Anger with God

Is it possible to be angry with God and not sin?

In other words, is it possible to be angry with God- perhaps even for a long season, and still not break fellowship with Him?

I am not talking about a situation where a person becomes angry with God and renounces Him and becomes an atheist.

Interesting question.

I've learned that if I get angry with God, I'm always the one in the wrong. That makes me immediately repent and pour my heart out to God instead. The anger goes away pretty quickly. Just like with lust, if you entertain it, even for a moment, instead of submitting it to God immediately, it crosses the line and becomes sin.

"Regular" anger teeters on the razor's edge of sin itself. It's unChristlike. It exposes sin in us, which is usually rooted in self-centeredness, self-importance, pride and idolatry. You'd have to be very sensitive, and immediately obedient, to the Holy Spirit promptings for it to NOT lead to sin because of the root of it.

However, there is a righteous anger (Jesus with the merchants and moneychangers in the temple) that isn't sinful. This kind of anger can be felt and not have it lead to sin.

Keith wrote:

"I've learned that if I get angry with God, I'm always the one in the wrong."

Hi Keith!

Why are you so quick to say that when you are angry with God, you are wrong? Are you saying you are wrong to be angry, or wrong about what you are mad about?

I am not so quick to say that it is wrong to be angry with God over certain situations. Obviously, God is God and does what He wants. I get that we must accept it. The issue on the table is whether we must always be happy with accepting it. Is God "big enough" to accept our anger without holding it against us?

Hey Todd!

Why are you so quick to say that when you are angry with God, you are wrong? Are you saying you are wrong to be angry, or wrong about what you are mad about?

Because, when I get angry with God, it's never a righteous anger. That would imply that God was unrighteous about something.

The other anger is an unrighteous anger. That kind of anger denotes self-centeredness, lack of humility and non-surrender in that area. It implies that my way, my way/preference/desire is better in the situation.

I want to always be submitted to God in all things; quick to repent and obey. If I'm angry with God about something, to me, that means I haven't surrendered that thing/area to Him. I don't care about "winning" or being right. I only care about being like Jesus so, if I find myself angry with God, in my eyes, I'm in the wrong. There's clearly something I don't understand, or can't see. I'm clearly not trusting His sovereignty or that He has my best interests at heart. I'm just plain old wrong.

DISCLAIMER: I'm never the last word on any subject. I don't know everything - or much of anything! I'm sure there are different situations or nuances to this subject that I'm not mentioning, but it's not my intention to. (Like being angry with God because your child dies, for example.) I'm speaking, in general, about the main two types of anger: righteous anger and every day, emotional anger.

I appreciate your statements. I really do. I suspect they are correct.

But the question still stands whether it is **wrong** to be angry with God.

I get the sterile theological standard Christian response. But I still ask whether it is wrong to be angry with God.

We often hear the story about how the author of the hymn "It is well with my soul" wrote this hymn after his wife and daughters went down in a sunken ship. We are amazed at his ability to right such words after such tragedy.

What we don't hear is how he went insane soon thereafter.

I appreciate your statements. I really do. I suspect they are correct.

But the question still stands whether it is **wrong** to be angry with God.

No problem. I like interesting questions, especially when folks aren't trying to debate them. I don't have time for the drama.

FOR ME, the blunt answer to the question above is simple: I don't care if it is or isn't. Anger is one letter away from Danger and I'm not buying any vowels. I just want to solve the puzzle, Pat.

I've said before that I'm a bottom line kind of guy. So, when I hear the question: "Is it possible to be angry with God and not sin?", my brain shoots right to the bottom line and skips all the in-between confusion and what-if'ing. It's a waste of time, in my opinion.

BOTTOM LINE: In the end, God is always right. Be angry and sin not. Ok. That tells me that getting angry is a natural, human emotion so it's not wrong. So, I'll acknowledge my anger instead of pretending I'm not angry. But, discernment tells me that there's no benefit, only danger, in hanging onto it. Punch a pillow a few times if need be, but be quick about it. Express it to God. He knows you're angry anyway and He's a big enough God to handle it. And then let it go.

Even then, the WAY we express it to God COULD become sin because with anger usually comes a lack of self-control. I refuse to take that chance. THAT'S why I refuse to let the anger play out, even in my expression of it to God. I don't want to be ruled by my emotions, especially anger. I won't nurse it or play with it because it's too big of a trap. Here's an example of the 60 seconds I choose to give the anger.

"God, I'm angry and I don't understand. I don't like this but I trust You and that's enough for me. I've surrendered all rights to myself over to You. One day I hope to understand but, at the end of all things, it's how I react that matters and develops my character so I choose to skip the drama and the mess altogether and go right to full surrender. I thank You for this opportunity to grow in maturity. Help me to learn what I'm supposed to learn from this so I don't have to take another lap and go through it again. I trust You to use this for Your glory and my benefit. Instead of focusing on the anger, I choose to look ahead for the blessing that comes out of this instead. You are God alone and I worship You!"

Haha! I actually chuckled out loud at your "wheel" comment. Well played.
The force is strong in you, young Skywalker.

If we are all honest I believe we have all misunderstood the Lord at times and that may have created certain emotions we would be required to work through as we draw closer to the Lord and strive to follow him. I do not believe that is at all uncommon.

