Now that elections are over at last, will the rage ever end?
By Dean Collins
We all noticed it. You couldn’t miss it. It was more than politics but it dominated the sound waves and the digital and print media for months. And sadly yesterday we saw the result of unbridled rage. The President of the United States, unwilling to accept defeat, incited rage and law breaking by many loyal supporters. But before we simply judge the President we must judge ourselves.
More than anger
Anger is one thing, but rage takes anger to a violent and destructive level. In fact anger can be useful in that it alerts us to something not right. Anger, if acknowledged and managed, can serve to help us make changes in ourselves and address issues that need to be corrected. There are healthy ways to deal with anger.
Rage, on the other hand, never solves problems. Rage brings out the worst in people. It can cause a person to become violent with both words and actions. In the last several months we saw a lot of rage, and I doubt it improved any relationships or brought health and wellness to any families, churches, communities, businesses, or global affairs. Rage destroys.
But rage isn’t a recent development. In fact the psalmist raises the question about rage in Psalm 2: “Why do the nations rage and people plot in vain”? The indication of this psalm is that people and rulers will not only work against each other but they will work and plot against God and against the Son he sent to redeem and save us.
Psychologists indicate that the roots of anger can come from a variety of places. Anger might grow from a sense of shame, rejection, insecurity, or fear. Left unattended, these emotions can escalate. And when rage kicks in, rational thinking makes a quick exit. It doesn’t matter how smart or knowledgeable you might be. When rage takes the reins you lose contact with your principles.
Preventing and healing
Scripture gives us pathways that can both prevent and heal us of our rage. The last verse of Psalm 2 tells us that instead of fighting against each other and against God, we can take refuge in him. After reminding us of how much God yearns for us and offers his amazing grace, James, in his little letter, gives us clear steps of connection with our spiritual resources:
1) Submit yourself to God
2) Resist the devil
3) Draw near to God
4) Cleanse your hands and heart
5) Humble yourself
Each of these actions brings results. We don’t like the idea of submitting to anyone or anything. We’ve been conditioned to take charge and be in control. But it is evident in Scripture and in life that as much as we think we are in charge, we are not. There is only One who is both powerful enough to create us and loving enough to save us from ourselves and from our sin. We can continue to rage against ourselves and others or surrender to God’s offer of grace and restoration.
Offense and defense
Realize that the enemy of God is active and desires to interrupt your connection with God, so resist him. When we resist the enemy and his bait, he will run. But he will come back with another attempt, so we must draw closer to God. We have a defense and an offense in Jesus who has broken the chains that bind us and has left us a helper in the Holy Spirit.
As we face each day we can and should acknowledge our sin, purify our hearts, and humble ourselves before our loving father who will lift us up, make us whole, and use us for his glory.
As we continue in this new year we can kiss the Son and kiss rage goodbye. One saves us while the other wants only destruction.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 2:1-12; James 4:5-10 ESV
Photos by Matheus Farias on Unsplash
