"This Hallelujah Banquet" (Eugene H. Peterson)

TITLE: This Hallelujah Banquet: How the End of What We Were Reveals Who We Can Be
AUTHOR: Eugene H. Peterson
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Waterbrook Press, 2021, (208 pages).
 

Eugene Peterson passed away on October 22nd, 2018. It seemed all so surreal that one of the most creative and eloquent evangelical voices had left us. Most famous for his work on giving us the paraphrase of the Bible, the MESSAGE, he has also written a number of bestsellers for Christians in general. His writings continue to be a powerful but gentle influence, giving us a fresh perspective on understanding the Bible. Taken from his series of sermons preached during Lent 1984 at Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air Maryland, this book is based on the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. Each chapter follows a similar outline: 1) Part of Christ's character; 2) Strengths and weaknesses of the Church; 3) A promise to remember. The title of the book tells us that in spite of the warning messages that spell out judgment and doom, there are reasons for hope leading to the great hallelujah chorus in heaven. A keynote is that while Revelation often excites us about future happenings, we need to take a step back to reflect on the essence of Jesus' words to us. For all the cares and concerns we have about the future, very often the questions we ask are not the ones that truly matter. Through Revelation, Peterson gives us new insights on how God looks past our superficial questions to supply us with essential answers for today. For instance, he tells us that God didn't say: "I will make all things new," but "I make all things new." For a book about the future, why did Jesus promise us in the present? It is a reminder of the promise of Jesus to be with us always. God is not fickle, unlike human beings. Peterson uses the example of one long lost Church member turning up for service on a sunny Sunday. He thought he would like to give thanks, because of the blessings he had, and also because of the beautiful weather. Everything was doing well and he decided to go to Church. After that Sunday, he was no longer seen. What happened? It is easy to conclude that such a person was a fair-weathered believer. When times are good, he turns up. Otherwise, he goes missing. Thankfully, God is not like that. Whether the seven churches are doing well or not, God is there guiding them. At times they need a strong reprimand. At other times they need gentle encouragement. Being real and authentic is not about giving in to constantly changing emotions. It is about being truthful in spite of our feelings. In other words, when we worship God, we don't let our emotions rule on whether we should worship God or not. God deserves our worship regardless of our feel-good index.

Each of the letters to the seven churches represents a test. For Ephesus, it is a test of her first love. Peterson points out that love is not something we do before or after some event. It is our way of life. Smyrna is a test of our suffering. Reflecting on a town in Delaware that bears the same name, readers are reminded of the martyrs of old, like Polycarp who remained faithful in spite of persecution. Once we accept that suffering is a part of faith, we won't fear as much. Pergamum is a test of our stand for truth. One of Peterson's most powerful words is about our tendency to lie. The big temptation toward lying is due to our tendency to be lazy about seeking the truth. Thyatira is a challenge to be holy. This is not about retreating from the world and to live a monastic lifestyle. Instead, it is a call to be radically different from the values of the world. The sermon on Sardis produces one of the best wordplays of Peterson. While in a Church, a child plays while the father prays. Which is more real and authentic? In Philadelphia, we discover the need to leave our comfort zones and to become a "missile" for outreach. Laodicea is a test of our commitment to discipleship. Ending with the Supper of the Lamb, we are reminded that Revelation brings us all the way back to the worship of Christ. 

My Thoughts

First, though Revelation is often thought of as a letter about the future, it is very much relevant to the present. What Peterson points out in this series on Revelation is that for those who are too focused on the future, don't. God is more present than we think. When Jesus says that He makes all things new, remember that in Him, we are already new and constantly being renewed. For a thankful heart is about appreciating what we already have and sets us on a path of hope to know that the future will bring even more opportunities for appreciation. 

Second, the practical guide at the end of the book is in addition to Peterson's sermons. Called a prayerful guide through Lent, there are invitations to inviting us to examine our hearts via seven themes. They reinforce the earlier sermons given in the book as well as to provide opportunities for readers to reflect. This guide could also be used by church leaders or facilitators using the book as a small group study. Some of the questions are quite penetrating, so readers beware. In fact, the editor had admitted that with the ongoing pandemic, the book would assist us in any journey through "grief, reflection, and hope." I would agree. Looking at the future with hope will definitely help us in our present journeys. 

Third, this book is published posthumously and will thus appear a little less fluid than one Peterson would have written himself. Yet, readers will hear the seven sermons ring out Peterson's style and eloquence. I can imagine hearing Peterson's rasping voice asserting each and every word carefully from the pages of the book. Indeed, through this book, Peterson's sermons are still preaching to us. In that sense, though he is no longer with us, his writings continue to bless us. 

Eugene H. Peterson (1932–2018) was a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. He wrote more than thirty books, including his widely acclaimed paraphrase of the Bible The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, his memoir, The Pastor, and the bestselling spiritual formation classic A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Peterson was the founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland, where he served for twenty-nine years before retiring in 1991. With degrees from Seattle Pacific, New York Theological Seminary, and Johns Hopkins University, he served as Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, until retiring in Lakeside, Montana, in 2006.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of WaterBrook Press (An imprint of Random House) and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.