THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor
Sunday, March 4, 2018 ~ Lent III

Sermon: “Righteous Anger”
Gospel Lesson: John 2:13-22

© 2018, Dr. Tamilio

Have you ever seen the other side of someone? Did you ever think that you knew someone quite well, but then they say or do something that is totally out of character giving you a sense that his or her personality is either very different or has a completely different side to it? I think it’s safe to say that we all have. The same thing occurs in this morning’s Gospel lesson. People see a different side to Jesus.

This person who has been teaching people to turn the other cheek, to love your enemies, to resist evildoers, totally loses it.

This is the story of Jesus cleansing the temple. Jesus and his disciples enter Jerusalem and Jesus goes to the Temple. He sees that the money changers have turned into a market place. The real problem is the type of marketplace it has become. Moneychangers were people who exchanged money: just like travelers needs to change their dollars into the coinage of the country they are going to visit. In Jesus’ day, moneychangers were ruthless. They would rip people off, not giving them a fair exchange for their money. They would pocket the rest. Committing this sin in the Temple — the holiest location for the Jews — was even worse. As New Testament scholar Gail O’Day writes, “this story is an illustration of the extortionist practices of the Jewish temple authorities.”

What does Jesus do? He loses it.

He flips the tables over, makes a whip out of some cords, and beats them out of the Temple, screaming, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”

You can feel the anger, can’t you? What makes it even more shocking is that this rage is coming from the mouth and mind of one who never loses it. Jesus calms the seas, he doesn’t rage like them. Jesus cures demons, he doesn’t act as if he is possessed. Jesus is the one who says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,” he doesn’t whip people (John 14:27). But there is a reason why he does. Some people call it righteous anger.

It’s hard to keep your cool when a gross injustice unfolds, be it in your neighborhood or somewhere in the world.

• Another school shooting. Why?
• Another terrorist attack. Why?
• Another story of a child being horribly abused. Why?
• Another corporate scandal is uncovered. Why?
• Another politician is caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Why?
• Another gang shooting occurs in the inner city. Why?
• Another person overdoses on opioids? Why?
• Another young boy or girl gets sold into the sex-slave trade industry. Why?
• Another homeless veteran dies on the street. Why?
• Another husband betters his wife. Why?

Why? We know why. People are easily seduced by wealth, power, and prestige. We will sell our souls for a bargain. In short, we are all too quick to live as though there is no God or to live as if we are God. When we do so, we follow the ways of the world. We succumb to our selfish desires. Everything becomes flash. Everything becomes flesh. Everything becomes easy.

When we see injustices unfold in our communities or in our country or in our world, it is only natural to get upset. In an article in Christianity Today, Lisa Harper writes, “As Christ-followers, we’re totally appropriate getting upset over sin…. Evils such as abuse, racism, pornography, and child sex trafficking should incense us.” Some people refer to this as righteous anger. That’s what Jesus felt and expressed in the Temple.

Such anger should compel us to act, to advocate for change. It’s not enough to stew in our ire. When we feel righteous anger it is our spiritual thermometer telling us to put our faith into action. This does not mean we need to resort to violence. I am not encouraging you to make a whip out of chords and to start hitting people. Jesus had his reasons.

Harper continues: “after we take offense, we should take redemptive action. Christians must get involved with organizations working to free children from slavery and volunteer at shelters working to protect battered women. We must lead the charge against hatred and oppression and cruelty!” Yes, yes, and yes! Righteous anger should lead to redemptive action. We need to be the voice for the voiceless. We need to stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves. Pretending that such injustices do not exist or convincing ourselves into believing that we can’t do anything about it does not alleviate us from Christ’s command to take up the cause of the poor and oppressed; to advocate for the widow and orphan; to feed the hungry, give clothing to the naked, or to welcome the stranger.

Jesus did not just get upset when he faced injustice. He did something about it. He healed the sick, exorcised demons, and taught people about the kingdom of God — how it was at hand. I’m pretty sure he wants us to go and do likewise. Maybe we cannot cure the sick, but we can feed the hungry. Maybe we cannot perform miracles, but we can still clothe the naked.

I recently read a book entitled American Government: Institutions and Policies. In it, the writers say that voting is not the only way that people can be involved in politics. You can write letters to your representatives or to the editor of your local paper. You can become involved in a community action group. You can work on the campaign of someone you would like to see get elected. There is a lot that you — the average citizen — can do to participate in government. Voting is just part of it.

In a similar vein, there is a lot you can do as a Christian. Yes, you can come to church, worship God, pray, and read your Bible, but that’s only part of it. You can get involved. You can get your hands dirty. You don’t have to move mountains. You can do something simple. In fact, it’s the simple things that usually make the most difference. Volunteer to be on a committee at this church. Increase your pledge. Volunteer to read a book at your local kindergarten. Get involved with the Canton Help Line. Embody the love and peace of Christ so that it shines forth from everything you do and everything you say.

Never let your anger get the best of you — but let it inspire you. Amen.