Antidotes for Complaining
St. Peter’s Prayer In my last blog I mentioned that the apostle Peter wrote a prayer to a group of Christ followers in Turkey (ancient Cappadocia) who were undergoing severe religious persecution. He prays that they will not complain. What? First-century persecution was ruthless and without judicial guidelines that our modern-day society would demand and expect. It seems harsh. One of the definitions of complaining is to lament; often a heartfelt expression of true emotional pain. The Bible is full of laments. To be honest, there are times that I can see how uttering the negative dark truth, pain or difficulty of a matter, might help us vent septic emotions, leading to a more peaceful homeostasis. Broadening his prayer to us, Peter seems to intimate that we can all overcome complaining using antidotes that ward off deleterious complications. He lists three powerful remedies we can put into action to replace grumbling about our plight. Peter says we should love one another, be hospitabl...
