Should Christians display anger?

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Teacher & Expositor. Apostle Paul teaches, “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” (Ephesians 4:26). With these words, Paul is dealing with the topic of anger. He gives two principles. First, Paul teaches that anger is not wrong. Anger itself is not a sin; there are some things Christians ought to be angry about. Righteous anger refers to anger that is motivated by a perception of injustice or wrongdoing, and is often seen as a justifiable and even laudable emotion, rather than a destructive one. God expresses anger (Exodus 4:14). Jesus expressed anger in turning over the tables of the tax collectors (John 2:13–17). However, uncontrolled anger leads to doing wrong. In other words, being angry is not an excuse to sin. Keeping in step with the Holy Spirit (self–control) is required to channel anger in a God–honoring way! That self-control is what Paul eludes to in his second command: don’t let anger sit unresolved. The focus is not on the literal sunset, as if there’s a certain time of day when all aggravations have to be ignored. More accurately, the point is not to let time go by before dealing with anger. Believers are to make dealing with anger a priority. Otherwise, bitterness or the desire for vengeance can grow, leading to more sinful thoughts and actions (Ephesians 4:27). Anger can be a helpful emotion, yet must be handled carefully and quickly to avoid leading to sin. Being angry is not meant to be “lived in,” only “dealt with.” Be encouraged!