You are a person and a part of this world, the same as "her" and any other person-- is it wrong to feel offended by hurtful actions against a person, even if that person is yourself? It is less important that you feel angry, but more your actions due to that anger. In any circumstance, in response to actions against anyone, even-- or perhaps especially-- God, you should strive to find the light in the offender and help them to change their ways. Anger alone is never righteous.
This is too short a post for lengthy philosophical justifications, but let me just say that the reason self-defensive anger cannot be righteous is that we are so prone to be selfish. Jesus showed us that one can be angry in defense of the poor (Matthew 23) or even in defense of God (Matthew 21:12-13), but forgave those who killed him (Luke 23:34).
But anger is not the same as hate, though, so I do agree that we should try to help those with whom we may be angry.
I certainly see your point about the selfishness of anger. But I still question whether any anger can be righteous. I think that anger alerts us when something is wrong-- either in ourselves or in another-- and, if channeled, can be useful to help us understand an offensive situation and therefore respond to it properly. But if we call anger righteous, it leads us to dwell on that emotion, and begins to allow us to call reactionary responses righteous.
While it seems chivalrous to become angry on the behalf of others, I wonder if it is just an excuse to indulge in such a potentially destructive emotion...?
You make a good point about self-indulgence there! We humans can twist plenty of things to our own evil ends, but I do believe that there is good to be found in every emotion--this might be where our philosophies clash but God created all emotions for a reason. I guess the good in righteous anger is that it's a good motivator for us to take action. Anger helps conquer fear or apathy, a victory which is hard if you're just trying to reason with yourself!
5 comments:
You are a person and a part of this world, the same as "her" and any other person-- is it wrong to feel offended by hurtful actions against a person, even if that person is yourself?
It is less important that you feel angry, but more your actions due to that anger. In any circumstance, in response to actions against anyone, even-- or perhaps especially-- God, you should strive to find the light in the offender and help them to change their ways. Anger alone is never righteous.
This is too short a post for lengthy philosophical justifications, but let me just say that the reason self-defensive anger cannot be righteous is that we are so prone to be selfish. Jesus showed us that one can be angry in defense of the poor (Matthew 23) or even in defense of God (Matthew 21:12-13), but forgave those who killed him (Luke 23:34).
But anger is not the same as hate, though, so I do agree that we should try to help those with whom we may be angry.
PS: Are you the Kristie that I know?
Yup, I'm the one and only.
Oops, sent it along too soon!
I certainly see your point about the selfishness of anger. But I still question whether any anger can be righteous. I think that anger alerts us when something is wrong-- either in ourselves or in another-- and, if channeled, can be useful to help us understand an offensive situation and therefore respond to it properly. But if we call anger righteous, it leads us to dwell on that emotion, and begins to allow us to call reactionary responses righteous.
While it seems chivalrous to become angry on the behalf of others, I wonder if it is just an excuse to indulge in such a potentially destructive emotion...?
Hey,
You make a good point about self-indulgence there! We humans can twist plenty of things to our own evil ends, but I do believe that there is good to be found in every emotion--this might be where our philosophies clash but God created all emotions for a reason. I guess the good in righteous anger is that it's a good motivator for us to take action. Anger helps conquer fear or apathy, a victory which is hard if you're just trying to reason with yourself!
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