Whoever is Slow to Anger has Great Understanding

       I see very often Christians fighting with non-believers or people of other faiths, even going to the point of juvenile name calling, and every time I see this I think what is this accomplishing? How is this going to bring people to know God? And most importantly, how is this behavior glorifying the Father? Should we be upset when someone challenges our faith or insults Christians, of course! But we need to be careful in how we react, remember, we are the only Bible some people will ever read.
       Now I know there is righteous anger and Christ displayed it in the temple when he up ended the tables(Matthew 21:12-17), but there is a time, place, and way to do that, name calling is not that way. Yes, I do realize that in his moments of righteous anger Christ called the Pharisees hypocrites, compared them to whitewashed tombs, and told them that they turned his Father's house into a den of thieves, but He is God it is His place to judge not yours(Matthew 16:27; 1 Corinthians 4:4-5; Revelation 20:11-12) God tells us to leave vengeance to Him (Deuteronomy 32:35; & Romans 12:19). Yes we should correct, but we shouldn't be cruel in how we do it. Even in our anger over issues or comments we should do our best to represent Christ, use the anger to lead you to resolution, and revelations instead of being drawn into a battle. One thing that could be tried, is turning the tables on the person who is arguing with you or trying to argue. Usually their problem is with themselves or a prior bad experience with someone else. Some good questions to do that with are 'What brought you to this point? Why are you so angry at Christians?' another question that opens up a conversation rather than a battle is 'Do you hate all religions or just Christianity, and why?' and this one is good for those who aren't attacking you, but just might be disagreeing, 'why have you decided to take this path in your life?'
       I call these questions, 'openings for evangelism' it's a listen to lead method, instead of arguing and trying to be right, which typically pushes people away and lets face it makes us all look bad. But if you give them a chance to tell you why they feel and think this way it gives you an opportunity to both acknowledge and counter their thoughts, feeling, and beliefs which then can allow you to minister to them instead of fighting with them.
       I will admit that I am a pacifist now, and I despise fighting, but I wasn't always that way.  I have come to believe this a better way than the arguing because it can be Biblically backed, I have found 35 verses that warn about losing your temper, and one of them is the verse that taught me kind words reach people better than harsh ones, Proverbs 14:29 'Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.'   I also know from experience that when we argue with people our words don't really reach them, they tend to shut them out except to respond back in a biting manner, but they don't reach the heart, and I see that echoed in Proverbs 15:1 'A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.'
       Should we stand up for our faith, absolutely! Should we correct people when they get it wrong, definitely! Is okay to get angry at people who are baiting Christians to fight, calling us names, and blaspheming against our God, without a doubt. But we are poor examples of brotherly love, of agape love if we allow our tempers to get the better of us and we sink to their level. We need to not take offense, and if we do we need to not let that offense get the better of us, as we respond in a loving and Christ-like manner rather than wrath.

Proverbs 19:11        
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 15:18        
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Romans 12:19         
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
                
Ephesians 4:31        
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Ecclesiastes 7:9        
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

James 3:17-18        
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.