Join me for the first Vine Abiders episode 1, a livestream with Chris White, the producer of the documentary “Once Saved Always Saved?”
Summary:
In Matthew 5, Jesus makes it clear that anger is no small matter. He equates it with murder in the same way He equates lust with adultery. The early church understood this plainly: Jesus meant what He said, and His commandments are to be obeyed. That doesn’t mean sinless perfection, but it does mean living in repentance and taking His words seriously.
For me, the breakthrough came when I realized that sin often boils down to opportunity. If I allow myself the “second look” in lust, then the only thing preventing adultery is whether the right circumstances appear.
The same is true with anger. If I indulge it, then the only thing separating me from murder is opportunity. That’s why Jesus says anger is murder.
I’ve learned that anger functions like an addiction. Biochemically, it produces dopamine just like alcohol, pornography, or any other drug. And the strongest form of this “hit” comes when the anger feels justified—road rage, rage-bait on social media, or the “pleasure” of revenge. It’s no wonder the world is filled with it.
But Jesus provides the antidote: “Do not resist an evil person. Turn the other cheek. Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.” This isn’t weakness—it’s freedom.
In my own walk, I had to confront alcohol first, then lust, and eventually the Lord put His finger on anger. I found myself ruminating, replaying offenses in my mind. That “first thought” of anger is temptation, but dwelling on it—the “second thought”—is sin. Just like lust, it’s possible to stop it with God’s help.
The fear of the Lord is key here. It’s not just reverence—it’s the real fear that Jesus meant what He said and that anger can condemn us. That fear drives us to repentance, and repentance brings freedom.
So how do we actually fight anger? First, recognize when you’re indulging it—whether on the road, in your head, or through endless arguments in your mind—and break the cycle. Take every thought captive. Second, obey Jesus’s direct command: pray for your enemies. When you pray for someone who has wronged you, your heart begins to change. Third, sometimes it helps to make forgiveness tangible. Writing out what someone did to you, how it made you feel, and then intentionally praying over it and crossing it out can be a powerful way to release it to God.
This isn’t legalism. It’s about freedom. The Lord has real power to deliver us from the bondage of anger, just like any other addiction. If we take Him at His word, walk in the fear of the Lord, and obey His commands, we will find not only freedom from anger but also refreshment for our souls.
Show Notes:
My Testimony:
The Deformation 1 – The Early Church vs Modern Christians
https://vineabiders.substack.com/p/the-deformation-part-1
The Deformation 2 – Augustine, Gnosticism and Original Sin:
https://vineabiders.substack.com/p/the-deformation-part-2
The Deformation 3- Martin Luther, “Works of the Law” and the Sermon on the Mount:
https://vineabiders.substack.com/p/the-deformation-part-3
The Deformation 4 – Penal Substitutionary Atonement and Wrath Satisfaction:
https://vineabiders.substack.com/p/the-deformation-part-4
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