A Message From Pastor Bob:

If You Don’t Heal What Hurt You…

Think of the people that you are closest to. Now think of what you’ve been through with them – all of it, the good and the bad, the nice and the nasty. When I was quite young, I heard the phrase, “You always hurt the ones you love.” I probably first heard this from my parents as they tried to teach my sisters and I about forgiveness when we hurt others, and about compassion when others hurt us. I do believe the ones that I have hurt most deeply are the people I most cherish. Golly, humans are weird.

Yet as a Jesus follower, I do not believe we can say whatever we want to others and tell them things like “You know I don’t mean it” or “That’s just how I am, and you have to accept it.” Christians get angry because we are human, and to be angry is not a sin. But to be angry and refuse to take ownership of any damage we may have done to others – I believe that is sinful. A woman once counseled her friend with these words: Just because you are angry, doesn’t mean that you can throw words around and expect people to accept them.

 What does the Bible say about anger? Let’s check…

         Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry, but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry.   Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. ~ Ephesians 4:26-27

        People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarreling and trouble. ~ Proverbs 29:22

        My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteous- ness that God desires. ~ James 1:19-20

 Some unsolicited advice: Don’t quote Bible verses at angry people. It shall not end well for you! I revisit these Scriptures when I am angry because I believe it’s better for me to model Christian behavior than to expect it from others, even other Christians. I recently heard a profound message:

 If you don’t heal what hurt you, you’ll bleed on people who didn’t hurt you. (Author unknown)

 I think the power behind this statement is that we humans love to play the victim, and when we throw our pity parties, we shoot first and take names later. The verses above from James address this: human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

The topic of anger came to mind for me because I believe that expressing anger and shirking all the consequences of doing so is becoming not only acceptable behavior, but condoned by those who  proclaim to follow Jesus. There is no question that being irresponsible and reckless when anger is completely contrary to Jesus’ teachings.

 Healing from our past is difficult work, and can require great amounts of time and effort. But we must never forget that, if we cherish the Gospel and strive to follow Jesus, this is our truth: If you don’t heal what hurt you, you will bleed on people who didn’t hurt you. And if someone tells you, “Well, Jesus got angry and trashed the temple, so I can do likewise!” it’s critical to remind them that they are not Jesus and that Scripture is loaded with statements that define irresponsible anger as evil and destructive. By the way, and Jesus’ anger in the temple was not irresponsible. He was responding to God’s people practicing thievery and dishonesty in God’s name, and in God’s temple.

 It is vital for us to remain countercultural, and strive to share the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Peace,

Pastor Bob