From Anger to destruction

Today, in the K-town area of Carrollton, an Asian man in his late sixties allegedly opened fire, killing two people and injuring three others. While the details are still unclear, it appears that this tragedy may have stemmed from unresolved business-related conflicts and uncontrolled anger. It deeply grieves my heart that such a devastating event happened not far from where many of us live and build our daily lives. At the root of every act of murder is anger. Behind much evil lies unresolved rage. Modern day society is filled with people who are consumed by anger. Why are so many people so angry? What is it that has filled their hearts with such bitterness and rage? And if we fail to deal with our anger properly, the consequences can be devastating not only personally, but also within marriages, families, relationships, and even throughout society as a whole.

It is striking that anger appears very early in human history, shortly after the beginning of Genesis. Cain and Abel were the sons born to Adam and Eve after they were driven out of the Garden of Eden because of sin. Cain and Abel both took time to remember and worship God. That act was sacrifice. Sacrifice was a confession that everything they possessed came from God and that God was the true Lord of their lives. In the same way, worship today is not about us, nor is it merely a means to meet our needs. Worship is the way we acknowledge who we are before God and affirm that He alone is God. In this way, Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices, yet God accepted Abel and his offering, but not Cain and his offering.

Genesis 4:3-4 “In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,”

Remember this carefully: Scripture does not separate the person from the offering, but treats them together as one. The Bible says that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith, and therefore God accepted both Abel and his offering. It was not because Abel’s offering was larger or Cain’s was smaller. The issue was that Abel offered it to God from the center of his heart with faith. Faith is the posture of acknowledging God as one true God. This reveals that Abel was in a right relationship with God.

In contrast, Cain’s life was filled with confusion, disorder, and conflict. He did not truly acknowledge God as God. His offering was merely external religious ritual. If we do not recognize God as our one and only God, even our worship can be rejected. When God rejected Cain’s offering, Cain’s response was anger. But we must not twist this story into the absurd interpretation that Cain’s anger was ultimately God’s fault because God rejected him. The deeper issue was that Cain was not in a right relationship with God from the beginning. The Bible says that Cain became very angry and his face was downcast. In other words, he no longer looked toward God. When friends fight with one another, they avoid eye contact. They no longer want to face each other or communicate. That is exactly how Cain responded toward God.

The reason anger must be dealt with is because sin enters through that doorway and seeks to overpower and control us. Because Cain failed to control his anger, he eventually murdered his own brother Abel. This happened very early in Genesis, shortly after the beginning of human history. That alone shows how seriously God addresses the issue of anger from the very beginning of Scripture. Cain’s anger originated from refusing to acknowledge God. And when a person no longer acknowledges God, sin can no longer be mastered.

Are you upset lately? Frustrated, angry? What is causing your anger? Whatever it may be, stop and confront it now. Over the past thirty years of pastoral ministry, I have encountered many people who struggled to control their anger. I have seen individuals raise their voices at one another during meetings, storm out while slamming church doors as if they would break, point fingers while shouting, and treat each other with deep disrespect. When situations like these arise, it becomes deeply heartbreaking as a pastor, and quite difficult to minister both sides.

A Christian is not a person who never becomes angry. Rather, a Christian is one who learns to surrender anger to the lordship of Christ. A mature believer knows how to restrain anger before it gives birth to sin, and seeks to transform conflict into reconciliation, grace, and peace. There is such a thing as righteous anger. Christians ought to grieve and burn within at what is unholy, ungodly, unrighteousness, sin, the oppression of the weak, the practice of evil, and a world that neither loves nor honors God. Such holy indignation reflects the heart of God and can become a force for justice, mercy, and truth. But anger rooted in wounded pride, uncontrolled emotion, selfish desire, or personal offense does not glorify God. When anger is ruled by the flesh rather than shaped by the Spirit, it tears down rather than restores. Therefore, the calling of a believer is not the absence of anger, but the sanctification of it, so that even our emotions may be brought under the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.

Remember this again: anger often reveals that something in our relationship with God has been broken. Therefore, examine your relationship with God once again today. Pray that God would fill your heart with His peace. Trust Him, acknowledge Him as God over your life, and surrender yourself before Him. And today, I pray for everyone involved in this tragic incident in Carrollton. I pray for the victims’ families that in this difficult and painful time, God would touch them and grant them peace and strength. And lastly, it is easy for us to curse the offender. The consequences of sin must certainly be faced. Yet, I also ask that you would pray for his soul as well. Lord in your mercy, we pray.

May God's peace be with you,

Rev. Won Kim

Lead Pastor of RockSpring Church