Is it really SIN to be angry with God ?

Since I received a lengthy PM from RFW, I think I'm safe to assume that she is not content to let me simply leave the argument. (BTW, RFW. I've turned my PM's off, not because I have any personal vendetta, but because I prefer to keep the discussions in the open forums.)

What is it that you think God owes you, RFW? Does He owe you a happy and peaceful life free of trouble, disillusionment, disappointment and distress? Isn't the bottom line that God really owes you an eternity of torment in hell? But you aren't getting what you deserve, not because you "wrestled" with God and coerced an agreement out of Him, but because of His mercy. Even during the injustices you were suffering, you weren't really getting what God really owes you. You should have been thankful instead.

Don't labor under the false impression that your anger to God was a giant leap in spirituality. You say you grew, and I believe you. But your growth was not a result of your response to God, but of God's merciful and compassionate response to you. Where sin abounds, grace doth much more abound. Don't fall into the error of saying, "Let us sin that grace may abound."

To wrestle with God is to be an enmity with Him. The angel overcame Jacob by injuring his flesh. Jacob wasn't stronger because of his fight with the angel, he was weaker. He walked with a limp afteward. And that is how God overcomes our flesh, by destroying it, because the flesh is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. There's no reasoning with it, there's no converting it. There is only the destruction of it.

Anger is a work of the flesh, (Gal. 5:20, look up the definition).

Everyone at some point will be angry with God. Thank God for His mercy. But all must repent of that sin.

 

Aaron,

Well said and Biblical. Amen!

Joseph Botwinick

 

I almost hesitate to wade into this thread, with all that has been said already.
I agree with Aaron that it is wrong to be angry. I have said previously that one needs a proper definition of anger, for angry is used in different contexts in the Bible. For example, was Jesus "angry" when he cleansed the Temple? The answer is no, not as we define anger, or think of anger. Jesus never lost his temper. That is the key. He always had complete control of his emotions. If he didn't he would have sinned. Jesus was never "out of control." He just didn't take a whip, go into the Temple, and "lose it." He took very deliberate steps, thinking out each action, and with authority overthrew the tables of the money changers and chased out those that shouldn't have been there. He did not lose his his temper. He kept his cool.

That is not how we picture anger in our day and age. When we speak of an angry man today, we speak of one who loses their temper, yells at individuals, and even swears and curses at times. It is easy to picture an angry man as such. Jesus was never "angry."
In the same way, though the Bible says much about the wrath of God, and even how God is angry with the wicked, God is perfect and does not lose his temper. We don't serve an angry God but a loving God. He is a God of love, and yet of justice and holiness at the same time. Much of the time words such as anger are "anthropormorphisms" used to help us understand some of the attributes of God that we have a hard time understanding. God is not an angry God. He is a God of love. He loves each one of you just as much as every one else in this world. And despite the circumstances one finds themselves in there is never any cause to be angry for God's love for you is beyond comprehension. We may say with Paul: "His grace is sufficient for me."

It is not right to be angry with God at any time. Realize that God is in control and sovereign over the affairs of mankind. Be thankful that whatever the circumstances that you find yourself in, they could be worse. Pray and ask the Lord, what the next step is. Ask him for direction in your life. Be thankful in all things. And in all things give praise.
DHK

 

Thank you DHK,

I appreciate your well-put definition. I think thats how I was thinking of "anger with God" as well....an anger that is out of control.

BTW, how in the world do you turn off PMs? That sounds like an excellent idea to me, as well.

 

Thanks, Joseph.

Thanks, DHK, but I'm not saying what you said. I'm not talking about the lack of self control. I'm saying the emotion of anger itslef is wrong. To have it implies that I am owed something, and that I have little or no faith that God really will repay for the injustices as He said He would.

I get angry. Each time it is a sin that I must confess. I have not been given the grace to be free of anger. Not yet. But it is my prayer to be. Maybe I should remember RFW in that request too.

Jesus got angry, and God gets angry. But anger belongs to Him, not us. So I agree with the apostle who said, and I posted it before, "But now ye also put off...anger," and the Psalmist, "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil."

 

Two ways:

1: To disable all private messaging.
</font>

• Click on "my profile" at the top of the page.</font>
• Click on "Edit Preferences"</font>
• Uncheck the box next to "Enable Private Messaging?"</font>

2: To ignore PM's from certain individuals.
</font>

• Click on the Profile icon at the top of an individual's post or PM.</font>
• At the bottom of the profile there are two options. Click on "Add to Your Ignore List."</font>

 

Its so hard sometimes to admit that a thing we are doing or have done is a sin. Perhaps that is why this thread has been dragged on and on? Its just hard to admit it being wrong, so we try to justify and defend ourselves.

And thank you Aaron. Thats very useful.

 

I forgot to add:

The destruction of the flesh is God's primary purpose for bringing suffering our way.

 

I think this thread has been answered sufficiently. I will recap. It is sin to be angry at God. I have sinned in this manner and still it is a sin. It is not a righteous anger, of which only Christ could be said to possess a righteous anger. (Remember all sin is a reproach against God and against His Christ, our God and our savior and not a reproach against ourselves.)

It remains true that because of our depraved nature, and our yet being in the flesh, when we are hurt, when we suffer, we do become angry at God at times because we do not see, think or know things as God does see and know them.

I believe God has ordained all things short of sin, I believe sin is resulted from secondary events or attitudes found in the creature and not in the eternal infinite Godhead.

All sin has its source in the pride of Lucifer's heart and manifests itself in the creation of God through the fall, into which all conceived humans are partakers.

As I said, this question has been sufficiently answered.

If there is no opposition from any other forum moderator I am going to close the thread. I am also contacting the mods. to learn their opinion of my closing this thread.

Bro. Dallas Eaton

 

Good idea, Brother Dallas,
May I do it for you?
DHK