Lynn Jones: The danger of anger
By Lynn Jones
Biblical commentaries are very helpful in the study of the Bible, but they can also be very expensive. A more inexpensive commentary is the daily newspaper. The newspaper is constantly confirming and illustrating the Bible. An article about a Harvard medical study is a case in point.
The article reported the results of a seven-year study conducted by the medical school on the effects of anger on the heart. The study involved 1,305 men ages 40-90 who were categorized in terms of their ability or inability to control anger. Results showed a direct link between anger and risk. The higher the level of anger, the higher the risk of the body responding with a heart attack or chest pains.
One of the doctors who led the study team, said, “Men who have very violent outbursts of anger are at a greater risk. Of the 1,305 men, none of whom had heart trouble when the study began, 20 went on to suffer fatal heart attacks, 30 had nonfatal heart attacks, and 69 developed anginas. None of the 199 calmest men had fatal heart attacks. Twelve of the angriest men were killed by heart attacks. The exact mechanisms by which anger raises risk of heart disease are uncertain, but possible facts include release of stress hormones into the bloodstream, increased oxygen demanded by heart muscle cells, and added stickiness of blood platelets involved in forming clots that can cause heart attacks.
The doctor concluded, “Some people are chronically, excessively, and unreasonably angry. For those people, a course of anger management might be helpful.” He added, “Their families and neighbors also might benefit.”
At this point in the story, I would like to add an “amen” and the following observations: 1) God gave us the capacity for anger/indignation. J. Wallace Hamilton said that anger is like a wild horse. Harnessed and under control, it is a powerful force for good. Uncontrolled, it can be like a wild horse that runs rampant through our lives, leaving a trail of destruction behind. 2) The matters about which you get angry serve as an index to the soul. Do you get angry at personal slights, or do you get angry at injustice and sin in our world? Note that Jesus got angry at the latter, but never at the former.
Frederick Buechner observed, “Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back, in many ways is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself.” There is only one letter that is different between the words “anger” and “danger.”
Lynn Jones is a retired pastor who lives in Oxford. He does supply preaching for churches in his area and often serves as an interim pastor. Jones is also an author, has written two books and writes a weekly newspaper column. He may be contacted at: kljones45@yahoo.com.
