Review: Rule #7: Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)

Rule #7 is really a continuation of Rule #6: – Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world and there is considerable overlap – he probably could have combined these two into one overarching theme but…what a theme it would be! This is NOT light reading! Dr. Peterson continues swimming in the deep end of the pool and please don’t try to casually dabble your toes in- this chapter deserves a quiet evening with the kids to bed and distractions tucked in for the night. And then read it again the next day. Its deep!

Thesis

Not going to lie, finding a simply stated ‘thesis’ wasn’t easy, but I have figured it down to this: Life is suffering. Suffering is, we can all agree, bad. So the meaning to life is the alleviation of suffering – as much as each individual can.

Summary

Dr. Peterson continues his war against nihilism here in Rule #7, that was started in Rule #6. He confronts head on the central problem with institutional Christianity and its dogma, Primarily: that ‘salvation by faith’ has led to a thinly disguised apathy on the condition of the World. It has removed much of the responsibility that even Christianity’s most famous critique, Nietzsche, admits was ordered by Christ – to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and work to make the world better. And frankly, we can see that today. Christians focus on their eternal salvation, preach that they are ‘separated from the World, in the World but not of the World’ etc, etc, None of that might be strictly wrong, but in true human fashion we have taken that as permission to withdraw from the clearly stated mission of helping those in need. After all, if I don’t have to work for my salvation, I don’t really need to do anything other than protect myself – is the attitude.

But that Christian cynicism has led us to this

nihilism and the pursuit of pleasure (as I have come to expect from Dr. Peterson’s writings, he comes to this in circles – read the book to see how to get from point A to point B!) The pursuit of pleasure is, weirdly, a small feeble blow against the bedrock truth ‘Life is suffering’. If I indulge in expedient pleasure for a few moments, than I am free from suffering for that few moments. But it is simply illusion and we all wake up the next day with horrible hangovers, and soon realize that even our expedient pleasures are contributing to our own, not to mention others, suffering.

His solution is elegantly simple

for those struggling to find something solid to build from. The simple statement: Life is suffering. The simple judgment: Suffering is bad. The simple solution: Alleviate suffering. That is the meaning behind ‘the greatest good’, to do what is in your grasp to do, alleviate suffering. And that means looking beyond the expedient, beyond simple hedonistic pleasure – it means directing your efforts, your sacrifices, to making the world better, in however small a way you can. To do good, to help another, or even to Help yourself – in a manner that aims up, and away from suffering.

I am reminded of Jesus’ question to the apostle Simon Peter in John 21.

When Jesus’ asked Peter ‘Do you love me’, Peter responded ‘Yes, Lord. To which Jesus answered ‘Feed my sheep’. Three times Jesus askes this question, with the same response. Other places the apostles ask Jesus to ‘Increase our Faith’, Jesus never directly addresses the question, but rather directs them to the service of God, the Good, the Greatest Good. The modern Church, I agree with Dr. Peterson here, has led us to a place of complacency, of contentment, we are saved after all – by faith – oh goody! Nothing that I have to do but sit back and watch the world burn around me, while my ticket to heaven is punched. But the Bible is clear that faith without works is dead- James 2:14. Most Christians have struggled with the concept of which comes first for our salvation, which ‘guarantees’ our ticket to heaven. Faith is clearly required, but so too does works… but if I can’t ‘work’ my way to Heaven, what is the place of ‘work’?

I believe Dr. Peterson, perhaps accidently, is addressing this question.

Without works, there is no Faith – regardless of what you tell yourself in the mirror at night. Profess your belief in God, good job- the demons believe in God and tremble. Your ‘belief’ is not Faith. ‘Works’ is how you build your Faith, it is what enlivens your Faith – turns easy, lazy ‘belief’ into power-in-the-blood FAITH. Belief, might be a first step, sure – but until you have living Faith, powered by living Works, your faith is dead – and without Faith, it is impossible to please God. Without Faith, The kingdom of Heaven is closed to you.

Aim up. Work to alleviate suffering and pain. You will find your Faith increasing in proportion to your focus on actually doing the work of Christ.

To find what is meaningful, you must first dedicate yourself to the search for truth – and that means separating ourselves from deception. Rule #8: Tell the Truth -or- at least don’t lie —–>