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Sirach 1:22 "Unrighteous anger cannot be justified, for a man's anger tips the scale to his ruin."

 

Notice Sirach is condemning unrighteous anger. Many people, myself included at times, think anger is wrong no matter what, especially when acted upon. But there are times when anger is the appropriate response, and when acting on it within the bounds of righteousness is necessary, just look at Jesus overturning the money-changers' tables in the Temple.

 

The difficulty lies in the fact that our fallen nature often gets angry at offenses or perceived offenses against ourselves, and desires vengeance. We want to mete out justice (as we see it), rather that wait for God to act. That kind of anger is not righteous, we are supposed to be humble servants, accepting even unjust treatment at times, just as Jesus did.

 

The question to ask is if the anger that rises in us is in response to an offense to God, and if our desired response is for His greater glory and not our own self gratification. Righteous anger is the correct response to offenses against God. That can include offenses against His Creation, including ourselves. Our response to righteous anger must be appropriate, but needn't be suppressed. Saint Augustine famously said "He who is not angry when there is just cause for anger is immoral. Why? Because anger looks to the good of justice. And if you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust."