And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12: 102 (NLT)
These are the measuring sticks we must use when considering if our anger is truly righteous. Is it related to the behavior and customs of this world? We must allow ourselves to be transformed in our mind; that is the way we think must change. We must move from a carnal perspective to an eternal perspective. Are we angry about something that affects the eternal? Or is our anger based upon something in this world? Is the anger related to an affront we feel towards ourselves? Toward some bloated vision we have of ourselves? Have we put in so many years into ministry that we think that affords us some special consideration? What is the affront that is the question. Jesus continued to drive the point home:
and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. Mark 11: 16 (NIV)
The temple was supposed to be the house of God. The only business that should be conducted should be related to the work of God. The only profit generated should be profit for God. Jesus was cleansing the temple which is not insignificant as Passover was when the Jews were supposed to clean their houses of all leaven (yeast).
Lastly, is the anger based upon a genuine concern for God? If it is, it will be obvious to those around you:
His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." John 2: 17 (NIV)
And our key verse today is the Scripture the disciples were remembering that day in the temple. Psalm 69: 9 cuts to the heart of righteous anger. First of all, David the Psalmist states that we must have zeal for the house of the Lord. Zeal is defined as "an extreme, fervent devotion." That is the type of devotion David says we should have for the house of the Lord. Going even further that zeal should consume us. That means the things of God need to consume the things of our flesh. Anger that is self serving, serves the flesh but if it is God serving, it serves the spirit. James teaches:
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. James 1: 19-20 (NLT)
