Ask Pastor John The Great Marriage Killer
Sep 29, 2017
John Piper, Reformed pastor and theologian known for pastoral teaching and Desiring God, explores anger's destructive power and the Bible's place for righteous anger. He contrasts habitual, self-justifying fury with careful, non-savoring holiness. He offers scriptural markers for restraint, calls for prayerful humility, and urges leaving ultimate judgment to God.
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Anger Destroys Relationships And The Self
- Anger is both a relationship and self-destroyer that, if unchecked, consumes all other emotions and leaves people bitter and numb.
- John Piper emphasizes long-term bitterness (pikria) as a principal marriage killer more than sexual sin, citing Colossians and Ephesians.
Put Away Bitterness And Love Enemies
- Put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander and practice kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness as modeled by Christ.
- Piper points to Ephesians and Colossians and urges loving enemies because Jesus prayed for and died for his enemies.
Scripture Allows Measured Righteous Anger
- Scripture acknowledges God's holy anger and shows Jesus and Paul displaying grief or measured anger toward hardness of heart.
- Piper cites Mark 3:5 and Ephesians 4:26 to affirm a place for non-sinful anger that must be controlled.
