The Bible distinguishes between righteous anger (sometimes appropriate — God is angry at injustice; Jesus cleansed the temple in anger) and sinful anger (most human anger). Christians are commanded to be 'slow to anger' (James 1:19) and not to let the sun go down on their wrath (Ephesians 4:26).
The Bible's teaching distinguishes righteous anger from sinful anger. (1) Righteous anger exists. God is repeatedly described as angry — at injustice, idolatry. Romans 1:18. Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple in anger (Matthew 21:12-13). Ephesians 4:26 — 'Be ye angry, and sin not.' Anger at the right things, in the right way, for the right reasons, is not sin. (2) Most human anger is sinful. James 1:19-20 — 'the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.' (3) Anger held becomes sin. Ephesians 4:26-27 — 'let not the sun go down upon your wrath.' (4) Anger reveals the heart. Proverbs 14:29 — 'He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.' (5) Anger is destructive in relationships. Proverbs 15:1 — 'A soft answer turneth away wrath.' Jesus's most extensive teaching is Matthew 5:21-22 — 'whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.' Anger is the root of murder. Specific practices: slow down (James 1:19), confess to God, do not let it sit overnight, address the cause directly, bear with each other in love. The Bible also addresses anger toward God — many psalms express it. The Bible does not forbid bringing anger to God in prayer; it forbids cursing God or walking away.
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.”
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy.”
“Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.”
When angry: pause, examine (righteousness or self?), pray honestly, address quickly, speak softly, distinguish your anger from God's, seek help for chronic patterns.
No — the Bible distinguishes righteous anger from sinful anger. God himself is angry at injustice. Jesus drove the moneychangers out in anger. Ephesians 4:26 — 'Be ye angry, and sin not.' But most human anger is sinful because it serves self. James 1:19-20 — 'the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.'
Several principles. Be slow to anger (James 1:19). Do not let anger sit overnight (Ephesians 4:26). Distinguish God's anger from yours. Speak softly to defuse it (Proverbs 15:1). Jesus said even anger without cause puts one in danger of judgment (Matthew 5:22).
Slow down (James 1:19). Examine the cause. Pray honestly. Address it quickly (Ephesians 4:26). Speak softly. Forgive (Ephesians 4:32). Walk away when needed. Seek help for chronic patterns.
Yes. The Gospels record Jesus angry on at least two occasions. He drove the moneychangers from the temple twice (John 2:13-17, Matthew 21:12-13). Mark 3:5 records that he 'looked round about on them with anger' at hardness of heart. His anger was always purposeful and did not turn to malice.