The Cost of Contempt: Anger, Judgment, and the Way of Jesus (Sermon on the Mount Series)

Voxology

Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 24 August 2020

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Practicing reconciliation and learning how to process anger is vital to embodying the upside-down kingdom Jesus introduced in the Sermon on the Mount. Continuing their series, Mike and Tim dive into Matthew 5:21–26, exploring Jesus’ stark warning that harboring contempt for others—especially in religious or political conflicts—is more dangerous than we realize. In the wake of listener feedback and a personal confrontation with their own tone in prior episodes, the hosts model public repentance while unpacking what righteous anger actually looks like and how Christians are called to engage with others—especially when we disagree.

Whether you're struggling with outrage culture, frustrated by politics, or passionate about social justice, this episode offers a powerful invitation to humbly examine our motives, pursue reconciliation, and reimagine how we witness to the world through Jesus-shaped confrontation.

Key Takeaways:
• The anatomy of anger and contempt – Why Jesus equates chronic anger with murder and how contempt poisons community and witness.
• Repenting from partisan self-righteousness – The importance of naming when our tone, assumptions, or posture misrepresent Jesus and damage relationships.
• Lessons from Jesus’ righteous anger – When is anger appropriate, and what should it produce in us? (Hint: think healing and reconciliation, not destruction.)
• Overcoming political idolatry – How the siege mentality shapes Christians into tribal combatants rather than kingdom peacemakers.
• Reconciliation over religion – Jesus teaches that repairing relationships is more important than religious rituals.

Resources Mentioned:
• Matthew 5:21–26 – Bible Gateway
• Leviticus 19 – Bible Gateway
• Dallas Willard on Joyful Non-Compliance
• Study on catharsis and anger escalation [Link if available]
• David Brooks’ article on Siege Mentality [Link if available]
• The story of Daryl Davis and redemptive table fellowship [Link if available]

Let’s be the kind of community that confesses quickly, seeks reconciliation earnestly, and chooses grace when the world chooses contempt. Subscribe, leave us a review, and follow Voxology Podcast on your favorite social platforms.

As always, we encourage and welcome discussion as we pursue truth together. Email us questions at [email protected], and join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Follow Mike Erre on Twitter: @MikeErre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Vox podcast with Mike and Tim Stafford.
0:22.2	Although I didn't recognize Tim Stafford when I saw his face on the Zoom call
0:27.2	because Tim for the first time in eight years shaved off his beard.
0:32.3	He is freshly shorn like a lamb about to.
0:36.6	What happens when they shear the sheep? What happens then?
0:40.2	I'm pretty sure they get slaughtered. Okay, like a lamb before the slaughter. Tim,
0:46.4	tell us about your face. I haven't seen it. I haven't known you without the really magnificent
0:53.3	mane of hair around your face.
0:55.7	Tell me about your face.
0:57.0	I can see now, just to be honest, why you've kept it on.
1:02.9	Me too.
1:03.8	No.
1:04.7	The moment that I shaved it off, I was, because I don't recognize myself, nor did I remember
1:10.5	what I looked like. And I, for one, don't have myself, nor did I remember what I looked like.
1:11.6	And I, for one, don't have a chin.
1:14.2	Oh.
1:14.7	And I somehow had forgotten about that in the years that that glorious mane was covering my face.
1:22.5	It's okay.
1:22.6	I have extras if you want one.
1:24.6	So do I apparently.
1:25.8	I found that too.
1:31.3	All sorts of new revelations from the beard shaving. Oh, I know.
	...

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