Books

Righteous (and Other) Anger

The author of The Enigma of Anger cannot commit to a messiah who doesn’t knock over tables.

“I am unable to commit to any messiah who doesn’t knock over tables,” writes Keizer, a self-confessed angry man of faith. But if, as this Episcopal priest asserts, more of us need to be angry, then he believes “we shall require a more careful application of anger and a finer discernment of when anger applies.” Keizer explores anger in its many settings, including the church, literature, history, and the contemporary world. His personal anecdotes are brutally honest and become the axis upon which the book revolves. Uncommonly witty metaphors are paired with gritty language and earthy sexuality to make his prose uniquely his own. Many evangelical readers will not share Keizer’s views on matters such as homosexuality, but most will identify with his desire to respond to difficult situations with compassion rather than rage. In his chapter “Words,” Keizer shares his “speech code,” 16 mandates for himself that any reader who has ever struggled with anger will immediately want to photocopy and put on the refrigerator. “Anger can be redeemed,” he writes compellingly, and at the end of the book, readers will be persuaded to believe it. This is a beautifully crafted treatise guaranteed to stir up emotion, promote discussion, and provoke change.

Cindy Crosby is a frequent contributor to Publishers Weekly.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

The Enigma of Anger is available at Christianbook.com.

Also in this issue

Rick Warren: Just a regular guy who may be America's most influential pastor.

Cover Story

A Regular Purpose-Driven Guy

News

The Force Is Not With Them

Manhattan Ministry a Year Later

Gray Matter and the Soul

The Long View: The Enemy Within

Virtue via Vouchers

Stephen Carter's novel

Elegy for a 9/11 Hero

Graham's Current Events

"Rich, Delighted Christians"

Guilt Good and Bad

Kitsch Watch

Prostitute Murders Spur Ministry

Keeping Their Heads Down

Restricting Faith

Option for Alienated Baptist Missionaries

Aramaic May Disappear in Four Decades

Desert Springs

New Study Answers Many Criticisms of White House's Plans

Quenching Worst-Case Scenarios

News

Go Figure

Wire Story

House: No Church Politicking

What Is Hip?

Review

Seize the Virtue

Review

Hometown Legend

Review

Tribulation Force

Civic-Minded and Heavenly Good

Killing a Pandemic

Jesus Freak

2012: A School Odyssey

Faith-Based Fight: White House moves forward with or without Senate.

Nigeria: War-weary Muslims and Christians talk peace.

Forcing Abortions

There Goes the Neighborhood

Quotation Marks

News

Entertainment: Jonah has boffo box office.

View issue

Our Latest

Testimony

I Demolished My Faith for ‘My Best Life.’ It Only Led to Despair.

Queer love, polyamory, and drugs ruined me. That’s where Jesus found me.

The Book Screwtape Feared Most

Once a bedrock Christian classic, Boethius’s “Consolation of Philosophy” has been neglected for decades. It’s time for a revival.

Being Human

Airport Anxiety and Purposeful Publishing with Joy Allmond

CT’s executive editor learned to care for people as a 9/11-era flight attendant.

The Song of Mary Still Echoes Today

How the Magnificat speaks to God’s care for the lowly.

The Surprising Arrival of a Servant

Jesus’ introduction of justice through gentleness.

The Unexpected Fruit of Barrenness

How the kingdom of God delights in grand reversals.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube