Dealing with Anger
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:6-11)
As the days tick over since that fateful decision occurred at Concordia College on October 5, it seems to me that the scale of response has been increasing in intensity with each passing day. Faithful people have found themselves conscience bound to stand up for the apostolic teaching that was set aside, often with trembling knees and deep anxiety, but with a firm resolve to be faithful to Christ and His Word.
In the early days the response to those making these confessions tended to be kind and understanding, and in many cases, still is. But as time goes on, I’m hearing more and more stories of broken friendships, accusations of divisiveness, and profound anger toward those who are refusing to accept the change in teaching. All because people have said as Luther did in 1521, ‘Here I stand. I can do no other.’
Our adversary, the devil, certainly seems to be prowling around with a renewed tenacity and causing havoc all around the place at the moment. The question is, how do we respond?
It is so easy to fall into the devil’s trap of responding to harsh treatment in like manner. To repay unkindness back with interest and make sure we score the last points. But to what end? Those we find ourselves contending with in these days are in fact precious ones for whom the Lord Jesus suffered and died, and responding in kind is hardly going to change their hearts. Such behaviour plays right into the devil’s hands.
The apostle Peter calls us to humble ourselves before God, knowing that we are poor, miserable sinners, deserving far worse than the unkind words of frustrated and grieving friends. The humble life of repentance that Peter calls us to frees us from the need for revenge and keeps our eyes fixed on the One who has shown us mercy by humbling Himself, even to the point of death on a cross. Peter goes on to encourage us to cast our anxieties on God – not because this will magically make all things right – but because we know from past experience that He does indeed care for us. He cares so much that He sent His dearly beloved Son to die in our place that we might be exalted in Him.
As Dr Vic Pfitzner said in an unpublished commentary on this text, ‘the answer to suffering is not ever found in revenge or retribution, but in the Suffering Man who bore our griefs and sorrows (Isa 53:4).’
So let us resist the devil in these trying days; find comfort in the sure knowledge of God’s care for us in Christ; and trust that ‘the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.’
The peace of the Lord Jesus be with you,
Pastor Matt Anker