The Mystery and the Revelation
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”[1]
I have heard of Peterson and watched soundbites of him interviewed and interacting with others, but never sat down and read through some of his works directly. I’ll admit that attempting to work through Maps of Meaning was like starting a journey into a dense jungle where I quickly became lost. The dense terms, thought patterns, and ideas that seek to look at the “things behind the things” quickly overwhelmed me. I took solace in the gift from Dr. Clark to get assistance from Ai and, like a drone flying over the dense jungle, it helped me see how Peterson has broken his book into four essential parts or arguments.
- Order vs. Chaos
- The Hero’s Journey
- Logos and Truth Telling
- Narrative as Belief System
Having a better understanding of the overall scope allowed me then to look specifically at Logos and Truth Telling as a way to examine Peterson’s work and integrated it into my own way of making maps in the world. I agree with Peterson that, “The purpose of life, as far as I can tell, is to find a mode of being that’s so meaningful that it’s worth enduring the suffering of existence.”[2] But where Peterson and I disagree is who is at the heart of that purpose.
I thought it would be timely to focus then, on an article by Peterson on the death and resurrection of Jesus. In this article, Peterson draws from his general work and thought process to show how Jesus embodies the Logos of sacrifice and suffering within the hero’s journey to resurrection. Jesus does this, in Peterson’s view, because this is ultimate actualization of a human person. In many ways, I completely agree.
However, where I disagree with Peterson is in the human-centric focus of this redemption story. He writes:
“It is psychologically true that we should encounter Satan in the desert, understand ourselves as the epicentre of evil as well as good, pick up our tragic burdens and crosses, die, and renew our souls…That is the death and the resurrection, celebrated by Easter, and it is time for us to wake up and recognise it as such.”[3]
If I understand Peterson’s perspective correctly (and who knows if I really do) Jesus died and rose again because that is the ultimate human story and we are to participate in that story because it is the ultimate human story. But this ‘meta-narrative’ that Peterson believes is not the same ‘meta-narrative’ of Scripture. Peterson’s story is human-centric, and Scripture’s is God-centric.
While there are definite themes and devices used in Scripture similar to what Peterson describes in all human cultures (order vs. chaos, logos and truth-telling, the hero’s journey, narrative as a belief system) the ultimate story of Scripture is God’s Story and how we as humans are wrapped up in it, not how God is wrapped up in our story. St. Athanasius wrote in his work On The Incarnation “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.”[4] In other words, God becomes human in the person of Jesus so that we might become wrapped up in God’s Story, God’s Relationship, God’s way of redeeming and restoring the world. While Peterson uses similar language and has great thoughts around ethics and human behavior, that path through the jungle will never lead to a spacious place. Instead, the vines and bogs of human failure and brokenness, even our own attempts at death and resurrection, while leave us trapped.
But, when we find ourselves wrapped up in The Story of God, not as one of many stories, but an exclusive narrative that, while heavily involving humans does not have humanity at its center but God at its center, then we are caught up in unfolding drama of God setting the world right again. While I agree with Peterson when he states that, “The world can be validly construed as…a forum for action,”[5] the action is God’s and the forum is God’s.
So, what are the implications of Peterson’s work for leadership, particularly in the church during this season of Lent and Holy Week? I believe that our transformation as people on the path to following Jesus begins first by accepting the gift of our limits (sin, brokenness, separation, rebellion) that leads us to receiving the grace of God for what Jesus has done, on our behalf. This leads us to worship the Risen Christ because we have been forgiven and redeemed. It is only then, after receiving grace and acknowledging the glory of God, “full of grace and truth”, that we can be transformed into the people He has created us to be. Yes, we are called to die to ourselves, to love our neighbor and to take part in a grand cosmic story (all things Peterson writes and speaks about). But we can only do so when we first acknowledge that God has done what we cannot, because of His deep love for us, and we are caught up now in His Story, and not our own. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”[6]
[1] John 1:14, NIV
[2] Jordan Peterson, Maps of Meaning
[3] Jordan Peterson: the bestselling author and clinical psychologist on why there’s still power in the Easter story
[4] CHURCH FATHERS: On the Incarnation of the Word (Athanasius)
[5] Peterson, Maps of Meaning
[6] 2 Corinthians 9:15
About the Author
Ryan Thorson
Follower of Jesus. Husband. Father. Pastor. Coach. I am passionate about helping people discover the gift of Sabbath and slow down spirituality in the context of our busy world.13 responses to “The Mystery and the Revelation”
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Wonderful post, Ryan. I love that you saw Peterson’s work in the context of Lent and Holy Week. Given the special time of year when Christians are focused on the death and resurrection of Christ, what do you think the implications might be of Peterson’s concepts on church leaders?
