The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Be angry, and yet do not sin.”

—Ephesians 4:26

We’ve been made to feel that anger itself is sinful, but it doesn’t have to be.

Our reaction is where the issue usually arises; our anger too often comes out in rudeness, fear, hatred, or insults.

To be angry without sinning requires pausing before speaking and using kind words instead of quarrelsome ones (2 Timothy 2:24). 

It requires abiding in the vine of Jesus Christ, disciplining ourselves in self–control, and allowing the Holy Spirit to be in charge instead of letting fleshly desires and rights take over our mouths.

If we’re giving in to selfishness, the need to win an argument, the desire to put the other party in their place, or holding on to an offense and allowing it to turn to bitterness, we’re letting that anger become sinful.

We must learn to respond with gracious words even in the middle of an argument and to adjust our actions so we’re not tearing others down. They were made in the image of God and any failure on their part to reflect him should result in our pity, love, and prayers. We should also choose to hope and believe that others mean us good at heart rather than assuming the worst of their actions (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Whether they mean us good or evil, we’re told to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:44–45).

We must live this verse if we’re going to be angry without sinning and show those around us that we are sons of the loving, merciful God.

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