EUGENE PETERSON’S ADVICE FOR MORE AUTHENTIC DISCIPLESHIP

Jonathan Merritt interviewed Eugene Peterson in September 2013 and Peterson was about to turn 81 years of age. That means he is 84 years old as I write this. He lives in Montana, having taught Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver for 6 years. 

One bit if that interview conversation may be of interest to you as you think about church, and particularly if you are restless about church, concerned about church or considering changing churches.

Merritt’s question was "Eighty-one years is a long time. As you enter your final season of life, what would you like to say to younger Christians who are itchy for a deeper and more authentic discipleship? What’s your word to them?”

Peterson answered, "Go to the nearest smallest church and commit yourself to being there for 6 months. If it doesn’t work out, find somewhere else. But don’t look for programs, don’t look for entertainment, and don’t look for a great preacher. A Christian congregation is not a glamorous place, not a romantic place. That’s what I always told people. If people were leaving my congregation to go to another place of work, I’d say, “The smallest church, the closest church, and stay there for 6 months.” Sometimes it doesn’t work. Some pastors are just incompetent. And some are flat out bad. So I don’t think that’s the answer to everything, but it’s a better place to start than going to the one with all the programs, the glitz, all that stuff.”

So what do you think about that?

Entire interview:http://religionnews.com/2013/09/27/faithful-end-interview-eugene-peterson/

Revitalize

(Background to this post: In this piece, Rob Stewart is the district superintendent of the Lower Pacific District of the Evangelical Free Churches in Canada. He posts a Friday message to his district churches each week.)   

Rob Stewart's 'Five Minutes on Friday with the LPD' contained a line at the end of an inspirational piece that I would like you to read. Speaking of the Apostle Paul, Rob wrote, " Paul's ministry was not so much to serve the 'saved,' but those yet to be reached - after all they are lost, aren't they?"

Perhaps that sentence contains one feature that explains my personal disquiet about 'church.' Not a specific church, not the church of which I am a member, rather the Canadian 'evangelical church' with which I am familiar. Meriting some sincere consideration is the question of how much of our resources we devote to serving the saved. Please understand that I am not faulting pastors and leaders because I am one of you. Retired now, I have spent five decades at work in the church doing what you have been called to do, what you seek to do and what some people think you should do. I know the joys and the strains, all of them. Fortunately for me, at the present time in the EFCC, there is a collective acknowledgement that we have grown relaxed about one of Christ's missional priorities, reaching those who have yet to be reached. For that reason I am grateful for the renewed evangelistic vision contained in the 'Revitalize' push that districts and national are campaigning. At the Lower Pacific District Conference on March 10-11, 'Revitalize' will be the theme that I believe God will use to inspire so many of us once more to catch a vision for 'fishing for men,' and in this age of political correctness, 'fishing for women' too. Better yet, fishing for acquaintances, neighbours, family members and strangers. For this we do not require a program but awareness, a purpose. It remains true, as simplistic as it may sound, witnessing is simply sharing your faith, through the power of the Holy Spirit, leaving the results to God. Now, a congregation of all ages that lives like that, will have evangelistic sermons stepping into the baptistry every month.