Anger
by Doug Reese TTNL
You probably heard the old sports joke, "I went to the fights last night, and a hockey game broke out."

It is funny, but sadly true.
The events that are happening today in sports are becoming more and more violent each passing day...the brawls on soccer fields across the world...the fights in hockey are almost expected...a tight inside pitch in baseball starts a rumble in the infield...an elbow on a rebound brings about a shoving match in basketball...and everywhere is there trash talk.

Just within the past few years the world of sports has shown its dark side. These are but a few of the dIsgraceful actIons that have been wIdely reported In the medIa...a professional football player is charged with the murder of his pregnant wife...another NFL athlete attacks a referee with a head butt, because of a thrown penalty flag hits him in the eye...the Los Angles Dodgers get into a brawl with the fans in Wrigley Field in Chicago when a fan reaches over the dugout and steals a player's hat...an All-Pro tight end is charged with sexual assault of a minor...domestic abuse is rampant...an NBA basketball player attacks and chokes his head coach...a very successful collegiate basketball coach is fined $30,000 for his actions towards his athletes and is put on zero-tolerance probation...an NHL hockey player slashes an opponent across the head and renders him unconsious and in serious condition in the hospital...a former heavyweight champion boxer bites off part of his opponents ear during a bout.

Athletic Principle

What was the cause of this violence? Uncontrolled emotional anger. You see anger everywhere in sports. Cheap shots, trash talk, then retaliation. Now you can see countless expressions of anger even at the youth level of sports. Why? Because it is modeled for us on TV by the athletes whom we idolize. It is beginning to become the norm in sports, rather than a taboo.

From a performance standpoint, an number of things can happen, which are all bad when an athlete has anger building up inside his heart. First the athlete loses their focus. Instead of concentrating on the task at hand, thoughts drift to how to physically attack an opponent. It can be a kick, a trip, an elbow, a slash, a slide intended to take out the legs, a high tight fastball, a clip, or even a punch below the belt. The result can be varied; sometimes you will get a way with it, sometimes a foul or a penalty will be issued, sometimes an ejection will result, sometimes a fight will occur, and sometimes the person who retaliates is penalized and the offender gets off free.

In any result, uncontrolled anger has consequences. Not only for the athlete, but for the team as well. Because of anger, an athlete can forget his purpose. Assignments are missed and the team suffers. An ejection can put a team and its coach on an emotional roller coaster with the untimely loss of a key starter. Unchecked anger is potentially dangerous.

How then do we handle anger?

God's Performance Principle

Anger unfortunately is human nature. The Bible talks about the "burning anger" of Samson (Judges 14:19), and even King David, who the Bible calls "a man after God's own heart," burned with anger (2 Samuel 12:5). All of us at some time or another have to deal with anger. God knows this, and His Word, the Bible talks at length about it.

God is calling us to a higher standard. God is described as holy, and we are called "to be holy as God is holy." Holiness is to separate yourself from sin and to conform with the very character and heart of God.
"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16)
God is also described as "slow to anger and abounding in love" at total of six times in the Bible. As children of God, He wants us to have the same character qualities...slow to anger and abounding in love. Even God got angry with His chosen people of Israel when they continually disobeyed Him. We are told that, "Time after time he restrained his anger," (Psalm 78:38). So then what key wisdom can God impart on us to restrain our anger?
"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under-control."  (Proverbs 29:11)
Be wise. Keep your self under control. Walk away. Count to ten. Refocus. Don't get caught in the trap of pride when self-talk tells you to retaliate. Say no to the voices that tell you, "You can't do that to me! I'll show you!" Keep your anger in check.
"In your anger do not sin; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." (Ephesians 4:26)
If you anger is left unchecked, if you do not refocus, you will be capable of sinning. How? By going after the person your mad at. God tells us to deal with anger now! Don't let a day pass and let that anger build to an explosive force in your heart.
"My dear brothers, take not of this: Everyone should be quick to listen. Slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." (James 1:20)
God desires that you listen carefully and think before you speak. If you fail to listen, if you are quick with your tongue, this can cause anger to boil up within your heart. This is God's will for you and by following His will, anger will be kept in check.
"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, for you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared." (Proverbs 22:24-25)
King Solomon, in all of his wisdom writes that your choice of friends is important. Watch out with whom you hang out with. Your friends can rub off on you, and you may become just like them - you may just get trapped because of who you run with.
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 29:11)
You need to keep your cool. If you do, you will control your temper. A soft spoken word will turn away anger, but uncontrolled shouts of anger will incite anger. The key here is your response - you will reap what you sow. If you respond in love, you will get love back. If you respond in anger, anger will be returned back to you.
Jesus speaking, "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." (Matthew 5:22)
Jesus gives us the final word on anger. Don't get angry! For it you do, you will be judged for it. You really don't want to go there! It is a sin with consequences. Avoid sin - run from it.

Anger will knock on your door at almost any moment. How do you answer? By being wise, under self-control, with a listening ear, a slow to speak response that is gentle in nature. Keep your focus. Keep your temper in check. If you can follow God's game plan, anger will no longer be a troubled spot in any area of your performance.
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