Was Peter Just Being Prudent?

[Neil_Anthony]

While some of us may be called to suffer persecution or even martyrdom for the faith, on the other hand, I’ve been told on here that we shouldn’t go out of our way to make ourselves the target of persecution. For example, if you live in a communist is islamist country, there’s no need to go around telling everyone that you’re a practicing Catholic. You could worship in private and hope not to be discovered and punished.

In fact, they say it would be more prudent to hide your faith, or even to deny it if the gains of speaking out were less significant than the value of your life. It’s a matter of prudence, they say.

So is that what Peter did when he denied Christ on Holy Thursday? Was he just being prudent? After all, if he hadn’t denied Christ, Peter could have been killed and wouldn’t have been there to be the pope.

 

[MarcoPolo]

I think the Tradition holds that Peter “repented” for this action, so it seems revelation tells us he did not do the right thing. A difficult situation, no doubt, but we are not to deny the Lord.

 

[porthos11]

While some of us may be called to suffer persecution or even martyrdom for the faith, on the other hand, I’ve been told on here that we shouldn’t go out of our way to make ourselves the target of persecution. For example, if you live in a communist is islamist country, there’s no need to go around telling everyone that you’re a practicing Catholic. You could worship in private and hope not to be discovered and punished.

In fact, they say it would be more prudent to hide your faith, or even to deny it if the gains of speaking out were less significant than the value of your life. It’s a matter of prudence, they say.

So is that what Peter did when he denied Christ on Holy Thursday? Was he just being prudent? After all, if he hadn’t denied Christ, Peter could have been killed and wouldn’t have been there to be the pope.

He was not being prudent.

If Peter had a way out, like by shutting up and walking away, he would not have done anything wrong. But he lied outright through his teeth and denied his Master.

There is a huge difference between hiding and denying your faith.

 

[bilop]

I agree with the previous 2 posters.

I also think the standard is higher for an Apostle, or, today, a Bishop, than for a layman in terms of what discretion is appropriate.

God Bless

 

[johnlavelle]

I have denied the Lord (many more than three times) even though it has never been a choice between that and being killed. Over and over. Now he asks me over and over again, Do I love Him? Without him I will die and be forever separated from God. If I we love him and live for him we go from love to love when we die.

Peter died as a martyr led by other hands where he would not go It was because of his love for Christ after the denial and his feeding of the sheep that he was allowed to die crucified for the one who died and rose again for all of us. Despite his denial and because of his great love for Christ and his Church, Peter is in heaven. By God’s grace and mercy may we join him.

Prudence? Not in the long run.