So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

Am I the only one who finds myself subconsciously ranking my sin? Like, oops I cursed, but at least I wasn't slipping up in sexual integrity. Like, yes, I let my anger get out of check there, but that's not as bad as lust, right? While it's true that some sin in our lives has more far-reaching and immediate consequences in our lives, all sin breaks our relationship with God. This means that to God, slander on my lips is just as heart-breaking to him as lust in my heart. And he knows that anger unchecked can wreak havoc on my life and my witness just as easily as sexual sin would.

This week we've been talking about this emotion of anger and how we can handle it in a way that honors God, who himself does display anger in Scripture. However, God describes himself as slow to anger, and we can see in Scripture that his anger, when it does arise, is absolutely righteous and just.

Today's verse highlights this distinct difference, in fact. At first reading, this verse might seem contradictory: Because of the sins of man, such as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, "the anger of God is coming." But then, Paul turns around and tells us to rid ourselves of anger. Aren't we trying to be more godly people? What's the difference? It's not in the Greek - it's the same word, orge. So how do we explain the distinction between God's anger and Paul's call to rid ourselves of anger?

Clearly, anger itself is not the sin, as God displays it. However, the key distinction lies in our position as humans. We are not God. We are not on the throne. He is the righteous judge, not I. Therefore, his anger is aroused by all that is not right. Some of these things that anger God were clearly warned about in the Old Testament: things like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed. Paul confirms that these kind of sins invite God's anger because they are not righteous.

However, Paul's second list: anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language, reflects the ethic of Jesus, which calls followers of Christ to go a step further in pursuing the things of God, not the way of this world. Jesus debunked our tendency to rank sin, calling his disciples (you and me!) to an even higher standard that considers the emotions of the heart as just as potentially dangerous as the actions of the body.

In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus says, "You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!" Jesus says that anger and rage are just as grieving to the heart of God as actually following through on that action with murder. Likewise, Jesus continues in verse 22, "If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell." Slander, malice, filthy language - in our heads or on our lips - break God's heart. Why? Because he knows they wreck our hearts too: both the heart of the one feeling and doling out the hate, and the one receiving it.

Yes, God's anger is real, but it is righteous because it is always against sin. In contrast, the anger Paul warns us against in this verse is the same kind Jesus warned against: anger in the heart and in action that is self-focused, offense-driven, and consequence-inducing. They may be the same word in Greek, but these angers are not equal.

Notice, though, that Paul doesn't just say don't be angry. He tells us to "get rid of" it! How though? I think the key is in recognizing the only One who can wield anger righteously. When we submit our anger to God, we use it to honor his authority over our lives, trusting him with this common and complex human emotion. When we lay our anger at his feet, we are actually doing an act of worship: recognizing that HE alone is worthy of holding anger justly.

Father, I praise you for being a just and righteous God. I confess my own unrighteous heart, and I submit it to Jesus' saving and sanctifying grace. Thank you, Jesus, for calling me higher and for giving me a new heart to make that kind of Kingdom living possible through your Holy Spirit working in me. I trust you with my anger; help me to always turn it over to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.