Eugene Peterson and “The Message”

This week Eugene Peterson passed away. He was the author of  “The Message,” which is a paraphrase of the Bible. I have always had a love/hate relationship with “The Message.” I love how it brings the Bible into the 21st century and makes it easier to understand in plain language. Bono from the band U2 would read the Psalms backstage before his performances, as an example of “The Message’s” reach. However, I hate how people use it as Scripture since it is the paraphrase of one man. I joked with the Bishop that ordination didn’t count since they never read the Bible during the service when all the readings came from “The Message.”

It would be a shame to think of Peterson as only the author of “The Message.” He was also a pastor and author of many books. In Bible Study a few weeks ago we talked about how too many Americans are afraid of death. We avoid it at all costs. He described life and faith as the “long obedience in the same direction,” ironically stealing the phrase from Friedrich Nietzsche. It is important how he lived his life as a dedicated servant to Christ. His last words were simple “Let’s Go.”