Dealing With Temper Tantrums - Part Two

Identifying Anger

Yesterday, I introduced the topic of temper tantrums, not in children, in mommies. 

To correctly deal with tantrums, we need to have a Biblical definition and understanding of anger.

We think of anger as getting mad. This is only partially true.  In the Bible, it is referring to a strong feeling against sin; a righteous judgement against sin.  Anger is not a sin, uncontrollable anger is. Correct anger has a cause.

The Scriptures don't tell us NOT to get angry, the Lord Jesus expressed anger, as it related to his grief over sin. 

Mark 3:5

And when He had looked round about on them with anger,

being grieved for the hardness of their hearts,

The Lord Jesus acted in righteous anger when He removed sin from the Temple. It wasn't a quiet scene that day, with animals bleating and stampeding, the coins and tables flying through the air.

John 2:15

And when he had made a scourge of small cords,

he drove them all out of the temple,

and the sheep, and the oxen;

and poured out the changers’ money,

and overthrew the tables;

The Bible tells us how and when to be angry.

Ephesians 4:26

Be angry, and sin not:

let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Incorrect anger needs to be removed.

Colossians 3:8

But now you yourselves are to put off all these:

anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 

Need help in judging what anger needs to be removed?  Look at the companions of incorrect anger, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language. We might not be spouting off foul words, but we might use unkind, harmful  or damaging words.

Understanding the Biblical definition of anger, let's apply this to parenting.  Correct anger would be used to judge our children's sin. It would also be correct to be angry when someone else sins against our children or exposes them to sin. We can be angry at situations or people that blaspheme the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The error comes in how we handle the anger. Used correctly, anger is discerning and wise, desiring only the best for our own spiritual lives and the lives of others around us.

Pray for spiritual understanding as you study the passages in Scripture that deal with anger.

 Ask for wisdom as you parent, so that you will know how to be angry, but sin not.