Southside Scoop - 6.23.2024

Southside Church of Christ

800 Elmira Avenue

Durham, NC 27707

info@sside.org | www.sside.org

919.688.3535

STAFF

Orlander R. Thomas Senior Minister

William A. Stephens Minister Emeritus

Candice P. Blount Church Administrator

Quentella Williams Executive Assistant

John Merriweather Online Campus Minister

Dineen Merriweather Online Campus Director

DEACONS

John Alcox

Anthony Green, Sr.

Arthur Hackney

John Mathis

Chester Mayfield, Jr.

Roger McDougal

Joe Williams

Keith Wright

Anger

By RICKI FULLER

It shows up in so many different ways We have all experienced it at one time or another, and we can see how it weaves in and out of the lives of people (GOD’s people) past and present

Where did anger have its biblical beginnings? Consider this: Was “perfection” present when the LORD-GOD created the Adams? It seemed so The earth, the elements and the cosmos were all molded, fashioned by Father GOD, the Word and the Holy Spirit. All seemed exactly as it should be.

The Spirit-breathed pair of humans were given specific directives on what to do and what to eat They were given stewardardship over all of creation; they were “to have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth ” (Genesis 1:26)

Yet, homeostasis was upset/disturbed in the Garden of Eden in multiple ways. Why/How did Eve succumb to the creature over whom the LORD-GOD had given her rule? Whatever her thought process was, we can now imagine that once the Adams realized their nakedness/sin, they became angry with the serpent and with themselves

Moreover, the Adams’ nakedness/sin and subsequent anger became communal. In an attempt to hide their nakedness, “they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves (Genesis 3:8) ”

That means the fig tree, once full and vibrant, became naked for the sake of the humans Afterward, when the consequences of their choices were more fully understood, “the LORD-GOD made garments of skin for them (Genesis 3:21) ” That means the animals (livingbreathing creatures with fur and skin) were made naked, sacrificed to cover the nakedness of the humans.

Is it any wonder that “all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (Romans 8:22)?” With so much destructive, disrespect demonstrated for centuries toward the earth and the cosmos, anger just might be the response from the earth and the cosmos. Yes, anger can be communal, affecting every aspect of life.

We can visualize that eventually the Adams told the LORD-GOD they believed and received His decree about their position and their worth in His creation Perhaps they asked the LORD-GOD to help them overcome their anger and their disbelief It’s certainly possible for us today!

Lord, please help us in our weaknesses! And, we thank You for helping us with our distorted belief systems that cause us to allow anger to persist in our lives!

Thank You, Abba!