USA (MNN) – Often years are marked by events. What happened and where. However, 2020 was also marked by intense emotions both in public and private arenas.
Dean VanderMey with Set Free Ministries says in almost every venue right now there are two predominant emotions: anger and fear. “Anger is a God-given emotion for injustice. It’s when there’s an injustice or a perceived injustice, that creates anger. So there’s a lot of injustices and perceived in justices that have happened in the last year, in 2020.”
Anger, Fear and Christians
VanderMey says the key to Christians navigating conversations and events where anger and fear dominate is to remember who is in control. No event surprises God and He will bring about ultimate justice.
Human anxiety and fear often pour gas on the fire of anger when it is already out of control. Suddenly a situation appears to be terrifying because emotions have taken over. The truth of the Gospel must reign.
“Circumstances should not change our spiritual equilibrium,” VanderMey says. “We see the apostles actually having a hymn sing after they got beaten, whipped in prison. So circumstances shouldn’t be dictating our spiritual health.”
Responding in Love, Joy and Peace
The same principle applies to righteous anger. Desiring truth and justice to be present is good. Letting that righteous anger morph into something that controls is dangerous.
(Image courtesy of Chad Davis on Flickr https://bit.ly/3ocUgCg)
VanderMey says, “Love, joy and peace is not based on circumstances. So we have to start turning our hearts toward heaven, and asking the Lord what’s in our hearts that’s causing the fear and anger and the anxiety, and start to release that back to the Father. Whether it’s perceived injustice, or a real injustice.”
Approaching internal thoughts and external dialogue with the love, joy and peace that comes from Christ, enables Christians to engage with the world in a way that truly stands out. People are anxious. They struggle with how to look at world events, but Christ offers a solution.
Jesus looked at this world with compassion and that’s what He calls the Church to. “When we see hurting people, we’re supposed to engage and search out the lost. Bring back the strays. Bind up the wounded and minister to them. Jesus it says was a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. Yeah, that’s because He was in the trenches. He was willing to get dirty in the trenches. He was around hurting people.”
Reaching the World
Christians know that true peace will never be found in political leaders, economic systems or even social reform. Instead anxiety, fear and anger find a resting place when they are laid down at the foot of the cross.
VanderMey encourages the Church to offer the hope of the Prince of Peace to those in need and not shy away from the message. Even those who have been ensnared by anger, hate and fear are invited to draw near to God, repent, believe and find peace.
“The enemy doesn’t want us to know that we have a loving Father who can forgive us when we blow up, when we stumble and fall. And we don’t have to fear this heavenly Father. We don’t have to run and hide. And we don’t have to save our own skin. Only Jesus saves.”
Learn more about Set Free Ministries and the God who can set you free from anger and fear.
Header Image courtesy of Chad Davis on Flickr https://bit.ly/3c6A3vg
