Peter
and the Rooster
On August 14, 2006, Steve Centani, an
American Reporter working for Fox News, and his
cameraman, Olaf Wiig, a New Zealander, were captured
in the Gaza Strip by a formerly unknown group called
The Holy Jihad Brigades. A day or so later, a
videotape surfaced showing the two men were alive.
Certain demands were presented by the hostages on the
tape as a condition for their release. Neither Israel
nor the United States would consider the demands. For
13 days, recovery efforts proceeded in two
directions. Many volunteers tried to locate the
missing men by interviewing various militant factions
in Gaza, while at the same time Palestinian
authorities pursued diplomatic efforts. Ultimately,
the two hostages were released unharmed on August 27
and as you can imagine, it was a day of rejoicing for
the families and employers of the two captives.
There is an interesting twist to this
otherwise happy ending. On the day before their
release, the captors told the hostages they had three
choices. They could: (1) Make a video denouncing the
policies of the United States in the Middle East,
convert to Islam and be set free; (2) Pay a tax (a
jizya, a significant ransom), which Moslems can
impose on infidels, and be set free; or (3) Suffer a
jihad against infidels and die. The hostages chose
option one. Steve Centani and Olaf Wiig denounced
America’s policies in the Middle East, they
professed a conversion to Islam and took Muslim
names-all done while guns and a video camera were
pointed at their heads.
Note: To become a Muslim, a
person has to say the following words with sincerity:
“Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill Allah.” (I bear
witness that there is no deity but Allah.) “Wa
ash-hadu ana Muhammad ar-rasullallah.” (And I
bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah.) Understand that Muslims do recognize and
accept forced conversions. The following statements
are taken from the Hadith, a collection of sacred
writings concerning the teaching of Mohammed:
“If a protected person [Dhimmi]
is forced to convert to Islam, his conversion is
valid. If a Harbi [non-Muslim alien] is fought
against and converts to Islam-it is valid…If the
[same] Dhimmi returns [to his former religion], he is
not killed [like an ordinary apostate], but
imprisoned until he converts to Islam [again],
because there is doubt regarding his belief [when he
was forced to convert]. There is a possibility that
it [i.e., his forced conversion was sincere, so he is
to be killed as an apostate. It is [also] possible
that he did not believe [in Islam] while having been
forced to convert] and then he [should] be a Dhimmi
and shall not be killed.” –pp. 168
(Azharite)
“A female apostate is not to be
killed [unlike the case of a male apostate]. She
should be imprisoned and beaten every day until she
becomes a Muslim [again]. It means that Islam should
be offered to her and if she refuses it, she should
be flogged. Then Islam should be offered to her
[again] and if she still refuses it, she should be
imprisoned. And there is a version according to which
she should be taken out every day and beaten as we
have described, because it is not permissible to kill
her. She has committed a gruesome crime that has no
fixed punishment [hadd] for it, so she is punished by
a non-fixed punishment [ta’zir], that is,
beating and imprisonment.” –pp. 371
(Azharite)
Did
the Hostages Do the Right Thing?
The decision the hostages made has
stimulated considerable discussion on the Internet.
In short, the discussions I have studied boil down to
three general views:
- A
forced conversion is no conversion. This
school of thought believes that a religious
conversion is only genuine if the conversion
is an expression of free will,
sincere intent and belief. Because Centani
and Wiig were forced at gunpoint to say
certain words (both political and religious)
to save their lives, their words and deeds
cannot be interpreted to be a conversion.
This school of thought concludes,
“Satisfying a ragtag bunch of armed
teenagers with forced words is better than
having a bullet in your head.”
- A
forced conversion to Islam denies the deity
of Jesus Christ. This school of thought
believes that if a Christian succumbs to
force and goes through the motions of
converting to Islam, he betrays the deity of
Jesus Christ and rejects the Bible as the
Word of God. Therefore, advocates of this
view believe that if Centani and Wiig were
Christians prior to their kidnapping, they
should be ashamed of their cowardice because
they betrayed the Lord Jesus when they
converted. Advocates of this view believe the
hostages should have boldly refused to
convert, choosing death instead.
