Wrath
Matthew 5
Teaching about Anger
21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
WRATH → GENTLENESS
Anger
"Something is wrong."
Wrath asks:
"Someone must pay."
- Anger identifies injury.
- Wrath identifies enemies.
The Price of Community
The price we pay for community is annoyance.
Worship & Wrath
The wrathful heart says:
"My justice be done."
The worshipping heart says:
"Your will be done."
Gentleness
Strength governed by love
- inner strength
- calm spirit
- Seeing a person before a problem
Wrath says:
"There is no room for you."
Gentleness says:
"There is still room for you."
If every person bears the image of God,
then gentleness is the practice of treating people
according to who they truly are.
With holy regard.
Patience
- What gentleness looks like over time.
- Gentleness makes room.
- Patience keeps the room open.
- Reconciliation becomes possible.
A Reminder:
God has made room for us.
Pride
- Fails to see yourself rightly.
Envy
- Fails to see another person's blessing rightly
Wrath
- Fails to see another person's humanity rightly
- The virtue (Gentleness) restores sight
Wrath forgets the image of God in another person;
gentleness remembers it and treats them accordingly—with holy regard.
This Week
- Bless and do not curse.
- See the person.
- Make room.
Vice & Virtue
The Seven Deadly Sins and The Virtues that Heal Them
A Litany for Vice & Virtue
Leader: God of truth and grace, You created all things good.
People: Yet we have twisted Your gifts and trusted our own understanding.
Leader: Where pride has distorted our sight,
People: Teach us humility and help us see as You see.
Leader: Where vice has broken communion with You, with others, and with creation,
People: Restore us through the life of Christ and the power of Your Spirit.
Leader: Take what is disordered within us and put it back into Your good order.
People: Redeem our desires, our thoughts, our habits, and our loves.
Leader: Where we have grasped for control,
People: Teach us trust.
Leader: Where we have withheld love,
People: Teach us virtue.
Leader: Form in us the character of Christ.
People: That Your grace may flow through us into the world.
Leader: Sanctify us wholly—spirit, soul, and body.
People: Until Your love is perfected in us. Amen.
Questions to Consider:
- What has been frustrating you lately?
- Who is hardest for you to see with gentleness right now?
- Have you reduced anyone to their worst moment?
- What would it look like to make room for them?
- How has God made room for you?
- Who can you bless this week instead of curse?
