Online Archives

BY KEVIN SMALLS

In some of the writings in the New Testament there are brief admonitions against being angry. Parents are urged to discourage their children from it, friends are encouraged to do away with anger before sundown and church members should be very slow to anger.

It is very apparent that the writers of the New Testament realized that anger led to division, internal chaos and brokenness.

However, I want to talk to you about instances when it is okay to get angry. In the scenarios above, the Bible is speaking of anger in personal relationships. I want to say a word to you about our public relationships.

Faithful service is essential in public relationships and arenas. It is true that we should exercise care and meekness in our personal relationships with family, friends, children and parents. But there is another arena where it is imperative that we exercise anger. This arena is lived out in public relationships with entities like government officials and other leaders.

This concept of service calls us to be angry about conditions that are creating social and economic hardships on the communities around us.

When speaking of this type of anger I am not speaking of rage or anger toward an individual, but anger toward political and social systems and structures that are oppressive and unfair to the vulnerable in our midst.

For example, it should anger us that there are too few affordable child care opportunities for children and families of need; it should anger us that in some cities we build stadiums before we build better schools and affordable housing; it should anger us that our libraries are under stocked and under supported; it should anger us that there may not be recreational facilities for neighborhood children and for senior day care activities.

Faithful disciples hold politicians and leaders accountable and in the process serve those who are often counted out and not respected.

Does your mayor, council representative and school board officials know you or the people of your church? If not, they should know that you are a community of disciples that take seriously the business of uplifting God?s people.

This kind of work is not always easy. In fact, sometimes it feels strange and awkward to confront mayors, council members and officials about changing the conditions that we find unhealthy, unsafe and unethical. But, remember, God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that God?s people be set free.

Moses didn?t go with intentions of being nice. He went with intentions of getting results and that was the freedom of his people from Pharaoh?s harsh rule. Faithful disciples operate out of this understanding.

God still needs people to go to Pharaoh and demand that the voiceless around us be set free so that they too may live the lives that God desires.

So, find a unique way to serve the community around you by getting mad at the lack of sidewalks in our neighborhoods, or the lack of stop signs or traffic lights where children play, or the decrease of affordable housing in our cities, or the lack of support and advocacy for Latino day workers, or more quality programming and resources for some of our inner-city children.

I call on you, my young adult friends, to get mad for Jesus and stand up to those things that are wrong; and don?t back down until you witness the justice and the liberation that comes when disciples faithfully serve.

There is an organization known as the Industrial Areas Foundation helping churches to do this kind of ministry. For those of you who are living or worshiping in Washington, Baltimore, Montgomery and Howard counties, I urge you to contact the Industrial Areas Foundation?s organizing efforts to help you with this work. Or perhaps find a way to bring them to your area.

So, go ahead, my young adult posse, get mad and serve in God?s name.

The Rev. Kevin Smalls is associate council director for young adult ministries in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. For information on the work of the Industrial Areas Foundation organizing efforts near you, contact Kevin Smalls at or (800) 492-2525.