In Honour of Eugene Peterson

Dear Pastors

I doubt there is a pastor in NZ who hasn’t read a Eugene Peterson book(s)? If not one of his 20 or so highly acclaimed books you would have definitely read, quoted or preached from ‘The Message’, a paraphrased translation of the Bible that he had published in 2002 and now having sold over 20 million copies.

As you may have heard by now this amazing man, husband, father, pastor, writer and theologian died on Monday this week ending ‘his long obedience in the same direction’ at 85 years of age.

So here a few things I learnt from Eugene Peterson:

1. The Importance of a maintaining a personal ‘vital spirituality’. That as a christian I have a responsibility to ensure that I ‘practise the (classic) spiritual disciplines’ regularly and consistently so that my soul ‘is alive unto God’. He showed me more than anyone that Christian spirituality is much more than a ‘quiet time’. Richard Foster and Dallas Willard also added into this genre of reading and learning.
2. Soul Care. He reminded me that the ‘essence’ of church work is listening to God and then listening…….. really listening…….. to people and ministering to their deepest needs. In other words being attentive to state of a person’s soul. This changed my whole perspective on pastoral work especially pastoral care and still deeply influences me today.
3. Make sure that there is ‘meaning in your message’. Such was Eugene’s commitment to this idea he gave us a new translation of the Bible that perhaps like no other translation gave new meaning to old words. He was a master at this. Thankyou EP. Here is perhaps his most popular paraphrase of Matthew 11:28-30.
   
   Jesus said, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

He was a “‘shepherd’s shepherd’—a pastoral writer who aimed to keep Christian leaders grounded in robust biblical theology amid the din of shallow preaching aimed at self-improvement and church marketing and management campaigns to always ‘do more.’”

My favourite description of Peterson comes from Rodney Clapp in the introduction to Peterson’s book, The Contemplative Pastor:

“Eugene is of a monastic demeanour. He is bearded, balding, and thin. He has a quiet, raspy voice that sounds as if it belongs to a man who has weathered many dark nights of the soul. His is the settled and serene air that comes from facing and overcoming our innate fear of silence and solitude, so that when he speaks, the coarse, gentle words seem to rise from a genuine depth”.

Rest In Peace Eugene. You have blessed and enriched millions of Christians around the world including tens of thousands down under.

Blessings

Alan

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.