The Evolution of Anger

But I say, if you are even angry with someone,^[b] you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,^[c] you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone,^[d] you are in danger of the fires of hell. Matthew 5:22

If we are all honest we've all been hurt before, some of us are hurting right now, but what are you doing about that?  Jesus tells the audience that even if you are angry at or with someone right now you are SUBJECT TO JUDGEMENT.  But Lord......there is no BUT....the simple reality is that He's forgiven you of much....so we too are to be a forgiving, healing community of people, and when we don't.....we bring ourselves to judgement for not demonstrating what He's done to us. 

So this then builds and begins to boil to the point to where this hurt manifests into thoughts that evolve into expressions called words and we say words in attempt to hurt them, because we we're hurting.   This is where the slick term, " Hurt people, hurt people," comes from.   But JESUS says anyone who says "Raca" or "idiot" or "retarded" or whatever phrase that at it's core is to mock them you are worthy to be brought before the courts.......why because think about......JESUS was too mocked!  He was too, brought before the courts unjustly and He has a heart for people that are being mistreated.....much like you can't stand to see someone mistreat or talk evil of your kids.  That person that cut you off.....that's one of Jesus' kids.   The person that's taking your order or serving your food that is nervous and is making mistake after mistake...is one of His kids too.   The automotive mechanic that's telling you, you need something...that you already know was just replaced....is one of His kids too.   As a matter of fact....we all are His kids, and He doesn't want to see His kids engaging in any form of name calling to further HURT each other, He'd rather see us practicing grace towards each other.   


But when we fail to practice grace....we devalue the person behind the counter.   We not only disagree with his/her policies we call them a fool, which really says you are worthless.  Which translates to God....you made a mistake making this person.  We are desiring or communicating an abortion of that life.  This is also the high school stage of he said, she said...or gossip where we search the web or subscribe to sites that spend more time digging up half truths about a person and convincing you of their opinion rather than getting you to see the value of that very life GOD created.....this is why unchecked anger leads to murder eventually.   This is the very mind of Satan.......that doesn't really care about God's creation...the very spirit that enters a man/woman/child that convinces them to taking some one's life is OK, because they don't matter, they're worthless........REALLY?

I remember growing up in the 90's where it was a rapper called Ice Cube feat. Das EFX that came up with a catchy song, "Check Yourself" and the verse that followed that "before you wrecked yourself."  The video started off with a crime scene where an apparent murder had occured.   I never (especially now being 38yrs old and looking back at this purely secular vulgar song) thought that this would speak the spiritual volumes it is right now....but seriously people....before you leave for work and enter the world FILLED WITH HURTING PEOPLE....we'd do well to CHECK OURSELVES (by giving our hurt/anger over to GOD during prayer) before we WRECK OURSELVES (by projecting our own hurt or anger upon others) or even other's lives.   SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BE FOUND LOVING GOD, and EMPOWERED TO LOVE PEOPLE!