I think it is wrong and it is sin
God wouldn't give a law that says any who is angry with is brother with out a cause is in danger of judgment ,and then say but you can be angry with me ,with out a cause , some may say but I have cause to be angry with God ,but God say shall cup speak back to the maker and say why have you made me like this ...people hated Jesus with out a cause ,as it is written ,people were angry with God the son ,but kiss tho the son lest he be angry .....

What is not of faith is sin ,Paul said it ,is anger of faith godly anger is but anything from the fleash is sin ,and common anger comes from the flesh..

Hi Todd,

I feel that this question does not get to the heart of the matter. It's not about whether it is sinful to be angry at God, but rather why are you angry with God, and how do you subsequently resolve the situation with Him.

Drawing from my own experience, I had a fundamental misunderstanding as to what God really wanted for me. The episode revealed deep idolatry in my life, and when my idols died... I had to accept that God did not deceive me, it was my idolatrous desires which led to false expectations. It took me a long time to accept that, even after knowing the answer.

Since then, my view of God, in particular my confidence in His goodness and honesty, has recovered.

But yueyan,if it is not sinfull ,there is no need to resolve the situation ,,,

Brothergary - I don't think that's helpful advice to someone who is struggling.

I agree with you that God is always true. Fundamentally, the problem is not with God, but with you and your understanding of Him.

But I also believe it's better to be honest with God about your feelings and even "disappointments", so long as you approach Him with reverence and do not malign His character.

God already knows your deepest thoughts anyway. Why try to conceal the problem from Him?

And He's always eager to heal - not just the wounds and disappointments, but most of all your impression of Him.

BTW I'm amazed at how gentle God was with Jonah when he expressed his anger in Chapter 4.

I really do think that sometimes we consider something to be a sin that God may not.

God knows that He does some things that defy human acceptance and understanding. That's why I feel He is "big enough" to understand when his children get angry at him.

I agree that it is much better to express your anger to God rather than burying it and pretending you are not angry. This will only lead to bitterness.

There is no instance in Scripture where Jesus or Paul expressed anger towards God. I think anger with God represents a lack of trust on our part, so I would think it is a sin.

Having said that, God is very generous in allowing us latitude for growth towards greater trust in Him. He has been gracious and gentle (strength under restraint) in His dealings with me.

In general getting angry at God is sin. We are angry because we believe He has to treat us differently than how he has treated. We are disappointed with how God has handled us. Is it not a sin?

Does that Pot have authority to get angry with potter?

It is maturity in our walk with God that helps us to accept how God has dealt with us.

I do not recall being tempted to anger against God because of something that has happened to me.

It's what He does to other people that tempts me to anger.

He does (or allows) things to happen without explanation that are almost embarrassing and impossible to explain without sounding like an idiot.

When some horrible crime happens to a child, for example, people may have a righteous anger toward the perpetrator. It does not take a huge logical leap to also be angry with God.

100% of the time, our anger with God is bred out of a lack of faith, a lack of control, or a lack of understanding. Look at how Job reacted. That man was righteous and did not at all sin in such a way as to cause the trials that he went through. If there was any man that had a right to be angry with God, it was him, but look at his reaction--repentance and trust in the Lord.

And I most certainly believe that a believer can indeed be angry at God and not break fellowship with Him. You can't break fellowship with your earthly father while he is whooping your butt for doing wrong. The 2nd you fall into anger with the Lord, you'll incur loving correction and constant conviction--evidence of His continual presence with you.

Psalm 139

I always thought Job was a tad angry with God- which resulted in Gods several chapter cross examination.

As far as your first sentence, I can probably agree. But the problem is that there are things that cannot be explained or understood. You will say that is where faith comes in. Agreed- but the anger is caused by the difficulty in having faith when certain horrific things happen.

In other words, how can one say with a straight face that they have faith that there is purpose in God allowing the torture of young children, for example.

Brother Todd,

Well He has always "allowed" things like that to happen, if you are of the school of thought that thinks Him in an absolute control position....
I do not see His authority like that tho I'm aware many do-

I feel allot like brother Neil on this in that He is sooo good to me and I have never personally felt angry with Him, tho I have a close friend that does and his is a roller coaster ride for sure!

Well- ultimately He is is an absolute control position. He may not cause certain things but neither does he prevent them- either because he is unable (wrong) or chooses not to. Of course that debate has been going on for centuries.

So we are left with trying to explain how unimaginable horrors further His purposes.

Like I said I have never been angry at God for myself. I might get angry on behalf of another this Thursday, however. I am praying that will not be the case.

The Lord is righteous and just. If I found out tomorrow that I had stage 4 cancer and my friends were getting angry with God over it, I'd be frustrated with them.

I don't like the idea of kids getting tortured. Not at all. I better not be around when it happens. But to cast anger at God because He is the "agent" of it? That isn't right. The bible itself says that God doesn't tempt anyone. It also says He is good and holy and just and perfect.

I believe that--regardless of any circumstance.

God has been good to me and He saved me and has blessed me. But I grew up in an abusive home. There were things I was exposed to as a child that I never should have seen or had to deal with. However, if someone was angry at God because of my situation, I'd tell them to get over themselves. I don't want or need sympathy. What would getting angry at God do to help me? Nothing.

Well stated, havok.