Sinful anger is a passion that shows a strong resentment toward someone, or that displays a short temper. It is revealed when you desire revenge against another person. It is one of the most destructive sinful passions.
Sinful anger is a perverted manifestation of the "irritable part" of the soul. Reasonable anger is given to man by God as a weapon, as the power of the soul to resist evil. But as a result of man's fall into sin, this power of the soul was twisted, and in many people it became the worst vice.
Anger can be righteous, when it is directed against one's own sins and shortcomings, which will push a person to repent, to change himself and strive for God. In this case, it is allowed. Secondly, out of zeal for truth and love, we may be stirred up against our neighbors who sin and offend God, and we may carefully try to correct them without doing them harm. Of such anger the Psalmist says, "when you are angry, do not sin" (Psalm 4:5). Commendable anger also occurs when we courageously resist the devil and his suggestions.
Reasons for anger Saint Theophan the Recluse said that anger and resentment arise from pride, which causes us to believe that we are of great importance. Therefore, when someone dares not to give us our due, we get angry and plot revenge. This is why conceit, vanity, and high self-esteem are common causes of resentment and anger. Also, according to the holy fathers, one cause of anger is envy, which is associated with the sinful love of money. Therefore, we can conclude that anger is closely related to other sinful passions, and that it inevitably leads to destruction.
Sinful anger is a perverted manifestation of the "irritable part" of the soul. Reasonable anger is given to man by God as a weapon, as the power of the soul to resist evil. But as a result of man's fall into sin, this power of the soul was twisted, and in many people it became the worst vice.
Anger can be righteous, when it is directed against one's own sins and shortcomings, which will push a person to repent, to change himself and strive for God. In this case, it is allowed. Secondly, out of zeal for truth and love, we may be stirred up against our neighbors who sin and offend God, and we may carefully try to correct them without doing them harm. Of such anger the Psalmist says, "when you are angry, do not sin" (Psalm 4:5). Commendable anger also occurs when we courageously resist the devil and his suggestions.
Reasons for anger Saint Theophan the Recluse said that anger and resentment arise from pride, which causes us to believe that we are of great importance. Therefore, when someone dares not to give us our due, we get angry and plot revenge. This is why conceit, vanity, and high self-esteem are common causes of resentment and anger. Also, according to the holy fathers, one cause of anger is envy, which is associated with the sinful love of money. Therefore, we can conclude that anger is closely related to other sinful passions, and that it inevitably leads to destruction.
Consequences of anger
Anger is called the “killer of love”. Irritability and anger not only cause conflicts, but also kill those feelings of love, friendship, sympathy, and respect that we have for people. Anger and hatred take the restraining grace of God away from a person and deprive him of a sound mind.
Anger often combines with other sinful passions, creating monstrous results. Anger combined with greed causes hatred towards poor people, anger combined with despondency causes despair, and anger combined with pride results in mercilessness, fanaticism, or even revolution.
This painful and fierce passion cannot be hidden. Anger cannot be suppressed. It enters into malice and rancor, envy and jealousy. It leads to quarrels, scandals, assault, and murder.
A person possessed by the demon of anger is capable of raising his hand even against those closest to him. St. John Chrysostom says, “people inflamed with anger do not recognize those present, remembering neither kinship, nor friendship, nor decency, nor dignity, and do not take anything into account at all, but are completely carried away by this passion, rushing into the abyss. It often happens that in anger someone will say such a word or do such a deed that will destroy his entire life”.
Anger often combines with other sinful passions, creating monstrous results. Anger combined with greed causes hatred towards poor people, anger combined with despondency causes despair, and anger combined with pride results in mercilessness, fanaticism, or even revolution.
This painful and fierce passion cannot be hidden. Anger cannot be suppressed. It enters into malice and rancor, envy and jealousy. It leads to quarrels, scandals, assault, and murder.
A person possessed by the demon of anger is capable of raising his hand even against those closest to him. St. John Chrysostom says, “people inflamed with anger do not recognize those present, remembering neither kinship, nor friendship, nor decency, nor dignity, and do not take anything into account at all, but are completely carried away by this passion, rushing into the abyss. It often happens that in anger someone will say such a word or do such a deed that will destroy his entire life”.
