Читать книгу Listen My Son - Dwight Longenecker - Страница 31

Not to give way to anger

Not to cherish an opportunity for displaying one's anger

Not to preserve deceit in one's heart

Not to give the kiss of peace insincerely Not to abandon charity

Not to swear, for fear of perjury

To speak with one's mouth the truth that lies in one's heart

Not to return evil for evil

Not to inflict any injury, but to suffer injuries patiently

To love one's enemies

Not to curse anyone who curses us, but instead to return a blessing

To suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake

Not to be arrogant

Not given to drinking

Not a heavy eater

Not given to much sleeping

Not lazy

Not a grumbler

Not a detractor

To rest one's hope in God

Whenever one perceives any good in oneself to attribute it to God, not to one's self

But to recognise that whatever is evil is one's own doing, and to blame one's self

This section of chapter IV can also be split into two smaller parts. The first part helps us deal with anger towards others and the second part directs our attention to the fruit of unexpressed anger in our lives.

Once again Benedict does not forbid anger. But he advises how to control it. We mustn't give in to anger or nurture an opportunity to ‘tell someone off’. We mustn't harbour a lie in our hearts or pretend to like someone when we don't. Instead we are to speak honestly and openly with everyone, never return evil for evil (1 Thess. 5.15), or curse for curse. We must bear injuries patiently (1 Pet. 3.9; Matt. 5.10) and love our enemies (Luke 6.27).

But too often anger remains unexpressed. When it festers in our minds the rot soon sets in. Our souls become infected and if we are not careful our whole lives can be destroyed. So the second set of commands considers the effects of unexpressed anger. How is unresolved anger manifested in our lives? – the list is here. We become arrogant, we seek escape and solace in too much food, drink and sleep. Then we grumble, backbite and snipe at others.

Instead of harbouring anger like this, Benedict advises us to look at ourselves clearly. We need to acknowledge that any good in us is God's doing, while any evil is our own responsibility. These are hard words, and nothing goes against the grain more than to give up nursing anger and acknowledge that the problem is probably with us.

It is vital within our marriage and family to sort out the problem of anger as soon as possible. Many relationships are founded on a brooding anger which grows from false expectations. The only way to cure the demon of anger is to confront it head on, to bring it out into the open and get things right, and the only one who can put it right is God.

Psychologists tell us fear lies at the root of anger. At the very foundation of our personalities we are angry because we are frightened. This is the inchoate fear of the child being left alone in the dark, cut off from love. The only remedy for this underlying fear is that deep unconditional perfect love (1 John 4.18) which can only be found in God himself. So Benedict ends this section on inner problems by advising us to ‘rest one's hope in God’, for in him alone will we find the healing love which drives out anger and fear.