Written by Dennis Hollinger, a contemporary professor and ethicist.
Likely one of our first responses to terrorist acts is anger. Whenever we are attacked physically or psychologically, resentment and belligerence arise within us. Anger is a good gift, for it enables us to deal emotionally with violations, injustices, and evil that threaten our life and integrity. But anger is also fallen, and so it easily turns to unbridled anger that comes to control us. In its fallen state unbridled anger tends to build a history that won’t let go and thus perpetuates disgust, disrespect, and eventually violence, as the blood boils within us. As Horace, the Roman poet, put it, “Anger is a short madness” It’s because of the brutal impact of anger upon both the victim and the offender that the Bible has wise direction, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph. 4:26). Our natural unbridled anger needs to be transformed into righteous indignation, a holy wrath with strong feelings directed toward the evil, sin, and injustice perpetrated. Righteous indignation moves us beyond the uncontrollable outrage directed against individuals to a more principled anger focusing on the evil done. Such redeemed anger is perhaps akin to God’s own holy wrath. Such anger arises from God’s holiness, for sin and evil are direct contradictions to God’s own nature and actions. If we are not angered by terrorist events. we likely have little sense of either goodness or evil. But if we live in unbridled anger, we may succumb to the very evil that outrages us in the first place. Thus, righteous indignation, not unbridled anger.
Prayer:
Written by Kim Snodgrass, a contemporary writer.
Beloved God, cultivate in my heart a genuine love of others; a righteous anger towards those things that separate me from you and others. Allow the love of others to be my driving force so that with your help I may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you. Amen.
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