Fruit is Sweeter

As children of God, instead of shutting down streets and bridges with divisive and angry protests, use those voices, energies, and emotions in organizing prayer vigils?  Gather together in front of the police stations across this country and pray.  Gather around our youth and pray.  Go into the neighborhoods and pray.  Physically encircle the people who are angry...and pray.  There is more POWER in venting anger through prayer.

Is prayer not more powerful than anger?  Is prayer not more powerful than screaming and yelling?  Screaming and yelling begets anger, does it not?  Does this form of protest accomplish anything positive?  The more powerful and effective answer to anger is kindness, gentleness, and love.  And, are these not "fruit" of the Spirit?  If we are children of God, and are to grow in maturity, then the fruit of the Spirit is our guideline.  And, nowhere in the Fruit of the Spirit is listed dissension and divisiveness....

(Galatians 5:22-23) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control..."

In fact, Jesus tells us in scripture to "pray for those who persecute you".
(Matthew 5:44) "But I tell you:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

(Matthew 5:46) "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?..."  (Meaning:  it is easy to love those who love you.  But, we are to grow in self-discipline, love, and self-control by loving those who are difficult to love.)

Jesus also tells us: "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'  But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person.  If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.  If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (Matthew 5:38-41)

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14)

Bottom line is that anger does not settle anything.  Anger is a tool of the devil to divide and conquer.  We, as God's children, are to not react by emotion but by the truth of God's Word.  The "Fruit of the Spirit" is the curriculum for growing in maturity as born-again Believers in Christ.