A Thought For The Week Of July 24, 2017

"Jesus said to [Peter], 'Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.'" (Matthew 26:34) I've noticed that after a frenzied flurry for a few days, the angst over Eugene Peterson's remarks about same gender marriage seems to have died down. But for a while he had pretty much everyone in the Christian community upset with him. Peterson is an author, an academic, and best known for his own version of the Bible, called "The Message." That's not a text I'd use for preaching purposes or Bible study, but it does provide a fresh and unique perspective on the biblical story and I consult it regularly. I don't honestly remember ever picking up "The Message" and wondering "What in the world are Peterson's views on same gender marriage?" The subject never occurred to me in connection with Eugene Peterson. But then in an interview he stated that he (a Presbyterian minister) would conduct a same gender for friends if asked. That unleashed a predictable storm from the evangelical community who apparently thought he was one of theirs. He was attacked mercilessly; there were threats to boycott his books and "The Message." And something got him, because a couple of days after that interview was released, Peterson recanted. No, he said, he was against same gender marriage. He just wasn't prepared for the question and didn't answer well. So then more liberal and progressive Christians lined up to take their shots at him. Me? I feel kind of sorry for him. Be disappointed in him, by all means. But angry? To me, Peterson is a man who in just a couple of days found himself the object of a torrent of criticism and abuse and threats. Although he's a Presbyterian, he had become very, very popular in the evangelical community; to some extent, they had become his community. They read his books, a lot of them love "The Message." And they turned on him. Ruthlessly. Peterson probably spoke quickly - probably accurately giving us his thoughts, but without thinking through the consequences. And I think it was the shock of suddenly seeing people who had been his friends and admirers turning on him that made him recant. Too many on the "liberal" side of the spectrum are expecting him to be Jesus - expecting him to sacrifice himself; go to the cross. But before anyone gets all high and mighty - let's remember that none of us are Jesus. Peterson isn't much different than Peter - one minute saying "no one will ever do this to you because I won't let them," and the next saying, "Give me a break. I don't even know who this guy is." I suspect that so many people from all sides of the spectrum were so angry with Peterson because he made them wonder how much pressure it would take for them to back down on something important. All of us are more like Peter than Jesus, after all. Which is why we should always try to remember to show grace rather than anger toward those who disappoint us.