A Hostage's Survival Guide

This week I’d like to share with you a few tips for surviving a hostage situation. Let’s hope you’re never in one, but at least you’ll know how to stay alive. These are tense times in our world, with levels of stress, angst, and general political unrest rising constantly. You never know when that next trip to the bank or shopping mall will turn in to an all out hostage crisis. This information comes from the NYPD negotiation team.
First, don’t try to be a hero. Second, do what you are told. Don’t speak unless you are spoken to, and then only when necessary. Get comfortable but always keep an eye on your captor. Don’t make suggestions, as you’ll be blamed if anything goes wrong. Don’t try to escape unless you are absolutely positive you’ll be able to. Even then, you should think twice. Let medical needs be known in a matter of fact way. Be observant, memorizing the captors’ faces, names, etc. Only answer “yes” or “no” if you are the end fielding questions from the authorities. Finally, don’t be argumentative and hit the floor when help comes.
A lot of the comments on this article suggested that if you know you are going to die, you should attack your captors like some of the 9/11 victims did. Other comments suggested that these tips are intelligent and contrast many of Hollywood’s representations of hostage crises. I often consider how Jesus handled his captivity. In Isaiah 53, Jesus is likened to “a lamb to the slaughter”. He could have escaped, but he said nothing. There are times in our lives where we have to take a stand and sacrifice ourselves for others. There are other times when we need to endure until help arrives. In Matt. 4, Jesus endures tremendous temptation until Satan leaves him and angels come to attend him. For now we are help captive in our bodies. If we carry on, we will be saved.