Do you ever get angry? Ever feel guilty about it? What if you knew there was a verse that not only allowed you to get angry but was a command from God Himself to be angry or, more precisely, to be perpetually angry. There is a catch as the verse goes on to say you are not to sin while you are perpetually angry. The verse is found in the Epistle to the Believers in Ephesus. It is in Chapter 4 verse 26, "Be angry, and do not sin. do not let the sun go down on your wrath." That seems a little odd to be told to be angry perhaps it would be well to dig a little deeper.
The word "anger" is the word orgizo in the Greek and it means to be angry, aroused to wrath, to be angry with someone, not something, whether it is an individual, a nation or Satan. It is a present, passive, imperative verb. Present means the activity is ongoing, something done perpetually. The passive voice tells us that it happens to us. We are passive so the anger rules over us not the other way around. Finally it is an imperative or a command.
Paul writes to the Ephesian Believers that they are commanded to be continually controlled by anger. Many commentaries fail to recognize the verb and give us the impression that we all occasionally "lose it" and that is okay. It is a common issue among humans. Or they go with the second option suggesting that we need "righteous indignation" when it comes to the deterioration of the world and the declining moral condition of society. To have righteous indignation against Satan and the sin that surrounds us. Just don't let this anger cross the line and become sin. A present, active, imperative verb.
Did you notice the change in voice? Anger is to control us but we are to be actively involved in not sinning. And, apparently, if we cross the line, we are not to let the sun go down on our wrath. Once again the word is a present, active, imperative verb. So we are commanded to always have an active role in getting rid of the "wrath" or parorgizo, meaning rage, anger, exasperation and, in a broader sense, rebellion. The Apostle Paul appears to be telling us that we are commanded to be perpetually controlled by anger toward someone, yet also commanded to be personally responsible to not sin or cross the line of disobedience to God's standards, and commanded to never let the day end with any rage, anger or rebellion present in our lives.
There are a few problems with all of this analysis. First, Ephesians 4:31 reads, "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice [emphasis mine]." This is likewise a command and the word "anger" is orge, the same root as orgizo back in verse 26. Thus, Paul tells us to be perpetually angry and never be angry in the same passage. The idea that this is all about "righteous indignation" does not fit the context.
The whole letter, and chapter 4 in particular, is about unity. Being "one". One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all. As members of one another, we are to put away all lying, and speak the truth to his neighbor. There is nothing at all about the world or a "right" to be indignant toward the world or anyone else. As to the concept of being perpetually controlled by anger and never crossing the line to sin.......... well, good luck with that. Anger and rebellion go hand in hand and perpetually angry people seldom let go of their wrath before sundown. That situation leads to a violation of Ephesians 4:27, "nor give place to the devil".
Again, we find a present, active, imperative verb. We are commanded to never give the devil any space, no foothold, to be perpetually vigilant so that our anger/wrath/rebellion will never give the devil an opportunity to bring division to the Body. How can both of these statements be true? They are, honestly, contradictory. The call to perpetual anger violate the Lord's teaching to love one another and even our enemies. Anger that controls us is virtually always destructive. What in the world does Paul mean for you and me? Does this verse really give me an out? Am I to be controlled by and express my anger? Am I actually be commanded by God to act this way?
Highly unlikely.
Passages like this are the reasons we need to understand that culture matters. We need to avoid the concept that Paul is writing to Americans with our narrow view that the universe and God revolve around us. We must remember that the Apostle Paul is a Jewish Rabbi writing to an assembly of Jews and Gentiles - a community where the Gentiles have become partakers of the Hebrew covenants and Promises. They are now a part of the commonwealth of Israel (See Ephesians 2:12). Everyone who first read this passage is thinking Hebrew not Greek or American. How does that help? Paul may be writing Greek but his thought process is Hebrew, as are all his readers. Ephesians 4:26 is drawn from Psalm 4. The original readers were well familiar with the Psalms and would have made the connection. The Jews recited the Psalms on a regular basis so they would have recognized where the phrase came from.
In the King James Version, Psalm 4:4 reads, "Stand in awe, and sin not, commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still." The NIV and NASB read "Tremble, and do not sin." The Hebrew word is ragaz. It means to tremble, to quiver, to quake, to be afraid, as in awe of God. In a secondary way it means to be perturbed, angry, or enraged. However, in the context of Psalm 4 the psalmist is calling the people to be right before God and each other. To stop going after false gods and to look to the Lord for peace and prosperity. In recognizing who the Lord is we should stand in awe. In knowing who God is, do not sin. Do not be in rebellion. When the sun sets, rest on your bed and search your own heart and be still. Do not be agitated or rebellious or distraught or perturbed with anyone.
In Ephesus, a community of followers of Messiah was meeting together. There were challenges as the Gentiles tried to assimilate into the Commonwealth of Israel. Tensions were, at times, pretty high. It was hard to be "One" with all their differences. Paul tells them to be honest with one another, remembering they are members of one another. How? Stand in awe of God. Accept the command to be continually passive or submitted to Him. And be careful to not sin against Him or each other. Do not let anything fester. Release it quickly and go to bed with the though of examining their own hearts. To be still and seek what the Lord would have for them. To do what must be none to promote and maintain the unity that comes from being members of one another. Never let those irritations fester. Never let the devil get a foothold. Don't steal from one another, rather be generous, don't speak evil but build up, never grieve the Holy Spirit, get rid of all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking, and malice. Instead, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, don't be perpetually angry but forgive one another as God, in Christ Jesus, has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:28-32).
Which cultural context seems more likely to you? Our American tradition where we have a right to be angry, even commanded to always be angry. Or the Hebraic culture in which the letter was written? The one where we are to always to be in such awe of God that we will not sin or hold a grudge.
This is why I believe culture matters. This is why I believe we need to recognize that we were made a part of the Commonwealth of Israel, as the Apostle Paul tells us. We do have the option to deny our Hebraic roots and feel justified in being always, perpetually angry. Anger is easier than awe. Anger is easier than stand trembling before a holy God who calls me to never be angry but to forgive, just as He has forgiven me.
When we put Scripture into our own culture and ignore the one in which it was written it provides us with lots of options to get the Bible to say what we want. We get to ignore all the evidence that calls us to be accountable to the God of the Jews and make Him into the God with which we are comfortable. We get to justify those angry moments that damage others. Just so long as it isn't really sin. After all, they were the ones who, " made me angry. I was just standing there passively and the anger happened. And I am not sure, but I think I was just righteously indigent. So I am okay, Ephesians 4:26 tells me so."
That could be the message.
I, however, think it would be better to perpetually stand in awe of my God, the God of the Hebrews. From there, to do all I can to avoid sin while I forgive others.
How about you?
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