How to deal with anger
A holy monk, St. Paisios of Mt. Athos, said that the easiest path to salvation is through love and humility. When love and humility develop, pride and anger become exhausted and begin to disappear. Gradually all the passions will die, and eventually all the virtues will come by themselves.
A sign of humility is when a person not only does not want to see the sins of others, but also cannot see them, because his own sins obscure the sins of others, and because he sees God too brightly in the light of grace. The humble one admonishes others with love, forbids them with silence, and endures those who sin for a long time in the hope that they will be corrected. There is no room for anger.
It is necessary to restrain ourselves and remember that we cannot be angry — either for good reasons or bad reasons — knowing that we will immediately lose the light of prudence.
“God commands us to do good, and endure insults, and not repay evil for evil. The devil advises the opposite. When we do good and endure, we act against the devil, who teaches evil and leads us away from patience. And so, defeated by patience, like a dog beaten with a stick, he will run away from us. Then God will stand behind us and drive him away from us. Saint John Chrysostom speaks about this: “The devil must be defeated with patience”.
“Do you want to resist the devil?
Do not repay people evil for evil.”
— Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk
“Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.”
(Romans 12:21)
Also, in the fight against irritability and anger, the principle of weighing pros and cons can be very helpful. The most important thing here is to be able to pause in time, and consider what we are losing due to anger and irritation. With some effort, you can completely distract yourself from angry, irritated thoughts.
Reading the Gospel and the Psalter greatly helps a person to cope with irritation, gloomy thoughts, and rancor. In moments of irritation it can be very difficult to force yourself to read, but it can be very effective, bringing a sense of calmness and peace.
But what if an angry quarrel is already taking place?
It's important to talk to the person, but only at a time when the passions have subsided and the opponents have calmed down. In a state of irritation and emotional imbalance, a person is unable to make sensible decisions. When discussing the situation, you need to speak directly, sincerely, and without guile. Don't be afraid to initiate reconciliation, and be the first to ask for forgiveness.
“If two brothers quarrel, the one who first asks forgiveness will earn the crown of victory. And the crown will be given to the second one too, if he does not reject repentance, but willingly does what is necessary for peace.”
— Saint Ephrem the Syrian
A sign of humility is when a person not only does not want to see the sins of others, but also cannot see them, because his own sins obscure the sins of others, and because he sees God too brightly in the light of grace. The humble one admonishes others with love, forbids them with silence, and endures those who sin for a long time in the hope that they will be corrected. There is no room for anger.
It is necessary to restrain ourselves and remember that we cannot be angry — either for good reasons or bad reasons — knowing that we will immediately lose the light of prudence.
“God commands us to do good, and endure insults, and not repay evil for evil. The devil advises the opposite. When we do good and endure, we act against the devil, who teaches evil and leads us away from patience. And so, defeated by patience, like a dog beaten with a stick, he will run away from us. Then God will stand behind us and drive him away from us. Saint John Chrysostom speaks about this: “The devil must be defeated with patience”.
“Do you want to resist the devil?
Do not repay people evil for evil.”
— Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk
“Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.”
(Romans 12:21)
Also, in the fight against irritability and anger, the principle of weighing pros and cons can be very helpful. The most important thing here is to be able to pause in time, and consider what we are losing due to anger and irritation. With some effort, you can completely distract yourself from angry, irritated thoughts.
Reading the Gospel and the Psalter greatly helps a person to cope with irritation, gloomy thoughts, and rancor. In moments of irritation it can be very difficult to force yourself to read, but it can be very effective, bringing a sense of calmness and peace.
But what if an angry quarrel is already taking place?
It's important to talk to the person, but only at a time when the passions have subsided and the opponents have calmed down. In a state of irritation and emotional imbalance, a person is unable to make sensible decisions. When discussing the situation, you need to speak directly, sincerely, and without guile. Don't be afraid to initiate reconciliation, and be the first to ask for forgiveness.
“If two brothers quarrel, the one who first asks forgiveness will earn the crown of victory. And the crown will be given to the second one too, if he does not reject repentance, but willingly does what is necessary for peace.”
— Saint Ephrem the Syrian