Joyful Moments in Christ

Righteous or Not-So-Righteous Anger?

With all the conflict between different Christian groups, it is worth considering how anger—whether righteous or not-so-righteous—might be skewing our perspective. In Acts 25, Paul’s Jewish accusers brought forward charges against him, claiming to act out of righteous anger. However, it is interesting to note how they chose to use unrighteous methods to try and secure victory.

When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.

Acts 25:7 (ESV)

On the surface, their anger might seem justified. Yet, if Jesus is who he claimed to be, their anger was entirely misplaced. The Jewish people of this time were waiting for a Messiah. Paul’s declaration that the Messiah had already come, in the form of Jesus, and that Jesus was God himself, challenged their beliefs. If Jesus was not truly God, their anger would have been righteous. However, if Jesus’ claims were real, their opposition revealed a significant failure to recognize the truth.

Gamaliel’s Wise Counsel

Gamaliel considered this possibility and advised the Jewish council to proceed with caution:

So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice.

Acts 5:38-39 (ESV)

This time around, the council heeded Gamaliel’s advice. Yet, by Acts 25, it seems his wisdom had been forgotten. In their efforts to silence Paul, they resorted to false accusations. In the end, their opposition was futile, as Jesus’ truth prevailed. Fighting against God—especially by dishonest means—is always a losing battle. God will triumph in the end.

Lessons for Today

When we examine the motives behind the anger of Paul’s accusers, it mirrors much of the anger seen among Christians today. Disputes over politics, gender, abortion, evolution, and other contentious topics often lead to bitter divisions. Perhaps we, too, should step back and heed Gamaliel’s advice: “If this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.”

If we truly believe we are on God’s side, there is no need to resort to dishonesty or unrighteous tactics to prevail. God is perfectly capable of achieving victory through clean and righteous methods. In these difficult times, let’s use some Godly wisdom!

Reflection Questions

1. When I feel angry about a disagreement, how can I discern whether my anger is righteous or misplaced?
2. Have I ever resorted to unrighteous methods to defend what I believe to be a righteous cause? How can I avoid this in the future?
3. How can Gamaliel’s advice to “let it alone” challenge my approach to conflicts or disagreements within my faith community?
4. Do I trust God to bring about victory in his way and timing, even when I feel pressure to act immediately?
5. How can I ensure that my actions and words reflect God’s truth and love, even in the face of opposition?

Reflective Prayer

Consider using these verses to pray using the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, and Supplication:

• Adoration: Praise God. Do these verses bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
• Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Do these verses bring any specific sins to mind?
• Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from these verses inspire gratitude?
• Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from these verses inspire a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.