Lashing Out!

It looked like your average Indoor Football League touchdown.  At the goal line the ball was handed to running back R.J. Rollins.  After scoring, Rollins began running over to his sideline.  Dave Brumagen, the opposing team’s coach, ran across the field to Rollins and viciously shoved him to the ground (Watch Here).

It is still unclear what drove Brumagen to attack Rollins.  It could be that he just didn’t like Rollins.  Maybe Rollins did something to anger Brumagen in the past.  It’s possible that Brumagen had been building anger against Rollins for some time.  No matter the reason, the coach clearly reached his breaking point and lashed out in childish anger.

Hopefully we never let our anger reach the point where we physically attack someone.  However, people often hold grudges and let negative feelings boil up inside.  The longer we hold on to these feelings, the more our anger and hatred can grow until we end up lashing out.

Sadly, our world often seems to turn a blind eye to anger.  Perhaps this is partly why anger is called a “work of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-20).  In Brumagen’s case, he received a little slap on the wrist in the form of a $500 fine and a 4 game suspension.  As Christians, we are called to a higher standard in regard to anger.  Jesus showed us different levels of sinful anger (Matthew 5:22-24).  Scripture elsewhere tells us to get rid of anger in our lives (Colossians 3:8; Ephesians 4:31-32).  We are also told not to be angry in a sinful way and not even “let the sun go down on our anger” (Ephesians 4:26).

To put it simply, we need to quickly take care of any anger and quarrels we have with others.  If not, it could lead to a multitude of other sins.  Let’s not be a people of anger, but instead be the exact opposite.  Let’s be people of patience, kindness, forgiveness, and even people who give “gentle answers” to turn away wrath in others (Proverbs 15:1).