Anger Hurts Unity – Philippians 2 (NIV)
Anger Hurts Unity – Philippians 2 (NIV)
Verses 14-18
Paul adds an interesting qualifier here: "do everything without grumbling or arguing." I think that’s the verse we teach kids, right? Sadly he’s talking to adults here… likely Christian, adult leaders of the church.
Why do we have to be told not to do this? Because we will do it. But why this? I believe because it is the outworking of unity in the Spirit. We can take the sign of grumbling and arguing as we are somehow wrong. Not that our point is wrong, but our heart.
If we are grumbling, complaining, whining, arguing… something’s wrong. I think anyone can agree with that. Sure there may be "righteous anger" and such but that’s a far exception. This is in the context of other believers (not evildoers).
Typically when we start to get angry, it’s because our rights have been violated. More accurately our "perceived" rights have been violated. And even if it’s an accurate case, so what? Handle it like an adult. Anger is always the sign of handling it wrong or having the wrong perspective, heart… however you want to phrase it.
The honest, mature heart can see that, pause and address the heart. Typically it’s not the issue at hand but something personal inside.
What’s really crazy is when you realize that, then you can see it in others. Then you start to see as people get angry, you no longer see them as appropriately upset and offended. It’s much more a case of immaturity and childishness.
Same for bullies – they’re the most afraid. So as you get older and you see someone acting in certain ways, you can see them literally as scared children. Sadly, they can’t (or won’t) see/admit/accept it and deal with it. But it’s such a powerful way to understand human frailty.
No one is perfect and we will all, at times, act this way. But maturity and personal honesty can allow you to see this outward reaction for what it is and hopefully short-circuit the matter. We can combat it with the Spirit: release the hounds! To fight for unity by laying down our emotional bonds to our perceived rights.
* Paul’s Prayer
* All Good
* Worthy Conduct
* Humble like Christ for Others
* Anger Hurts Unity