Is the Author of 'The Message' a Contemplative Mystic?

There are three books written by Eugene Peterson which not only lead one to believe that he is a contemplative mystic, they prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt. You may have heard people say that the author of The Message is a contemplative mystic, and you may have even read about it on discernment websites, but until you look at one of these books yourself, you will probably not think much about it, or even care. But since this author is so well known and influential, perhaps it's something worth looking into. If you want to check out these three books I have mentioned, the good news is that with modern technology you don't even have to go to the store or waste your money. Just click on the following links to these on-line books and take a browse through them. You will notice they are filled with references to, and quotes from, contemplative pantheistic mystics, contemplative spiritual formation, spiritual direction, Lectio Divina, etc. These are the books by Eugene Petersen...

The Contemplative Pastor

Take and Read

Eat This Book

I was quite taken aback with something I read in Chapter 6 of Eat This Book. Particularly the part where Eugene Peterson says that reading the Bible can get you into a lot of trouble if not done correctly, hence, reader beware. This is why, he says, it's not a good idea to just pass out Bibles to people and tell them to read them. The Bible must be read the right way, the Lectio Divina way, says the book. But is that true? And is this why he took it upon himself to rewrite the whole Bible and replace it with his own Message?

{Thought of the day….I wonder which version of the Bible Eugene Peterson uses to do Lectio Divina? For example, one poetic passage that contemplatives often use for Lectio Divina readings is Psalm 131. Now imagine repeating The Message version of that scripture over and over. It's a bit choppy.}

Now, my intent is not to mock the man or harp on this one thing, but is he not mocking the authority of God's living Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to men and change lives, when he says that it's not a good idea to pass out Bibles to people and tell them to read them? Here's what Hebrews 4:12 says...

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

These last few weeks I have been priveleged to witness the power of God's Word to transform the lives of those who are given a Bible and told to read it - without the contemplative, Lectio Divina method. Just reading the Bible has gotten them out of trouble, not in it.

Eugene Petersen says that repeating a passage over and over slowly using the Lectio Divina method is "a way of reading that guards against depersonalizing the text into an affair of questions and answers, definitions and dogmas," like some "pathetic religion scholar" (page 90, Eat This Book). Isn't it sad to see that today's best selling Bible paraphrase has been written by someone with such a narrow minded view of the study of God's Word?

Related:

EUGENE PETERSON, THE MESSAGE AND
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

"Christian" Mysticism or Occultism?
www.crossroad.to

What is Lectio Divina?
www.gotquestions.org

*Update:

This is rather stunning as well...did Eugene Peterson ACTUALLY say this?

EUGENE PETERSON: DEVIL’S FINEST WORK IS GETTING PEOPLE TO STUDY THE BIBLE
apprising.org

*For further discussion on this topic, go to the Fresh Hope forum:
http://www.fresh-hope.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26711

Related:

Book Review - Eat This Book
www.challies.com