Anger is one of the most misunderstood emotions, according to Fellowship Church senior Pastor Ed Young, because there is still a way to channel that emotion constructively.
During a sermon called Good 'N' Angry, Young said that anger is actually a "gift from God" that people can learn from. He said that even God and Jesus got angry, but they dealt with their anger positively.
"It is usually a secondary emotion, not the first thing we feel," he explained.
Young said that there is usually something that drives people's anger - it could be fear, frustration, or even insecurity. So instead of escaping that initial emotion, the pastor urged people to face it head-on.
"Feel the fear, feel the frustration, feel the insecurity," urged Young. He explained that feeling these things would be better than dwelling on anger.
Young quoted the Bible verses Ephesians 4:26-27: "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity."
The pastor warned that there are times when anger can be destructive. When anger is used in a destructive way, people become cold and isolated. Some become reckless while others feel the need to retaliate.
He stressed that anger should be a learned response, since God wants His people to leverage anger. People without Christ often get angry at the wrong things and therefore cannot drive this emotion correctly, he explained, before going on to say that many young people today are angry because nothing ever satisfies them, despite having tried so many fun and exciting things in life.
So what should people get angry at? Young answered that people should be angry at the things or people who malign God and His word: "We should get angry at what angers God because when we get angry at what angers God, we can change the world."
