Eugene Peterson: A Tribute

Eugene Peterson passed away last week at 85 years of age.

He had been a scholar, teacher and pastor during his lifetime.

But most of all, he is best known for authoring The Message, a colloquial translation of The Bible that was an international best seller. More importantly, The Message helped readers gain a deeper understanding of scripture while encouraging them to apply its meaning to daily life.

If there was one thing that set Peterson apart it was his way of bringing God down to earth. He was scholarly (having taught Greek and Hebrew) but decidedly homespun and approachable.

In an interview with Krista Tippet, for her podcast, ON BEING, Peterson noted his preference for attending a small church. Because it forced the members to get to know each other - warts and all.

He was not a fan of mega-churches or the prosperity gospel.

And in fact, he didn't particularly like using the term "spiritual," because he found it too vague.

He could come across as everyone's favorite grandpa - but he didn't hold back  when pointing to what he perceived to be the moral dilemma of America. "American culture is probably the least Christian culture that we've ever had, because it's so materialistic and it's so full of lies. The whole advertising world is just intertwined with lies, appealing to the worst instincts we have. The problem is, people have been treated as consumers for so long they don't know any other way to live."

He could be disarming, but tremendously on-point. He once wrote: “Jesus said “Follow me” and ended up with a lot of losers. And these losers ended up, through no virtue or talent of their own, becoming saints. Jesus wasn’t after the best but the worst.” 

Although imminently wise, he nonetheless had a healthy distaste for the term "spiritual direction." Instead of picking a credentialed spiritual director, he suggested: "Why don't you look over the congregation on Sundays and pick someone who appears to be mature and congenial. Ask her or him if you can meet together every month or so - you feel the need to talk about your life in the company of someone who believes that Jesus is present and active in everything you are doing. Reassure the person that he or she doesn't have to say anything "wise." You only want them to be there for you to listen and be prayerful in the listening. After three or four such meetings, write to me what has transpired, and we'll discuss it further. I've had a number of men and women who have served me in this way over the years - none carried the title "spiritual director", although that is what they have been."

Peterson was distrustful of faith based on feelings. He wrote: “We live in what one writer has called the "age of sensation."' We think that if we don't feel something there can be no authenticity in doing it. But the wisdom of God says something different: that we can act ourselves into a new way of feeling much quicker than we can feel ourselves into a new way of acting. Worship is an act that develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God that is expressed in an act of worship. When we obey the command to praise God in worship, our deep, essential need to be in relationship with God is nurtured.” 

He once wrote, "To be human is to be in trouble." But Peterson was also capable of  amazing prophetic hopefulness, stating: "We underestimate God and we overestimate evil. We don't see what God is doing and conclude that he is doing nothing. We see everything that evil is doing and think it is in control of everyone."

RIP Eugene!

Photo Credits: top - The Rabbitroom. com; middle - hallels.com; bottom - youthministry.com.