MAD MAGA

 

MAGA needs anger management!

    It seems MAGA are mad about Taylor Swift and her influence in the political arena, immigrants flooding the border, Trump being investigated for several crimes, and the list goes on and on. MAGA gets angry daily by something. All one has to do is tune into FOX news to know the latest topic MAGA is encouraged to rise up against and be angry. 

    People are afraid this angry group of people may put action to their negative, and at times, hostile speech. The majority of those belonging to the MAGA faction claim to be Christians, but how can that be when their religion speaks about not being angry.

    For those belonging to MAGA, who say they are Christian, their Bible gives them guidelines about anger management. Ephesians 4:26-27 "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Being made in the image of God we must assume correctly that we all have the emotion of anger just like our creator. In the New Testament we are told not to become so angry to the point of sinning and once angered, do our best to reconcile it and not carry it over into another day. 

    How does the Christian respond to this guideline of controlling their anger? How is MAGA suppose to react to things they believe must be addressed because in their eyes it is wrong or even sinful and against God?

    During my Christian academic studies, many male Christians have made the point of saying the Bible has become feminized. They are advocating for a 'masculine' look at the truth of Scriptures that God and Jesus became angry at times. They say Jesus wasn't all flowery and sweet. They back their claim of Jesus being 'masculine' by pointing to Bible passages such as Matthew 21:12-13: "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers." 

    In this passage Jesus was upset because many people had come to the temples to make sacrifices which was the standard for the Jews to do at that time. Those making their sacrifice were being ripped off, having their sacrifices devalued in the monetary exchange of goods by the men in the temple set on making a crooked handed profit from the devout people of faith. This angered Jesus and he overturned the table to show his displeasure.

    Even in marriage relationships, counselors advise not to focus on the 'anger' but the issue or root of the anger. In the same manner we should not focus on Jesus' anger, but the reasoning behind His anger. Jesus, as well as God, was always upset about the way the poor and the widow were treated.

    There are more examples in the Bible of people getting angry and how they handled their anger.          In the Bible the Apostle Paul was a straight shooter and did not care about public response when it came to his ministry for God. In Galatians, Paul addresses the issue of circumcision and that it was a step backwards for the Galatians in their faith in Jesus. Circumcision was instituted under the Law of Moses in the Old Testament. After Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection, the Law of Moses was no longer to be adhered to. As Paul gave point after point as to why circumcision no longer factored into the following of the teachings of Jesus, he said those that were teaching them such were wrong for doing so and their belief and the following of such instructions were inexcusable. 

    One thing that struck me as I read the entire chapter in Galatians was when Paul was coming to the end of his letter to the Galatians. It says in Galatians 5:7-12: "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth...As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!" Oh, my goodness!!! Paul said for those advising you to just cut off the foreskin of your penis in circumcision, I wish they would just go ahead and cut off their entire PENIS. I believe Paul was a little hot under the collar at those continuing to preach circumcision. 

    This example shows even a great man of God can become frustrated in his ministry at those doing wrong. Paul had a problem with aggressive actions before God called him on Damascus Road to be a servant of God and to spread the Gospel. His aggressive zeal continued after he became a follower of Christ.

    Pretending we do not have issues with anger does not make us more holy. It is how we deal with our anger that makes us more Christ like. Paul had a powerful ministry. He was a strong personality and may not have been as effective if he did not possess all of the characteristics that made him in the image of God, which included having a temper at times. God gives us guidance in all areas of our lives, including the area of anger. 

    I have said jokingly, more than once, the holier many women present themselves to be, the more soft, and angelic their voices tend to be. To be holy does not mean being an angel. The Bible has not become feminized, or 'soft' and on that same note its masculinity does not have to be protected. Anger is a natural course of living, but its management is a part of Christian living. 

    As 2024 has dawned, I find myself calmer, not easily rattled by things that use to push my buttons. I have always tried not to pitch a tent in the neighborhood of anger once angered. I purposefully try to find ways of diffusing my anger, not trying to win the argument or change the offender. My anger is about me in the end. Dr. Martin Luther King is a prime example of a Christian being angry and advocating for change. He demonstrated his anger at the government and society at large, peacefully and with love for his fellow man. Hate and violence were not a part of his dissatisfaction with unjust laws and actions of people. MAGA needs to take notes.

    I have a right to be angry, but I do not have a right to allow my anger to cause me to sin. MAGA, if Christian, does not have the right to to be angered to destructive behavior. As Christians, they do not have the right to use hostile and abusive language on social media attacking people or threatening people. Ephesians 4:29-32 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

     It is my prayer that MAGA become released from the bondage of anger. Many people will declare almost with pride that they have a 'short fuse.' We all are different. We all are capable of anger. But we must strive to be the MASTER of ANGER and not mastered by it. Let's face it; if you choose to, you can be mad 24-7. There is just that much in this world to keep you involved in anger. MAGA can continue to be angry, but it is not Christ-like. Psalm 37:8 "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil." 

    MAGA, in demonstrating their anger, by using hate speech and threats, is leading them to do and be evil. FOX news encourages such behavior. Hopefully, with constant prayer, my fellow Christians will be reminded what the Bible says to them, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14.

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Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."