce the laws to take a person's life. That
occupation is open even to Christians.
Should a Christian be a soldier?
Romans 13:1-7 ordains that authorities
bear the sword for punishment of wrong doing. Therefore, a Christian can be a soldier or
police officer.
What about suicide?
It is God that gives life and it is He
that is to take it away except in the case where He delegates the right into the hands of
the government to perform capital punishment for various crimes. Interestingly, there are
some countries that make attempted suicide a capital offense. I guess they figure it is
better to grant you your wish than to spend time reviving you several times should you
blotch the job or change your mind. I would like to see the suicide rate figures there. It
might actually be a fairly good deterrent. You would have to be really sure you want to
die to even try it there.
Suicide is a violation of the second
commandment. Self-murder is not an act of self-love. It is an act of selfishness since it
does not take into consideration the effect on those around you especially those who love
you. That is not an example of loving your neighbor.
It is not an end to everything nor is
it an escape from God because He will be there to greet you. Depending on your spiritual
condition He might be your Judge and your troubles have only begun. He might be your
Savior and you will have deep regrets when He reveals all He would have done for you and
through you had you turned to Him to provide the way of escape from the temptation.
Does suicide guarantee you a ticket
straight to Hell with no layovers? The Roman Catholics see it as a mortal sin and
basically an unpardonable sin.
Samson as a prisoner of the Philistines
asked God to strengthen him one more time that he might avenge himself of being blinded by
them. He appears to have committed suicide, but it was actually an act of war because he
took a lot of Philistines with him. God gave him the strength to break down the pillars
causing him to die with the enemy. (Judges 16:21-31) I believe that God used this to bring
Samson home.
Samson was in that position because of
sin. His capture caused the Philistines to blaspheme God and praise their false idol. God
allowed Samson to be used to destroy the Philistines for their blasphemy. Therefore I
believe that he died as a result of his sin and it was not what we would call a suicide.
We know that Samson was saved because he is mentioned in the Hall of Faith (Heb 11:32).
While Samson’s death was not
honorable and self-inflicted there are times when a man can cause his own death honorably.
In war, there have been men who threw themselves on grenades or stayed behind to hold off
the enemy while his compatriots escaped though he knew there would be no escape for him.
There have been saints that have died
since the early days of Rome hiding brethren from the Romans, later from the Inquisitors
and hiding Jews in WWII. These folks while they killed themselves deliberately or by
placing themselves in harm’s way best exhibit what Jesus meant when He said, John
15:13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(KJV)
We would call these folks heroes and
rightly so! These folks died with valor and honor. Sadly, the normal suicide is not so.
They are folks that have given up. They have lost hope. They may have many specific
reasons, but they all come back to the root of no hope.
Unbelievers have many reasons to want
to check out and call it quits. Fortunately, I can look at the same circumstances and say
that I know the final outcome and there is great reason for hope and opportunity in the
days ahead. I believe in Christ. I have read the back of the Book and know who wins.
I know that He is present in this world
and still sits on the throne despite who has the political seat of power. I know that He
has saved me and is more involved in my life than my pea brain can comprehend and even
when I mess it up so bad that I burn my life to ashes he can make beauty out of the ashes!
Does that mean that I am always giddy
and thrilled? No, I have my share of problems. Am I never depressed? No, I have bouts of
anxiety and depression when I take my eyes off Him and look inward or to other men. It
does mean that I have the answers and great resources both within and without that I can
avail myself to when I face the temptations common to man. Everything I need is there. I
just have to use it.
Also, we need to look at physical
causes for our depression. A person feeling tired all the time lacking interest or drive
should see a medical doctor and get a complete physical. You may have an ailment that can
be treated short or long term with medication. There may also come a time when you
determine that your should seek help from a Christian Counselor trained to deal with
issues that relate to your particular need. Sometimes a believer is simply too embarrassed
or afraid to talk to their minister and a Counselor is easier to open up to so that the
root of the problem can reached and the person cured.
Murder pollutes a nation.
Numbers 35:33-34 "'Do not pollute the land where
you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which
blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. Do not defile the land
where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.'"
(NIV)
Murder affects the productivity of a
nation.
Genesis 4:9-16 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where
is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's
keeper?" The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries
out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which
opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground,
it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the
earth." Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you
are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a
restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." But the LORD said
to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times
over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.
So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
(NIV)
Hosea 4:1-3 Hear the word of the LORD, you
Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land:
"There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is
only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and
bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste
away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.
(NIV)
A young girl who was writing a paper
for school came to her father and asked, "Dad, what's the difference between anger
and exasperation?"
