"Saint Peter and I"

Think of the most polarizing person to have ever lived. I can just imagine some of the characters that would be mentioned: Barack Obama, Malcolm X, Adolf Hitler, Martin Luther (No I am not referring to King Jr., but the original Luther who revolutionized western culture and was responsible for the protestant church). However, have you considered the Apostle Peter? I can hear you now "Oh great, Jordan's gone off the deep end. It's time to call pastor and reign him in before he becomes an apostate." But I assure you, I haven't jumped into the deep ocean of apostasy. What I am referring to is the fact from one perspective the Apostle Peter is viewed as one of the heads on the proverbial "holy Mount Rushmore," along with Paul and Jesus. Yet, the other perspective sees him as the coward who denied Jesus to save his own backside. It's kind of a love or hate perspective with Peter if one looks at him in a surface way. I contend that we as Christians can be polarizing figures in this sense as well. We should be able to commiserate with Peter.

You may be thinking "I'm not anything like Peter, I never denied the Lord to his face after saying that I would never leave him". Really? I want to argue that we all have. To demonstrate my point, let's take a scenario, which a young person that I know experienced. Of course I have never done anything like this myself. That's why I need to use this person, who will remain nameless, to illustrate.

It's break time at work and this mild mannered, yet handsome young man, decides to go outside to get a bit of fresh air. He hears a group of co-workers laughing so he decides to go over to see what they are laughing about.

Co-Worker 1: Ah yeah, I told that holy roller that he should take his Bible and shove it where the sun don't shine (changed the dialogue to give it a G rating). He's clueless! He goes to Church on Sunday like a zombie going through the motions for nothing, while I'm enjoying my Sunday afternoon at the pool.

Co-Worker 2: Yeah, my brother's a Christian. I give him such a hard time. I invited him to get drunk with me and my buds on Saturday night. He said he had to rest so he can worship the Lord on Sunday morning. I told him he's such an idiot!

The group laughs in unison. Suddenly one of the other co-workers sees the young man, addresses him, and says:

Co-worker 3: Hey ______(Again I promised to protect this young man's identity and I will keep my word!) don't you go to Church? You're not like all those other Bible-thumpers are ya?

Handsome Young Man: Well...Ya know....ugh...

Co-worker 1: Hey guys he's not like those Jesus freaks, he listens to my dirty jokes all the time, and he doesn't give me a hard time at all. He's cool. He's one of us!

Ouch! One of us, huh? If I remember correctly when Peter denied the Lord it was three times. How many times do you think that this young man denied the Lord who bought him by what he didn't say? Paul stated in Romans 1:16 that he was "…not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..." Yet when we do not identify ourselves with Jesus in the way we live, we deny him just like Peter. Did the young man laugh at his co-workers jokes? No, but he didn't show his disapproval either. Oh yes, like Peter, we talk big when we are at church where it is safe. Peter told Jesus "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." Yet when the pressure mounted, this young man, like Peter denied him.

Despite the secret pact I made in blood and being sworn to secrecy, there is something that I must confess. This young man that I was referring to, well…it was me! As a young man in the intimidating corporate jungle, I felt the pressure of trying to fit in. However, we are not called to fit in. There was a reason why Peter was called out as being associated with Jesus. It was because Christ marked him out. We should stick out like a sore thumb, like an apple among oranges, like a Republican at Watergate. So me and Peter, yah we're kinda in the same boat. We are certifiable, card-carrying deserters of Christ. But thank God He is faithful when we are not. He doesn't abandon us!

- Jordan McGehee