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This encounter was a pivotal moment where the essence of evangelical Christianity was laid bare, challenging one of the most influential thinkers of our time to move beyond intellectual engagement with Scripture to a personal acceptance of its truth.
“Wonder how to share the Gospel with a skeptic? You can do no better than @johnrich with a confused & evasive Jordan Peterson. Peterson tries to end the convo, but Rich respectfully & relentlessly keeps pounding home the Truth.”
That’s how one conservative Christian thinker and commentator, Larry Taunton, put it after a recent podcast featuring country singer and evangelical Christian John Rich and psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Now, I like Jordan Peterson a lot. He has helpful material for young men looking to learn how to take ownership of their lives. He’s been a strident warrior against transgender speech codes and totalitarianism.
But as good as Peterson has been on politics, free speech, and encouraging young men to take responsibility for their lives, the truth is that he’s not a Christian.
While Peterson speaks very highly and favorably of the Bible, calling it a foundational text not just for Western civilization but for the structure of meaning within our culture, he still has yet to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the only way to the Father. He has yet to adopt and articulate a Christian understanding of the Bible as the inspired and inerrant Word of God, not just a foundational “text” full of “meaning” and inspiration for Western Civilization.
In the clip Taunton shared, John Rich pressed home the need for Peterson to believe in the Bible as actual truth and Jesus Christ as Savior.
Rich said:
“I know you look at the Bible, it seems at least, very intellectually and metaphorically; you look at it in those terms. At the end of the day, it’s not a metaphor, and it’s not intellectualism. Like, when you die, and you see Him, what’s He going to say to you? What are you going to say to Him?
That’s the ultimate question that everyone watching this interview will have to deal with. Everybody. It says every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Every knee. Including John Rich, Jordan Peterson, the devil himself, and everybody else.
Every knee is going to have to bow. So whether you believe that or not doesn’t change the fact that is what’s going to happen.”
In an era where faith is often relegated to the realm of personal opinion or allegorical interpretation, Rich’s presentation of the Gospel stands out as a beacon of direct, unapologetic Christian witness. This encounter, which unfolded on Peterson’s platform, was not just a discussion; it was a pivotal moment where the essence of evangelical Christianity was laid bare, challenging one of the most influential thinkers of our time to move beyond intellectual engagement with Scripture to a personal acceptance of its truth.
Peterson, known for his deep dives into biblical narratives through a psychological and philosophical lens, has been dancing on the edge of Christian theology without fully committing to its foundational truths for a while. His approach treats the Bible as a collection of stories rich in metaphor and psychological insight rather than as divine revelation demanding personal transformation.
While appealing to a secular audience, this perspective misses the core of evangelical belief. The Bible is not merely a guidebook for life but the living word of God, intended for belief, obedience, and salvation.
But that’s not John Rich. John Rich is not just a country music star but, in this instance, a bold evangelist. Rich’s approach was not to engage Peterson in a battle of intellects but to challenge him with the simplicity and urgency of the Gospel.
Herein lies the power of Rich’s witness. He didn’t shy away from the hard truths of Christianity; instead, he pressed Peterson on why he found belief in Christ so “terrifying.”
This question cuts to the heart of many modern dilemmas with faith: the fear of surrender, the fear of the unknown, and the fear of judgment. Rich’s insistence on these points wasn’t just about winning an argument but saving a soul, reflecting the evangelical mandate to share the good news with urgency and conviction.
The importance of this interchange cannot be overstated for several reasons.
Firstly, it highlights the evangelical belief in the personal necessity of faith. For evangelicals, Christianity isn’t just about intellectual assent to historical facts or moral teachings; it’s about a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ through repentance of our sins and faith in the Gospel. While perhaps academically stimulating, Peterson’s hesitation and intellectualizing of Scripture falls short of the necessity of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ in the life of the Christian. Rich’s challenge was a call back to this fundamental truth: Belief in Christ isn’t just about understanding Him but knowing Him — primarily through repentance and faith.
Secondly, this conversation underscores the evangelical emphasis on the exclusivity of Christ’s claims. In a world of pluralistic spirituality, where many see all paths as leading to God, Rich’s stance was a reminder of Jesus’s own words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). This exclusivity, often avoided in broader discussions, was front and center, challenging Peterson’s more inclusive interpretations of Christian narratives.
Thirdly, Rich’s bold approach speaks to the evangelical commitment to being a Gospel witness. Evangelicals believe in the Great Commission, the call to make disciples of all nations. Rich’s interaction with Peterson wasn’t just a podcast episode; it was an act of obedience to this command, demonstrating that sharing the Gospel isn’t confined to church pulpits but is a daily, personal mission. This boldness in the face of intellectual giants like Peterson inspires believers to speak truth in love, regardless of the audience.
Moreover, this episode critiques the modern tendency to reduce Christianity to mere allegory or moral lessons. While these aspects have their place, they are not the end but the means to understanding God’s redemptive plan through Christ. Rich’s challenge to Peterson was, in essence, a plea to not just admire the beauty of the biblical narrative but to accept its claims as true, life-altering, and eternal.
The implications of this conversation extend beyond Peterson and Rich. For the broader Christian community, especially evangelicals, it’s a call to action.
It reminds us of the need to engage with our culture not just on moral or political grounds but on the spiritual battlefield where souls hang in the balance. It encourages us to speak with clarity about sin, salvation, and the need for a personal Savior, not shying away from the “terrifying” aspects of the Gospel that call for repentance and faith.
If you’ve ever wondered how to share the Gospel with a skeptic, now you know: With bold clarity and simple charity, calling all who listen to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, for the Kingdom of God is at hand (Mark 1:15).
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