God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation every day.

Psalms 7:11, ESV

Actor Will Smith’s anger regarding the remarks comedian Chris Rock made about his wife moved him to action when he slapped the comedian at the 94th Academy Awards. While I do not condone Mr. Smith’s actions, it makes me ask the question: Are Christians just as angry when we see the moral degradation that is occurring in our society today? Are we just as angry when we see the tearing down of God’s laws and commandments for our society as to how he desires us to live our lives in a way that honors him and respects one another? Angry enough that it causes Christians to move into action like Will Smith moved into action?

While I also do not agree of the setting where Will Smith expressed his anger, there is a place for righteous anger. God demonstrated righteous anger when he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for its sins. He demonstrated righteous anger when he punished Noah for his drunkenness, and Moses when he struck the rock. He demonstrated righteous anger when he destroyed the world with a flood, and he will demonstrate it again when he destroys the world with fire.

If there is a time and place for God’s righteous anger, is there is a time and place for Christians to demonstrate righteous anger today? Time for Christians to give our nation a collective hard slap? A hard slap to help our nation understand just how angry our heavenly father feels for how far we have moved away from living our lives in a way that honors him and not just ourselves?

God is a God of mercy, but he is also a God of judgment. And maybe what happened with Will Smith and Chris Rock is just a microcosm of what God is asking Christians to do for him today; to give our nation a metaphorical slap on its face to let it know just how angry he feels, and for the slap to cause enough pain and remorse to let him know just how sorry we are, and for him to forgive us and heal our land.

Sharing the Word,

Jeaninne

Prayer: Father, thank you for being a God who not only shows us your righteous anger, but your mercy, forgiveness and love. Amen.