The father replied, "It's mostly a
matter of degree. Let me show you what I mean." With that the father went to the
telephone and dialed a number at random. To the man who answered the phone, he said,
"Hello, is Melvin there?" The man answered, "There is no one living here
named Melvin. Why don't you learn to look up numbers before you dial them?"
"See," said the father to his
daughter. "That man was not a bit happy with our call. He was probably very busy with
something and we annoyed him. Now watch . . ." The father dialed the same number
again. "Hello, is Melvin there?" asked the father.
"Now look here!" came the
heated reply. "You just called this number, and I told you that there is no Melvin
here! You've got a lot of nerve calling again!" The receiver slammed down hard.
The father turned to his daughter and
said, "You see that was anger. Now I'll show you what exasperation means." He
again dialed the same number, and when a violent voice roared "Hello!" the
father calmly said, "Hello, this is Melvin. Have there been any calls for me?"
Anger seems to have become our national
pastime.
We have battered women. We have
drive-by shootings. We have movie heroes who are "lethal weapons who die hard."
We have a world full of angry people. Have you noticed how anger fills our world? Look at
the genocide in Bosnia, Croatia and Africa. In our country we hear of road rage, postal
workers going "postal," employees going berserk and students killing other
students for the sheer thrill of it. We see seething anger in homes that are falling
apart.
The news media loves to play to our
anger by showing one group how it is being deprived of its rights by another group. This
is a great sensationalizing tool of mass media, as well as politicians.
It's only natural, in such a world, to
long to escape from the hassles of dealing with angry people. A more worthy goal, however,
is to affect this age of rage as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
John Maxell says ministers spend 20% of
their time dealing with conflict within churches. John Maxwell also said, "Coping
with difficult people is always a problem. Especially if the difficult person happens to
be yourself."
One
leading psychiatrist feels that anger is the greatest single problem in life. The Bible
agrees: "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays
folly. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."
(Proverbs 14:29-30 NIV)
Anger can have a destructive effect on
your health. "In fifteen minutes of anger one can use up as much energy as in an
entire day of zestful work. Anger can disorder nerves and deposit poison in the
blood." Anger, in forms such as envy, fear, and hate, can cause disease and death.
Anger can destroy relationships, and can destroy one's spiritual and emotional peace.
"Unresolved and unconfessed malice will always hinder our efforts to portray the
personality of Jesus in our daily living. If anger is a problem in your life, you can make
the decision to change, but you must seek God's help. (Ephesians 4:22, 23, 31, 32.
"Anger" by Tony Bland. Pulpit Helps, Oct 1987. Page 1.)
A nice old gentleman of seventy-five
got a good report from his doctor after his medical examination, and the doctor asked him
how he kept in such good shape.
"Well, Sir," he explained,
"when I got married about fifty years ago, my wife and I made an agreement that if I
lost my temper she would stay silent and if she lost her temper I would leave the house
and go for a stroll. I credit my good health to the well-known advantages of walking.
Matthew 5:21-26 "You have heard that it was said
to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to
judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to
judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin.
But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. "Therefore,
if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has
something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be
reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. "Settle matters quickly
with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the
way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer,
and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you
have paid the last penny. (NIV)
A newspaper reported a tragic incident
of violence that took place in a South American country. A peasant killed his best friend
while they were arguing about political differences. A retired chief of the army, one of
the country's finest intellectuals, had occasion to question the killer. "Why did you
do it?" he asked. "You fought about politics, but why did you kill him?" In
chilling words, the peasant answered, "We began peacefully, and we argued. I killed
him when I ran out of words."
This tragedy calls to mind Jesus' words
in Matthew 5 about the close connection between anger and murder.
Jesus speaks of progressive levels of
anger in the foregoing verses. The first level he speaks of is a temper that flashes and
subsides quickly. He simply says, But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his
brother will be subject to judgment."
Paul speaks of this anger, "Be
angry and sin not." (Ephesians 4:26) It is possible to be angry and not sin when
we refuse to allow our anger to control us. Jesus said that this kind of anger can make us
subject to judgement if not controlled.
Scripture gives some advice for dealing
with the anger common to being human. "The Bible does not say anger is forbidden. God
got plenty steamed more than once."
Two scriptural guidelines:
1) Warm up slowly. Solomon says, "Do
not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools"
(Ecclesiastes 7:9 NIV).
2) Cool down quickly, Paul says, "Don't
let the sun go down on your wrath . . ." Ephesians 4:26.) ("Do real
Christians get mad?" by Dean Merrill. Christian Herald, Sep 1988. Pages 36-42.)
Aristotle made this wise observation:
"Anybody can become angry--that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, to
the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way--that is
not easy!"
A second level of anger is revealed in
the word "Raca."
