Is anger sin?
BQ: Is anger a sin? 

A: Let's look at some verses and pay attention to what they actually say. First, Proverbs 16:32, which says,  "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city" (Proverbs 16:32).  Notice that it says to be slow to anger, but doesn't say, "never get angry." 

Mt 5:21 says, "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." Notice that this verse says, "without a cause," not just, "whoever is angry with his brother."

God gives us emotions, and anger itself is an aspect of God. God tells us, "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger." (Eph 4:26) Anger is not a sin in and of itself. There are things which should make us angry; if we never became angry, we would be ineffective, as even Jesus became angry at times. Anger, however, needs to be strictly controlled, and we'll discuss why tomorrow. 
(PN265)

More on anger.
BQ: Yesterday we saw that anger as an emotion is not a sin, but today we're going to look at the other side of the coin and see what happens when it is not used appropriately.   

So what's wrong with a fast temper dictating what one does? "A quick-tempered man acts foolishly" (Pro 14:17). The anger ends up harnessing the man for evil, instead of the man using the anger as an impetus to do good. Furthermore, when we're angry, we often say things we later want to take back, which leads to anger from others as well. "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Pro 15:1)." By being ruled by a quick temper, we can be led to sin often, and Pro 29:22 confirms, saying,  "An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression." 

In Eccl 7:9, God tells us to avoid this quick anger. "Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools." We need time to think and consider what we do.  Anger itself is an aspect of God, but as my brother Jeff Hostetter accurately pointed out, "Anger should always be channeled into finding a solution. A good motivator when so used, but like a flood of water, terrible when out of control."

Tomorrow we'll look at wrath.

(PN266)

Wrath!
BQ: There are usually two types of anger in the Bible, one from the word "thumos," and the other from the word "orge." Ammonius said that thumos is momentary and quick, but orge is “longlasting, cherishing of the memory of evil.”  Thumos, then, was like,  "fire in straw, quickly blazing up and just as quickly burning itself out.”  Barclay correctly said, “Thumos is, therefore, not long cherished anger; it is the blaze of temper which flares into violent words and deeds, and just as quickly dies.” So what about the other type of anger? The slow, simmering anger?

A:  A man with a quick-temper will usually violently explode, but often his outburst will die down quickly. A wrathful, simmering man will store it internally and not let it go. Psa 37:8 warns against this, saying,  "Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing." 

This slowly simmer, internalized anger can be incredibly harmful. Instead of seeking a resolution, the person bottles it up and lets the pressure build. During that time, more transgressions (from the one at which he is angry) will be noticed, and the pressure of his anger will increase. While staying in the cycle and not resolving the problem, he'll be unable to forgive.  Jesus warned, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Mt 6:14-15)." 

This internalized rage often leads to bitterness and sin. Paul warned against it, saying, "Be angry and yet do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil (Eph 4:26-27)." While it's easy to get angry, controlling that anger is a virtue. "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression (Pro 19:11)."
(PN267)

Trust your heart?
BQ: Is the heart something to always trust?

A: Pro 3:5-7, Pro 4:23, Pro 7:21-25, Jer 17:9.

Our spiritual guidance must come from the truth, not from within our own hearts, which are easily deceived. Our hearts should be focused not at all on the world, but as in 1 Chr 28:9, "Serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."
(PN19)
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What way is right to you?
BQ: Not the topic, but: We're told children are like arrows in the hand of a warrior (psa 127:4) and that we should "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Ep 6:4) No teacher can instruct something they don't know. For best effect with an arrow, a father (archer) and mother (bow) are both needed, and they both need to be focused and aiming toward God, or the child is less likely to hit the mark. (eternal life)

Q: Does the way that might seem right sometimes lead astray? 
A: Pro 28:26, Pro 14:12

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death," and he who trusts his own heart is a fool. Many Christians rely on feelings for many things: finding a "good" church, a "good" romantic partner, a "good" spiritual adviser. But where is that aiming? It is aiming for the satisfaction of self and not that of God. The word is Truth. Eternal life and eternal satisfaction go hand in hand. What way seems right to you?
(PN80)

What is truth?
BQ: In Jn 18:38, Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" Sadly, he didn't wait for an answer.

Q: What is truth? Is it feelings? 
A: Jn 1:1-5, 14:6, THEN 8:31-32

Reading the above, Truth=Jesus , Jesus=The Word. So cross off Jesus in both and Truth=the Word. The world is being fed a lie that we can have what we want, that being a Christian=the warm fuzzies, that the truth is that we can have our fleshly desires and show up on Sunday and it's all good. Being a Christian in the Bible is described as "piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit." It cuts away the bad, and that's uncomfortable. It makes it so we can't have the fleshly desires. 

Truth is in the word, and it's the sum of the Word. Do you know what the word says, and will you receive it with an honest heart? It's the way to be set free. 
(PN68)

Following your heart?
BQ: We often hear, "Follow your heart," or "You can't help who your heart loves; it has no age," and other statements along those lines.

Q: What does the Bible say about following our hearts? 
A:"He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered." (Pro 28:26)
"Pay attention to the words of my mouth: Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths" (Pro 7:24-25)
"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." (Pro 4:23)
"“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" (Jer 17:9)

Our hearts are very fallible. They are not good at determining the best mate or best path. What they love now they may be bored with in 5 years. Half of our marriages end in divorce; our country is in massive debt. Instead of continuing to follow our hearts, let's follow God. 
(PN73)

It feels so right!
BQ: Review time. :) 

Q: We've probably all heard people say, "but it feels so right." What does God say?
A: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8). "There is a way that seems right to a man; but its end is the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12)."O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23).  

Feelings are not appropriate guidance, but rather "BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.' (Mt 4:4) In fact, when you're first starting out, especially, it takes a lot of hard work to cut away the bad stuff, and that can hurt. It will probably cost you friends. It takes effort. Let's look at the order of things in James 1:4 "And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." 

Endurance first, then comes the result. Let's work hard and cut away the bad, trusting in Him. :)
(PN84)