Thanks Jennifer. I think its important for church leaders to understand the power of narratives and each person they are pastoring and their desire to be a part of a grand story. The invitation to be a part of God’s story is at the heart of the Good News of Jesus!
Ryan,
Thanks for you post. You wrote “we are caught up in unfolding drama of God setting the world right again.” I love this picture of God bringing his Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. During this season of Lent, are there ways that your church is actively involved in your community working to bring His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Thanks Jeff. We have a couple of ongoing ways we seek to be a part of God’s Kingdom coming on earth as it is in Heaven. We have an open weekly meal for anyone in our city to share a free, home cooked meal around tables with others, as well as provide microshelters for folks who are wanting to transition into more stable housing. Finally, baptisms on Easter Sunday allow people the chance to proclaim that they belong to God and His Kingdom.
Hi Ryan,
Death and Resurrection: How does Peterson’s description of the death and resurrection as the “ultimate human story” align with or diverge from the Christian understanding of these events?
Thanks Shela. I think in many ways I agree that it is the ultimate human story, but it is also the story of all creation and, most importantly of God. So I would expand on what Peterson is saying and link humanity’s narrative with the narrative of God and creation!
Hi Ryan, Your connection to Lent and Holy Week is so timely and fitting for this book. Has this author prompted any considerations that might bring on a sermon about order and chaos from a Christ centered perspective?
Thanks Diane. The order from chaos narrative is squarely within the Ancient Near Eastern framework that people like John Walton and others have explored from a biblical perspective. Peterson picks up on this idea, but does not discover it. I think its helpful to see the global implications and I’ll use it to encourage my kids to clean their room 🙂
Hi Ryan, great observation that Peterson is human-centric. There was so much of his work that resonated with me, but it would have been more appropriate to add ‘in Christ’ to much of the truths that he explores. In general, Peterson shows us that when there is chaos, we can make a choice to be courageous and deal with the challenge head-on, or we can turn away and be trapped in fear, denial, destruction, etc. So maybe I would rephrase this as, “When there is chaos, in Christ we can make a choice to be courageous and deal with the challenge head-on, or we can turn away and be trapped in fear, denial, destruction, etc.” Would you say this any differently?
Yes absolutely. I think about Romans 8:2 where Paul writes that, “the Spirit of God sets us free from the spirit of sin and death.” Part of that freedom is the ability to be courageous as an image bearer of God and someone who is in dwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Ryan, thank you for your emphasis on Peterson’s man-centric position. Your blog was a wonderful reminder of the utmost importance of Christ’s deity. In my opinion, the contention between Islam and Christianity is founded on the deity of Jesus Christ. Yes, they also do not believe in his death or resurrection. As you emphasize in your post, Jesus’ part in the Godhead is what redeems and restores the world.
Yes Kari well said and I 100% agree with you. Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” is at the heart of all world religions and what makes Christianity unique to all other religions of the world.
Ryan, I greatly appreciate your timely focus on the death and resurrection of our Lord as you consider Peterson’s work. You draw a clear contrast between Peterson’s human-centered reading of the resurrection and the God-centered narrative of Scripture. How do you think this shift—from seeing ourselves to seeing God at the center—shapes how we lead, especially during Lent and Holy Week?