Proclaimer Blog
Revenge
The story of Chris Huhne and Vicky Price is a sad one indeed. Both will now spend at least four months in prison (half the term) for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. It's a tale with a twist because, as you will know if you've been following it, the only reason that it came to light is because Miss Price wanted to get revenge on her cheating husband. She certainly did that, ruining his career, but dragging herself down in the process. As a Times letter writer pointed out this week, there is an old Chinese proverb, 'if you're going to go for revenge, you'd better dig two graves.'
However, the proclaimer blog is not about moralising on the downfall of others. I don't want to do that. But I do want to point out that this is a biblical lesson that preachers would do well to hear. 'Do not take revenge my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, "it is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.' (Romans 12.19). In fact, the Apostle goes on to say, we should treat our enemies the reverse of the way they might expect to be treated, or that they have treated us.
Preachers need to hear this counter cultural warning. How so? For our preaching and our people? No, for our own hearts. For in ministry, it is easy to feel aggrieved and even angry at the slightest criticism, however minor (or valid). And we being to plot. We begin to wish that people who set themselves against us 'would get a taste of their own medicine' (sounds slightly less aggressive than revenge, doesn't it?). And when some misfortune overtakes someone who has had the temerity to criticise us, then we don't feel compassion for them (and all the other pastoral responses); rather, we utter a stifled "YES!" when no one else is listening. Sound familiar?
We shouldn't kid ourselves that revenge is not an issue for preachers.
And if we are intent on pursuing it, we should dig two graves.