This is a burning smoldering brooding
unforgiving anger that is seeking revenge for wrongs done. This type of anger gives
outward expression as we refuse to get over it. The idea behind this is that in your anger
you hold the person who has wronged you in contempt. It becomes evident in a sarcastic
tone of voice. Allowing this anger to reign gives place for the devil to do his damage. It
is a growing anger that will bring us under judgement.
Ephesians 4:26-32 "In your anger do not sin":
Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a
foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something
useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not
let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building
others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get
rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you. (NIV)
In these verses in Ephesians, Paul
writes of stealing, unwholesome talk, bitterness, rage, and anger with one stroke of the
pen. These are the consequences of unresolved anger. Stealing may seem out of place in
these verses, but there are many angry persons out there trying to get what they think the
world owes them. I have personally discovered, if you are expecting the world to pay you
back for the mistreatment you have received, you may never get repaid. To demand that the
world repay you or to wait for repayment will allow the world to steal your life from you.
When we blame our circumstances on others we become powerless over our circumstances. We
become enslaved to our circumstances when we wait for someone else to change our
circumstances. Waiting on the world to make it right is the worst thing we can do because
we must keep a firm grip on our circumstances to keep the world indebted to us.
There is a third degree of anger
revealed in the word "fool."
Jesus says, "But anyone who
says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." This is not a
prohibition against the word fool. Jesus said, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart
to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" (Luke 24:25) It has to do with
relegating a person to the position of a morally worthless person, a scoundrel. It has to
do with looking upon this person with distain. I think this is what is involved in racism.
Anger seeks to create distance
between us and those we are angry with.
Calling the person Raca or stupid or an
idiot is an effort to destroy that person's self respect as we seek to bring him/her to
shame. We endeavor to create a desire in that person to crawl in a hole and die. Calling
the person a fool is an effort to destroy the person's reputation as we seek to destroy
the value others might place upon that person. We seek to create a desire in others to do
the person wrong.
When we allow our anger to grow, we
begin to think that the world would be better off without the person we are angry at. To
us they might as well be dead. We have no regard for the person or the problems they might
be facing.
In God's sight anger is bad, long
lasting anger is worse, contemptuous speech is worse and malicious talk that tears others
down is even worse. It puts us in danger of hell fire, a place prepared for the devil and
those who give him a foothold in their lives.
Constantly we hear about unresolved
anger. Have you ever been told to "Get over it"? Usually you are told this when
you are angry. There is a single concept running through Jesus' statement in Matthew
5:21-26 and Paul's statement in the above verses.
The concept is, don't let your anger
consume you. Jesus says, " . . . settle matters quickly with your adversary . .
." Paul says, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still
angry." Resolving the conflict in our lives is crucial.
Jesus says, "Settle matters
quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him
on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the
officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out
until you have paid the last penny."
It is important to resolve our anger
because, "The man who flies into a rage always makes a bad landing." (Will
Rogers) Anger paves the road that we must tread; it hurts us more than those we are angry
with.
Most families avoid conflict, burying
the hurt and anger, but those negative feelings eventually get expressed. The link between
behavior and heart disease is how you handle negative emotions, specifically your anger.
The way a married man handles anger can
affect not only his own health but also his wife's, and a wife's anger-suppression can
have an even greater effect on her husband. In a study of 192 couples, 75% of the men who
died from cancer had spouses who suppressed their anger.
Women whose husbands suppressed their
anger had a greater risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. The researchers explained
that suppressing basic emotions tends to alter the balance of daily routines, creating
stress and disrupting sleep, etc. Men seem to be more vulnerable because they are
dependent on emotional support from their wives. ("When spouses grouse."
Psychology Today, Jul/Aug 1992. Page 18.)
We must be reconciled to God and each
other.
Complete reconciliation to God is not
possible without a willingness to be reconciled to others as well. Whenever someone has
been grieved, angered, or wounded, or the situation involves broken vows, unkept
commitments, or violated persons, we're to make an attempt at reconciliation. It doesn't
matter whether you are the one offended or the offender. Jesus made it clear that neither
kind of anger is to be tolerated.
Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore, if you are offering
your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother;
then come and offer your gift. (NIV)
Reconciliation is a requirement for
Christians.
Jesus emphasized the importance of
oneness in the church. Jesus gives the power to break down the barriers between us. Paul
tells us in Colossians 3:11 that in the body of Christ no distinction is to be made among
those from different segments of society, that all are one in Christ. He has accomplished,
by His blood, the means to that oneness; our responsibility is to live out that truth in
our daily lives.
Forgiveness is the first essential
element of reconciliation because it places upon each of us the responsibility to get over
it.
Forgiveness forces each of us to learn
to love one another as Christ loves us.
