Angry? Who Me?

"Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves." (Matthew 21:12)

I saw a poster the other day on the internet that really made me chuckle.  It read " Just remember when asking yourself "What Would Jesus Do?" yelling and turning over tables is an option.  It's a reference, of course, to the Scripture you see at the top of the blog.  I laughed because there are days when, quite frankly, that's the option I would like to take.  And I don't think I'm alone on that.  All of us have days when we want to just start flipping over tables. 

And if we are to be disciples of Jesus, we must admit that this indeed is a viable option.  There is such a thing as righteous anger. But in that freedom also comes a great conviction.  We must ask ourselves what makes Jesus angry enough to turn over tables? And do the same things make us angry?

That's the problem. In all honesty, what makes me angry in life probably doesn't bother Jesus a lot.  In fact there are a lot of times when I bring those things that anger me, that make me want to flip over tables, to the throne of God in prayer. I'm looking for validation for my anger. I'm looking for a little celestial retribution. What I receive is God's gentle chastisement asking me "Why are you so bothered by this?" "Wouldn't you be happier to just let this go?"  or even worse "Yes, I remember when you did the same thing and came to me asking to be forgiven."  In the end, it's a Lordship issue. If it doesn't anger God, do I have the right to be angry about it?  If He is willing to forgive, am I placing myself above Him when I refuse?

Isn't it ironic that we get angry about things that God could care less about, but the things that anger God we ignore?  Look again at this Scripture. What makes Jesus so angry? What cause Jesus to "cleanse the temple?"  It's the abuse of the poor. The money changers were gouging the poorest people to buy doves for sacrifices. The lamb was the traditional sacrifice, but God had made provision for those who were so poor they couldn't afford a lamb. They could use a dove. The money changers were keeping people from experiencing the Grace of God.

How angry do we get when we see the poor being barred from the grace of God?  Poverty extends way beyond the pocket book doesn't it?  What about the people who are poor in fellowship? Who are lonely? Do we even make the most simple of gestures to sit with them in church, welcoming the stranger? Do we extend that grace beyond the four walls of the church and the worship hour? Do we recognize that loneliness goes far beyond just "church?"

What about the poor in spirit?  We come across them everywhere. The lost, sin sick souls of the world. You carry within you the Good News of Jesus Christ. When was the last time you went to those with impoverished spirits and told them about Jesus? Prayed with or for them? Offered them a loving witness?

What about that person who simply has a poor attitude and made you miserable today. Were you miserable right back or were you determined to love them and be gracious? What did you do to make their lives better? Where did they see Jesus?

It ought to make us a bit angry when we see within ourselves an attitude that withholds grace from someone.  It ought to make us a bit repentant. It ought to cause us to turn over a few tables. Tables with names like indifference, pettiness, or a self-centered spirit. Let's begin to get angry at what angers Jesus. A little righteous anger is good for the soul.

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><