When I listen to Jordan Peterson, I often find myself thinking, “Here is a man not far from the kingdom of God” (c.f. Mark 12:34). Much of what Peterson says is so reasonable, articulate, and courageous. But it’s important to remember that not being far from the kingdom still means being outside of it. And being outside the kingdom is, quite literally, a matter of life and death.
The title of this post comes from Jesus’ warning against the Pharisees in Matthew 16:6: “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” By leaven, Jesus was speaking of the dangerous doctrine of the Pharisees. Leaven is, in itself, a neutral substance—but here it has the connotation of having a corrupting and pervasive influence. I believe that Jordan Peterson’s teaching contains a similar leavening error. How so?
Whose Got the Power?
First, Peterson’s message is not the Christian gospel, and is therefore not the power of God unto salvation. Instead, his message self-stately revolves around rules for life. Rules as an antidote to personal and societal chaos. The Christian gospel, however, has nothing to do with “rules for life”—instead, the gospel confronts us with the person and work of Jesus the Christ, the Messiah of God.
In Romans 1:16-17, Paul says that the gospel is God’s power unto salvation for all who believe. And he explains why it’s God’s power—because in the gospel, God’s righteousness (i.e. in Christ) is revealed for sinners from faith to faith. Insofar as Peterson is not devoted to the diffusion of this message, he is no real friend of Christianity. Christ said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30). Beware the leaven!
Psychology the Best Policy?
While German higher criticism wanted to find the core of the Christ story and dispense with the supernatural husk, Peterson’s hermeneutic works on a different plane. Here, the reality of the supernatural is not so important as the psychological rationale for why the Bible says what it says. The question of the veracity of biblical history is not so important (even though Jesus and the apostles believed it was)—rather, the real point is the psychological significance of biblical stories.
Psychology is the magnifying glass to discovering the Bible’s secrets. And Peterson, the repository of Jungian wisdom is the one who will show them to us—delighting his listeners not with the old, old story of Jesus’ death and resurrection (facts on which Christianity is indelibly based, c.f. 1 Corinthians 15)—but with Scripture’s practicality to help us live more meaningful lives. The Pharisees at least searched the Scriptures thinking that in them they had eternal life. For Peterson, eternal life isn’t much of a consideration at all. Beware the leaven!
Missing the Meta-narrative
Peterson does, however, unite with the Pharisees in this—searching the Scriptures but missing their point. “You search the Scriptures,” Jesus said, “for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). That’s an audacious claim from Christ, and a claim ignored by Peterson as he consistently insists on fixing hell-on-earth, rather than facing the reality of eternal hell (which was Jesus’ main concern in going to the cross to redeem sinners).
Christians should always ask the question, “Does this teacher or academic read the Bible like the apostles did?” If not, we need to beware of the leaven!
Consumed with the Present Age
Like all self-styled sages, Peterson is hyper-concerned with and concentrated on the present evil age. The problem is that you can’t fix what is indelibly broken by myopically focusing on it. Instead, we need a message that pulls our eyes away from mere reform efforts to a coming age of glory and the regeneration and repentance necessary to enter it. Consider, for example, Paul’s statement in Galatians that Christ “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4).
This age is evil—and we should not be so consumed with it that it takes our attention away from eternal matters. “Repent,” Jesus told his listeners, “or you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). New creation is coming, and nothing but a risen Savior and Lord can usher it in. But this is the Savior and Lord Peterson has not confessed!
Conclusion
The truth is, we don’t just need a paternal kick in the pants from an articulate shrink. We need liberation from death that holds us in fearful bondage all our lives. We need redemption from sin and hell, not a self-authoring project consumed with where we want to be in 15 years. For we will all die, and after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
We need to return to the Scriptures and listen to God’s Messiah. After all, Peterson will one day stand before Jesus. And on that day, he will have to face the question, “What did I do for the real wellbeing of those who listened to me?” On the last day, will it be a balm to know that he told them to stand up straight with their shoulders back? And this when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to glory of the Father?
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