Sometimes, no matter how hard we try,
there are those who will refuse to be reconciled to us. Paul tells us in Romans 12:18 that
we're to do all we can to effect reconciliation. There may come a time when only prayers
of relinquishment (releasing the person to God's care and instruction) and intercession
(praying for those who have mistreated us) will bring us peace.
To me Joseph is one of the most
outstanding persons in the Bible. His arrogance over his God given dream led him to be
sold into slavery. When Potiphar’s wife was seducing him, it was his sincere desire
not to sin against God that sent him to prison. His suffered at his own hands as well as
the hands of others. However, Joseph sought to see a greater purpose behind his difficult
circumstances. In doing so he accepted responsibility for his own actions.
Genesis 50:15-22 When Joseph's brothers saw that their
father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us
back for all the wrongs we did to him?" So they sent word to Joseph, saying,
"Your father left these instructions before he died: 'This is what you are to say to
Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in
treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your
father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers then came and
threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph
said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me,
but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many
lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he
reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his
father's family. He lived a hundred and ten years. (NIV)
Joseph realized that God intended
whatever happened to him for good. But those verses are not the most touching verses about
Joseph’s life. These are:
Genesis 41:50-52 Before the years of famine came, two
sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. Joseph named his
firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and
all my father's household." The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is
because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." (NIV)
Joseph says, "God has made me
forget all my trouble" and "God has made me fruitful in the land of my
suffering." Joseph was able to do this because he kept his life focused on God’s
purpose for his life. He reminds us "that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Stress-management consultant Donald
Tubesing says that stress is our response to the situation, not the situation itself. He
gives this example: "If you get stuck in traffic, you can work yourself up and yell
at anyone who beeps his horn. Or you could view the time you're sitting there as the only
uninterrupted 15 minutes you'll have all day."
John Curtis, founder and director of
the University of Wisconsin Stress Management Institute, says, "I believe 90 percent
of stress is brought on by not living in the present moment--worrying about what's already
happened, what's going to happen, or what could happen."
The advice of these stress management
experts can be helpful. Our best counsel, however, comes from Scripture.
Psalms 37:7-11 Be still before the LORD and wait
patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their
wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-- it leads only to
evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be
found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (NIV)
John Ortberg, in the Discipleship
Journal reminds us of some biblical precepts to follow in overcoming our anger.
Turn the other cheek.
Jesus loved to teach by contrasting
conventional wisdom with the wisdom of the Kingdom. While conventional wisdom says strike
back, Kingdom wisdom says offer love in return for hurt.
Be quick to listen, slow to speak.
When someone is angry with us, our
first impulse is usually to justify or explain our behavior. The Kingdom response is to
seek understanding through listening. We might actually learn something!
The story is told of a young man who
had been cruelly insulted by a former acquaintance. Full of indignation, he determined to
go at once and demand an apology. A saintly gentleman laid his hand on his shoulder and
said quietly, "Son, let me give you a word of advice. An insult is like mud: it will
brush off much better when it is dry! Wait until you both have cooled off, and then the
thing can probably be settled quickly. If you go now, you'll quarrel even more."
Turn away wrath by giving a gentle
answer.
The more we try to defend ourselves,
the more an angry person attacks. Watch, however, what happens when you actually agree
with something your attacker says. It is disarming and defusing.
Search your heart.
Practice what Alcoholics Anonymous
calls taking a "ruthless moral inventory." Examine your typical responses to
angry people. Do you hide from confrontation when you should be facing it? Do you confront
in every little situation when you should lighten up instead? If you know where you err,
you have a better chance of making changes.
Don't make friends with angry
people.
The next time you're with an angry
person, observe how you are affected. Do you leave angrier than you arrived? That's
because anger is contagious.
Living in the age of rage takes skill,
and skill comes through practice. Let Jesus teach you how to deal with angry people, then
practice what He preaches. It's worth the effort because you can count on it-- angry
people will be around for a long time to come. ("It's a mad, mad, mad, mad
world" by John Ortberg. Discipleship Journal, May/Jun 1995 Pages 62-65.)
We live in a world where we need to
take responsibility for our personal response when wronged. Like Joseph in Egypt, we need
to learn to see a greater purpose behind our difficult circumstances. We must see God’s
work despite our difficult circumstances. When our anger stems from a mistake we made or a
sin we committed, we must realize that our God is a God of second chances. When our anger
stems from what others have done to us, we must seek to reconcile ourselves to God as we
seek reconciliation with those who have done us harm.
Psalms 4:1-8 Answer me when I call to you, O my
righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. How
long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek
false gods? Selah Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will
hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your
hearts and be silent. Selah Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. Many are asking,
"Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I
will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (NIV)
Last modified:
April 18, 2006