I’m a “take the high road” kinda guy. I’m not much into conflict. It doesn’t mean I don’t care. It DOES mean that I don’t care to tell the world each and every single feeling I have when it comes to world news. I’m literally a little worried about some of the folks in my facebook and twitter timelines. It’s getting pretty heated up in those places. Seriously. Can we all just hit “pause”? Maybe take a deep breath? I can’t tell you how many comments I’ve typed but never hit “send” and how many tweets never made it live. Sometimes it’s best to just take a step back and not say anything at all.
Whenever we talk about anger and the Christian walk, someone inevitably brings up Jesus clearing the temple. It’s the anger version of the alcohol discussion and someone saying “His first miracle was turning water to wine”. But have you ever taken a look at what happened in that verse? There’s a little nugget there that often goes overlooked. Check this out:
15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. (John 2:15)
Did you catch it? It’s right there in the first sentence. I think we all jump so quickly to the part about throwing coins and turning over tables that we miss that gem at the beginning….”he made a whip out of cords”. I can honestly say I never made a whip. I bought one in Germany when I was in 8th grade. I used it to pretend I was Indiana Jones. I know that the one I bought was leather and made out of chords. I didn’t see them make it, but I’m guessing it took more than a few minutes. I’m guessing the same when Jesus was in the temple. I don’t think he just whipped that together (pun intended). Here’s the point, he took a little time.
Can we get angry? You bet! Can we pick a fight? Absolutely. I think the “golden rule” here is to take a little time. Go make a whip or something. Hit pause. Take a few deep breaths. Social Media has a way of creating a firestorm in seconds. Take the high road. Wait it out. If you go make yourself a whip and you’re still passionate about it, say what you gotta say. But remember this verse too….
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (James 1:19)
I imagine Jesus taking a fist full of cords like a cat of nine tails and acting swiftly, but I concede to your point. The best way for me to be thoughtful about my anger is to replace it with love.