Why Is Culture Important? Lessons from the Life of Hugh Whelchel
Jacqueline Isaacs
Canadian psychologist, author, and podcaster, Jordan Peterson was in the news again recently for causing confusion over whether or not he considers himself a Christian. Now, Peterson is no stranger to viral moments. He is known for standing up to power, refusing to back down on his convictions, and writing and speaking in a way that cuts to the hearts of young men. But what does he truly believe? And why does he speak with such conviction about the Bible, when he is not himself convicted?
This is the paradox many are asking. He seems fascinated with Jesus and biblical history, but if we were to assess Peterson using the same powerful symbols of the Greek myths he loves to contemplate, then it is most fitting to point out Achilles’ heel.
Jordan Peterson rose to fame by objecting to censorship, and the demands of gender pronouns being forced upon society.In a tide of people capitulating, Peterson stood up and said, “No.” He would not let anyone bully him into changing his language to fit someone else’s view of reality. It was a pivotal moment in our culture, and I am thankful he stuck by his convictions. He reminded me of sociologist James Davison Hunter who explained in his book, “To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World” how the first institution utilized in cultural change is the institution of language. That is exactly what was happening, and Peterson refused to comply.
Peterson attracted millions of young men looking for someone who would stand up to the insanity of our culture. They longed for someone to push back against the demonizing of all masculinity as toxic. If you have a son in their twenties, you probably know exactly what I am talking about. I cannot count the number of fathers who have shared the stories with me—from media moguls to pastors.
Peterson exploded onto the scene for a reason. Those men had been demonized, attacked, and told to be ashamed for any masculine desire they have. No grace. No way out. Just shame for being made uniquely in the Image of God. They longed for someone to challenge them, without disparaging them. In a time when few pastors or politicians were speaking out on these issues, Peterson filled the vacuum.
Peterson presents himself as an authority on the Bible and God. It’s the subject of his recently published book, “We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine.” He also has a video lecture series on the book of Genesis at The Daily Wire. He has been on countless podcasts talking about biblical topics for years. But while he is fascinated with God’s Word, there is a profound hesitancy to embrace the full truth of the Gospel.
He not only cares about the Bible, he is also moved by the Gospel story, and has been driven to tears as he contemplates it. There is a tug on his heart, his conscience and his soul, but while he appears to draw closer to the Gospel, inch by inch, he has yet to cross the line. He has yet to bend the knee, and recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior. Instead, he stops short of what the Gospel demands.
For Peterson, Jesus remains a character to contemplate, not a redeemer who rescues us from the very real pain of sin and death.
This brings us to Peterson’s Achilles’ heel. His critical weakness despite being well-versed in the Bible is clear if you listen closely and examine the writers and thinkers he admires the most. At the top of that list is famed psychiatrist Carl Jung. Peterson adopts Jung’s perspective of reducing all true biblical stories to myths. History is not important for Jung so much as what the symbols, metaphors, and archetypes we can excavate from these myths. Writer Joseph Campbell adopts the same approach.
What does this mean? It means that Peterson recognizes Jesus as a Jungian archetype for the ideal human life and a picture of the profound power of sacrificial love. The historical Jesus was not a subject matter worth exploring for Jung or Campbell. To them, Bible characters have the same significance as fairies, dragons, and elves. They would argue that their value is in the meaning we derive from them and the archetypes they represent. Therefore, for Peterson, Jesus remains a character to contemplate, not a redeemer who rescues us from the very real pain of sin and death.
The latest viral video of Peterson was not a video of him standing up to insanity, but faltering over his faith. A live debate by YouTube channel, Jubilee, where Peterson took on more than 20 atheists was called, “1 Christian vs 20 Atheists,” but only a few hours later it was retitled “Peterson vs 20 Atheists.” Why? because Peterson refused to be called a Christian by one of his interlocutors.
This was stunning to the atheists in the room, and to many Christians. But if we were watching closely, this should not have surprised us. This was a moment where his Jungian foundations compelled him to say the truth. He does not see Jesus as the Son of God who died for our sins. He dissects biblical character, including Jesus, like a scientist dissecting bugs, who cares not about how the bugs got there, or who designed them.
Though several of his other family members have become Christians, Peterson is stuck. He sounds close to a Christian Worldview, but hasn’t crossed the line into becoming a believer. If you listen and read closely, you can see why he never fully grasps the beauty of a robust orthodox theology. He understands sacrifice. He understands the virtues of self-control, patience, hope, and even love. He sees the order of the universe that speaks clearly of a creator (Ps. 19). What has become clear to the masses in recent days is that faith is the one essential thing that Peterson lacks. As the writer of Hebrews states clearly in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
For some people this recent debate is a healthy reminder that no man is perfect or worthy of worship. For others it is a reminder to remain humble in our own pursuits. In either case, we should pray for the blinders to fall from Peterson’s eyes. As 2 Corinthians 4:4 reminds us, the god of this age is one who blinds the minds of those who do not believe. But with God, all things are possible.
We should pray he will find the joy, hope, and peace that is only found in the arms of a living God, Jesus Christ, who is physically seated at the right hand of the Father. As Tolkien and Lewis knew, myths are powerful only because they point to the truth. The story of Christ is powerful primarily because it is true. To be a Christian is to know that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn. 14:6), and I hope that Peterson will eventually overcome his Achilles’ heel and come to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ.
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