Christ Plays 2

It seems to me that one of the basic principles underlying Peterson's writing in this section, apparent from the very first in the Wendell Berry quote with which the section begins, is that we as Christians are called to be full participants in creation rather than simply users of it.

It also seems to me that this runs counter to a very popular modern teaching that this life is merely a "dress rehearsal" for the next; that this life is simply a test to be passed in order to gain entrance into "real" life. To view life in this way is to obligate one to use it in preparation for the next life rather than really living it now.

I like very much what Peterson says here because I believe it recovers an ancient truth that eternal life is not something we receive when we die, but something that begins now. The New Creation--a new heavens and a new earth--begins in us as new creations birthed by God's Holy Spirit. To this end I appreciate Peterson's emphasis on time and place, and the and the place of rhythm as expressed in ritual in sanctifying these things.

so much of Christian spirituality has been so hard, it seems to me, on creation. It's like they want us to deny our humanity. When in reality it's all about seeing our broken humanity in Adam go- and the new humanity in Jesus come.

Peterson excels in counteracting this false (neo-Platonic, gnostic) denigration of humanity.

and living in the rythms of time was an eye opener for me- as well as in the place God has. I'm just now settling in to grow in that area, it seems- and embrace all of life, as God gives it.

“Theology divorced from geography gets us into nothing but trouble” (77). God placed “humans” in the place he made: Eden.

I'm wondering what this says about the theology of the American church. Our cultural concept of place is certainly lacking. Having moved and lived in many different parts of the country, I struggle personally with the concept of place. I now live in a rurual area in which people do seem to have strong ties to place, but at times (it seems to me) it is an unhealthy view of place. A view in which progress/growth is minimal to non-existent. It is also a place where the coal mining industry has raped the land and not valued the creation. Perhaps farmers have a healthier view of place than most. Any thoughts?

Scot, I noticed the great timing with Christmas as well. Really good stuff.

Peterson on time, ryhthm, place is so well done. I'm planning to do some posts at Reformissionary on 'the art of slowness' soon, and much of this has been helpful.

P 52 he writes, "Wonder is the only adequate launching pad for exploring a spirituality of creation, keeping us open-eyed, expectant, alive to life that is always more than we can account for, that always exceeds our calculations, that is always beyond anything we can make."

I think what makes this most interesting is how he doesn't just mean the stars and flowers, but most importantly people who are made in God's image. His story of scolding the girl picking wildflowers is memorable and convicting.

I'll look into it Scot. Thanks.

I forgot to mention that as a pastor I really appreciated how Peterson used Genesis 1 & 2 to explain his thoughts. He could have spoken of time and place more abstractly, but he didn't. Very powerful and very pastoral.

Eugene Peterson, in some of his earlier writings, was the first to make me aware of old gnosticism dressed up in new Western evangelicalism clothes. There is something in American piety that resists thinking that Jesus had to use the WC, so to speak. A lot of popular renewal piety is determined to jettison the earthy, the temporal, the dirty for the heavenly, eternal and glorious. So many want to be "connoissuers of the sublime." We are quick to clean the Palestinian dust off of Jesus and make him the shiny God-Man, hovering with a halo just above *terra firma*. I know from the recent book by Michael Wittmer, HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH, that gnosticism permeates the "go to heaven when you die" gospel. Where else in the threat of gnosticism present in our beliefs and praxis?

Georges,
I had Bruce Waltke for Hebrew and O.T. Introduction, O.T. theology and O.T. textual criticism at Dallas Theological Seminary. Did Waltke die? If so, I didn't know. He was a great teacher.

I really do agree on that one :).Great work, Aliyah

A correction of Georges Boujakly's comment: Bruce Waltke is alive and (I hope) well -- although I suspect he would be happy to be characterized as being "with the Lord"! He appears to be speaking tonight in Oklahoma - http://www.whitefieldsociety.net/static/04-conf.htm - and next week at Westminster in Philadelphia - http://www.wts.edu/news/events.html