Rule of Benedict 27
April 26, 2009
I have been going through the Rule of Benedict off and on (mostly on) over the last couple of months. I resume today with verses 22-28 of Chapter 4. A good commentary on the rule of Benedict is Preferring Christ by Norvene Vest.
Chapter Four of the Rule begins with the love of Christ. But love of Christ is accompanied always by obedience to Christ. The rest of chapter 4 are points of obedience. Review the previous posts for more information.
Verses 22-28:
Not to gratify anger: not to harbor a desire for revenge, not to foster guile in your heart, not to make a feigned peace, not to forsake charity. Not to swear, lest perchance you perjure yourself; to utter truth your heart and your mouth
Comments: Two reactions to anger: Negative and positive. On the negative side is to refrain from certain actions bad and good; on the positive side to only speak truth. Anger is a puzzle for many. Paul says “be angry and sin not” seemingly being OK with anger which does not lead to sin. In Colossians, the same Paul says to put away anger or to kill it (3:1-7). Jesus prohibits any expression in anger in Matthew 5.
In psychology, we are asked to manage our anger by acknowledging we are angry and that anger is a secondary emotion, which stems from hurt, fear, false expectations, or illusion of control. Normalize anger (everyone gets angry), set goals for people in relationships with you that are realistic, and respond instead of react by making yourself some room to think and confuse the stimulus and the cause of anger (which resides within). Psychology may also encourage the expression of anger as appropriately as possible. is that enough? All of these are good things. They help in a pinch. But is there no rescue plan from anger?
What’s the Christian to do? What do you do with your anger?
Prayer: Lord, I cannot prevent the emotion of anger from being in me. I cannot eradicate it. Help me to put it to good use from the betterment of others and myself. Help me to respond without anger as a first response to when I am wronged. Christ, have mercy. Amen.
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