The Heart of Anger

Introduction: Anger and Why It Matters

Part 1: Biblical Portraits of Human Anger
Chapter 1: Anger and the Human Heart
Chapter 2: Getting to the Heart of Anger
Chapter 3: Anger and Harm
Chapter 4: Anger and Power
Chapter 5: Anger and Self-Righteousness
Chapter 6: Anger and Pride
Chapter 7: Anger and the Crowd
Chapter 8: Using Others to Serve our Angry Madness
Chapter 9: Righteous Anger?

Part 2: Leave Room for an Angry God
Chapter 10: The Anger of God Is Good
Chapter 11: The Anger of God Is Evident
Chapter 12: The Anger of God Is a Jealous Love
Chapter 13: The Anger of God Is Slow but Sure
Chapter 14: The Anger of God Is Revealed in Jesus
Chapter 15: Leave Room for an Angry God

Part 3: First Steps in Defusing Human Anger
Chapter 16: Contrast Our Own Anger with His in the Matter of Knowledge
Chapter 17: Expose the Agenda behind Our Anger: An Example from Parenting
Chapter 18: Feeling Mad: Uncovering the Emotions Hiding Beneath

Part 4: Find Joy in the Peace of Christ
Chapter 19: New Desires in Christ
Chapter 20: A New Crowd in Christ
Chapter 21: A New Peace in Christ
Chapter 22: A New Power in Christ
Chapter 23: A New Humbling from Christ
Chapter 24: A New Love from Christ
Chapter 25: Learn Wisdom in Christ

Acknowledgments
Appendix 1: A Checklist for Our Anger
Appendix 2: A Devotional Response to Our Anger
General Index
Scripture Index

“I found myself jotting down quote after quote as I read through this book filled with so much insight into the Scriptures, as well as insight into human behavior. Then I came to the question, ‘What can Christ do for our anger that anger management courses cannot?’ and in the pages that followed, I realized I had just struck gold—gospel hope for those who recognize the damage anger is doing in their lives and relationships and their need of a source outside themselves to deal with it.”
Nancy Guthrie, Bible teacher; author, Even Better than Eden

“This book meets a real need. It gives us a warm, biblical, easily accessible treatment of one of those sins that causes great havoc but is rarely given serious attention. Most of us have suffered the anger of others at one point or another, and most of us can remember times when we failed and lashed out at others. We need to hear what the whole of the Bible has to say about anger, to distinguish between our self-centered anger and God’s righteous anger, and to learn strategies to deal with anger in all its forms. Above all, after reading this book, do take the time to work through the immensely practical and helpful appendixes.”
Mark D. Thompson, Principal, Moore Theological College

“Imagine being more skillful, less reactive, and humble in the face of your own anger or the anger of others. Imagine how many relationships could find peace and avoid prolonged wars. The Heart of Anger guides you there. It is gentle and clear, thorough and hopeful. The illustrations will have you saying, ‘That’s me.’ And it will give you direction today.”
Ed Welch, Counselor and Faculty Member, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation

“Ash and Midgley have served Christ’s church well by treating the subject of anger in a way that is biblically robust and centered on issues of the heart. In addition to learning much about Scripture’s emphasis on the role of the inner person in effecting lasting change, readers will also realize the delightful alternative of finding joy and satisfaction in the gospel. Pastors, biblical counselors, and all followers of Christ should have this book on their shelves and these concepts in their hearts and lives.”
Steve Viars, Senior Pastor, Faith Church, Lafayette, Indiana; Director, Faith Legacy Foundation; author, Putting Your Past in Its Place

“Anger, with all its complexity, is still devastatingly simple. This book captures this paradox perfectly. It describes the multiple factors at play in the heart of a person experiencing anger, and it does so with biblical depth and clarity. An excellent guide to the heart of a person’s anger.”
Jeremy Pierre, Dean of Students, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky

“What does the Bible say about anger? Not only do Steve Midgley and Christopher Ash answer this question exhaustively, but they convincingly gather Scripture’s teaching on anger into four accessible core categories. The Heart of Angeris written with pastoral sensitivity, full of personal examples and case studies, and climaxes with a moving description of anger’s antidote: the humility only the gospel of Christ can provide. In addition, Midgley and Ash offer a refreshing insight into the way that listening to Scripture connects us to that humility. In short, The Heart of Anger richly and biblically captures our struggle and our hope in the face of the pandemic of prideful anger that has infected us all since the garden.”
J. Alasdair Groves, Executive Director, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation; coauthor, Untangling Emotions

“Anger is a universal human experience and one that often catches us by surprise. Why are we so angry? In this Scripture-saturated book, Christopher Ash and Steve Midgley help us discern what underlies the many manifestations of our anger, while charting a gospel-centered course for change. What difference does Christ make in our struggle with anger? ‘All the difference in the world,’ say Ash and Midgley. And that is good news indeed for angry folk like you and me!”
Michael R. Emlet, Faculty Member, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation; author, CrossTalk: Where Life and Scripture Meet and Descriptions and Prescriptions

“Christopher Ash and Steve Midgley have written a book on anger that is honest, engaging, convicting, and packed with biblical wisdom. I highly recommend it for Christians who want to understand their heart and Jesus’s heart for them in their own struggle with anger.”
Darby Strickland, Counselor and Teacher, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation; author, Is It Abuse?

“The Heart of Anger brings together the overlapping realities of our personal anger, the anger of God, and the anger of others, then examines them through the lens of Scripture. Steve Midgley and Christopher Ash don’t merely pass along information gleaned from their study; they share what God’s word has to say about these overlapping realities in ways that transform lives. Readers will be equipped to walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord in regard to anger and help others to do likewise.”
Curtis Solomon, Executive Director, Biblical Counseling Coalition

“Using biblical and modern case studies, Steve Midgley and Christopher Ash show us the devastation that anger causes due to selfish desires. At the heart of anger is a desire to be God, with his knowledge and sovereignty. That sword cuts deeply into all we hold dear. In contrast, the authors show us the righteous anger and steadfast love of the Lord. Knowing Jesus brings us a change of heart, with new desires. Scripture is skillfully applied in specific, practical ways, modeling how to sheath the sword of anger and brandish love and humility instead. Biblical counselors will find true hope for themselves and their counselees here in understanding anger, relationships, and new creation in the Lord.”
Cecelia Bernhardt, Faculty and Director of Counseling, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation