Does Your Anger Make the World a Better Place?

I showed my Sunday night group Rob Bell's latest Nooma video entitled "Store." It was excellent, reminding us that anger is an emotional that always leads somewhere, often to a petty, destructive place, but in Christ's case, His anger always led to healing and restoration. See Mark 3:1-6 for an example as the religious leader cared more for their traditions than for the welfare of a person in need. How it must break God's heart even today when we get angry by putting our traditions, or worship preferences (traditional vs. contemporary), or prejudices ahead of the welfare of people in need.

Bell points out that the choice is in our reaction to our anger. Do we give in to our selfishness and complain, get bitter, or try to get even (Who ever gets "even" anyway?)? Or do we allow God's Spirit and word to transform us into people who get angry at what Jesus got angry at.... injustice, poverty, etc.

It is quite sobering to ask ourselves, "where is my anger leading me?" Or "is my anger making the world a better place?" It can you know.

Take the case of Arissa Gonzalez of Las Vegas, NM. Around Thanksgiving of 2006, a drunk driver slammed into her family's van killing her THREE sisters and both parents! Goto: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3338511&page=1
for the complete story. Out of that tragedy, Arissa and her extended family have become crusaders against drunk driving in New Mexico. They could have all become bitter, giving up on life extending the damage this one careless person caused, but they didn't. Their heartache, depression, and anger are leading them to make the world better, so it can be done.

Goto http://www.nooma.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=322&Mode=WMV&PMID=237
to see a preview of Rob Bell's Nooma video about this! NOTE: you can see other previews and full versions of other Nooma's (the 17th one comes out at the end of July) at http://www.youtube.com/

Now, go and get angry about something that matters...something that will make the world a better place!