The bitterness caused by taking up an offense for another person is typically the most difficult type of bitterness to overcome, because we are not directly involved in the situation. It is common for one who is defeated in the area of unresolved anger also to be defeated by moral impurity. Thus, there is a close tie between unresolved anger and lust. The indulgence of passions in one area leads to the indulgence of passions in other areas. The ultimate expression of pride is seeing ourselves as being on the same level as God, which we do when we become wrathful, because only God has the right to express wrath. Outbursts of wrath, bitterness, or malice give a person a sense of power and authority with which they attempt to control others. The contention that comes from a spirit of anger is a clear indication of pride, because “only by pride cometh contention” (Proverbs 13:10). If we could witness our angry actions and gauge the mental and emotional responses of others, we might realize how damaging angry behavior truly is. Sometimes this insensitivity stems from the fact that we can’t hear our own voices or see our facial expressions. They gloss over outbursts of anger and fail to ask for forgiveness and restore relationships marred by conflict. Many people do not realize how deeply their anger affects others. Insensitivities to the hurts caused by anger

Thus, the destruction caused by one angry act is difficult to measure, and it is impossible to control. Also, a spirit of anger is contagious-those who are around angry people can easily develop a spirit of anger and consequently damage others. However, one angry response produces different levels of pain among those who are hurt by it. When people speak of controlling anger, they often actually mean they think they can contain the damage of unresolved anger. The problem with this idea is that when anger is not recognized and properly resolved, it quickly turns into wrath, bitterness, malice, or other sinful emotions. Just as people think that a little anger is okay, they also think anger can be controlled. Anger may reveal that there are past hurts or feelings of guilt that need to be addressed before we can thoroughly resolve the feelings of anger.

Allowing a little anger to continue is like letting a little fire burn in a dry forest.Īnger alerts us to the fact that something is wrong and that we must cautiously respond to a situation that could lead us into wrath or bitterness. It is true that the initial emotion of anger is not sin, yet we are not to harbor it.

One of the chief factors contributing to a spirit of anger is the idea that a little anger is acceptable. A person who has a spirit of anger usually demonstrates one or more of the following characteristics.

Langy person