What Causes Anger?

First, let's look at a few facts about "Anger":

• Anger occurs everyday in most people in some form
• is a common God given emotion
• is a feeling that is aroused by a real or supposed wrong
• Studies have proven that most of us develop our anger response as small children.
• There is a fine line between anger and sin
• We have permission to be angry but not to the point of sin.
  

"Be angry, and do not sin" do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27

Jesus was angry at the money changers in the Temple. John 2

When was the last time you were anger? What makes you Angry? How does it show up in your personality? Think about these questions as we look at What Causes Anger.

Anger is an emotion of self- preservation in which you are standing up for one of three things.

1. Personal Worth: Anger is ignited when a person perceives rejection or invalidation.
Question to consider: If you are angry do you feel like you have been rejected or invalidated in some area of life or by someone in your life?

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ..........sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. " Gen 4:5-7

2. Essential Needs: When our needs are not addressed or validated the result is emotional turmoil. We feel hurt and angry. Unmet needs may be the need for affection, love, belonging, communication, someone to care, security....
Question to consider: If you are angry is there an unmet need that is causing it?

David's son Absalom is an example of anger over an unmet need. 2 Sam 14:23-25

3. Basic Convictions: We become angry when our fundamental convictions are ignored or not respected by others. These convictions can be moral but may be based on personal beliefs and personality such as a very detail person's convictions can be disrespected by a person that puts no attention to detail. Or the way a person treats another person may go against our basic convictions.
Side note: Being right can sometimes lead to being wrong..

Question to consider: if you are angry is someone or something ignoring or not respecting your basic convictions?

Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the month he did not eat, because he was grieved at his fathers shameful treatment of David. 1 Sam 20:34

As you go through your week and you find yourself feeling angry or offended, ask yourself which of these three areas are causing this anger. It's ok to feel anger, it is what you do with that feeling that causes it to become a sin or not.

Next Post: When Anger Becomes Sin.