- When
life-threatening circumstances exist, a
person is permitted to do anything and
everything possible to save his life. This
school of thought believes that God permits a
person to use self-defense. Self-defense can
be words, as well as actions. This principle
is revealed in Exodus 22. “If a thief
is caught breaking in and is struck so that
he dies, the defender is not guilty of
bloodshed; but if it happen after sunrise, he
is guilty of bloodshed…” (Exodus
22: 2,3) In other words, under the right
circumstances, a person can kill an intruder
in darkness without incurring guilt because
deadly force can be used in self-defense.
However, after sunrise the owner of the house
is not permitted to use deadly force-at least
this was the case in Old Testament times when
guns did not exist.
Now that you know the details of this
hostage situation, their three options, and the three
schools of thought that I have summarized, to what
school of thought do you belong? Of course, this is a
highly personal matter and each person has to choose
for himself or herself. Personally, I believe the
Bible teaches that God permits a certain amount of
self-defense. This is true of nations and for
individuals. So, if God permits self defense, what
about Peter and the rooster?
Peter’s
Declaration
How does the hostage situation in Gaza
compare with Peter’s denial of Jesus in
Jerusalem? Please study the following passage: “When
Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he
asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son
of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John
the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others,
Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what
about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I
am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus
replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah,
for this was not revealed to you by man, but my
Father in heaven.’” (Matthew 16: 13-17)
When Jesus queried the disciples about His identity,
Peter spoke with assurance and bravado because he was
very sure of two things. He was sure of himself and
he was sure that Jesus was the Son of God, the
promised Messiah. Peter was a natural born leader and
his self-assurance was both an asset and a liability.
Before the cross, the disciples often
discussed the coming kingdom of God, which they
believed Jesus was going to establish. Being human,
they argued among themselves about the highest
positions. Who would get them? Peter made no
apologies. He was sure that he would inherit the
highest position because he was a leader of men and
one of Jesus’ closet friends. Peter had a high
regard for himself and his opinions, because among
men, he was physically powerful, talented and highly
intelligent. Peter knew that he was a notch or two
above the other disciples and the other disciples
usually deferred to Peter because he was gifted
with a powerful personality and natural leadership.
Jesus knew that Peter was egocentric. Jesus also knew
that Peter was especially vulnerable to arrogance and
the trappings of power. So Jesus took the opportunity
to highlight Peter’s flaws in front of the other
disciples during an argument on who would hold the
highest office. “Also a dispute arose among
them as to which of them was considered to be
greatest. Jesus said unto them, ‘The kings of
the Gentiles [are arrogant little men, they] lord
it over them; and those who exercise authority over
them call themselves Benefactors [and you know
how empty but lavish this boasting is]. But you
are not to be like that. Instead, [if you have a
place in my kingdom] the greatest among you should
be like the youngest [who is not permitted to
voice an opinion in the presence of elders], and
the one who rules [must be humble] like the
one who serves. For who is greater [in this
world], the one who is at the table or the ones
who serves? It is not the one who is at the table.
But [learn from me, your Lord and Master] I am
among you as one who serves. You are those who have
stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a
kingdom [of suffering], just as my Father
conferred [this] one on me, so that [when
the time comes for the kingdom of God to be
established] you may eat and drink at my table in
my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel. [Now], Simon, Simon, [my
dear, arrogant and egocentric friend, who has laid
claim to the highest position in my coming kingdom,
because your thinking and behavior is of the world] Satan
has asked to sift you as wheat [the devil has
accused you before my Father, saying that your
aspirations were no different than the devil’s,
and argues that you should not be permitted to have
part in my kingdom because he has no part in
God’s kingdom]. But I have prayed [to the
Father] for you, Simon that your faith may
not fail. And when you have turned back [repented
of your sins and abandoned your carnal ways], strengthening
your brothers.’ But he [an embarrassed
Peter] replied, ‘Lord, [look at me, I am
a capable fighter] I am ready to go with you to
prison and to death.’ Jesus answered, ‘I
tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you
will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke
22: 24-34, insertions mine)
Early
Friday Morning
“Now Peter was sitting out in
the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him.
‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee,’ she
said. But he denied it before them all. “I
don’t know what you are talking about,’ he
said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another
girl saw him and said to the people there, ‘This
fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ He denied it
again, with an oath: ‘I don’t know this
man!” After a little while, those standing there
went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one
of them, for your accent gives you away.’ Then
he began to call down curses on himself and he swore
to them, ‘I don’t know the man!’
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered
the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster
crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he
went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew
26: 69-75)
Why did Peter deny that he knew Jesus
three times? Many people believe that Peter denied
Jesus in order to save his life (self defense). They
say he was afraid of the consequences of being
associated with a condemned man. This argument does
not make sense to me because Peter was not afraid of
conflict. Wasn’t it Peter who bravely wielded a
sword and cut off the ear of a man in order to save
Jesus from arrest? Wasn’t Peter the only
disciple prepared to die defending Jesus? I
believe that Peter sincerely meant all that he said, “Lord
I am ready to go with you to prison and to
death.” Peter truly loved Jesus. Because of
this love, Peter was willing to die for Jesus because
Jesus was Peter’s God, the Messiah, and the Son
of the living God!
So, why did Peter deny Jesus? Peter
denied Jesus that morning because Peter had a major
paradigm shift. When peter saw the object of his
worship and loyalty, his God and Messiah humbly
submitting to gross injustice, Peter’s
understanding of Messiah’s predicted power and
His coming kingdom fell apart. Everything Peter lived
for-power over the Jews and Romans, the prestige of a
high office, exaltation as a hand picked disciple of
Jesus, bravery, valor, courage and victory over the
enemies of Jesus-evaporated right before his eyes.
Peter saw a sickening sight-Jesus being led away to
die as a common criminal. There would be no kingdom
of God. There would be no high position. Realizing
this, where were the bravery, valor, courage and
victory that men of renown are known for? Jesus
showed none of this! (Remember, Peter did not
understand there would be a resurrection at this
moment.) Peter felt completely betrayed by his Lord
and master, because everything that he had
anticipated of Jesus and everything he had lived for
was not going to happen. Being a disciple of a dead
man had no kingdom was more than Peter; a natural
born leader of men could swallow. It was
bitterness toward Jesus that caused Peter to deny
that he even knew Him.
When the rooster crowed for the third
time, Jesus turned and sadly looked at Peter.
Suddenly, Peter remembered the words of Jesus a great
epiphany occurred. Peter realized that his bitterness
toward Jesus was totally misdirected. He realized
that his bitterness sprang from carnal ambitions and
self-seeking, and these character traits had no place
in Christ’s kingdom. The Holy Spirit overwhelmed
Peter with the realization that Peter, like Lucifer,
wanted to be in God’s position. Peter was not
into submission. Instead, Peter was all about
“my will be done.” However, after the
rooster’s third call and that look from Jesus,
Peter realized that Jesus was doing the will of the
Father. Jesus, the Lamb of God, had surrendered His
will to the Father so that the Father’s will
might be done through Him. “And he went
outside and wept bitterly.” This event
dramatically changed Peter for the rest of his life.
Summary
When
it comes to denying Jesus (whether forced or not
forced), I conclude that each situation has to be
evaluated on its merits. I think the Bible supports
this conclusion. A certain amount of wisdom and
discretion is needed. For example, If I was snatched
off the street and taken as a hostage and held for
political purposes, I would have probably done the
same thing as Centani and Wiig. On the other hand, if
I had been arrested and held captive because of my
faith in Jesus Christ, that would be an entirely
different matter. I have shared my thoughts on this
topic in hopes they will make you think about this.
When the Great Tribulation begins, I believe a lot of
Christians will find themselves standing in
Peter’s shoes. Everything they once believed
will fall apart and the temptation to be angry with
God will be overpowering.
