Issue 10 Pietism: A Much-Maligned Movement Re-Examined

Second phase of the Reformation?

Overview of this issue on Pietism.

Interesting facts about the Pietist movement.

Autobiographical extracts from a Pietist who led the way in social action.

A spiritual hunger grew in reaction to the coldness and formalism of the Protestant state churches. Drawing from diverse roots, Pietism emerged as a quest to apply Reformation doctrine to personal life.

Who was who in the Pietist movement.

The Pietists’ emphasis on the new birth and biblical authority had startling implications as to how one treated orphans, the lower classes and one’s opponents. Orthodoxy was not enough. A changed life was required.

Experiencing the Christian Faith

Preaching, social concern, missions, ecumenicity were among the major emphases of Pietism.

Pietism provided the foundations for much of American religious structure.

These musical Pietists migrated to America where they did works of mercy, teaching, attending the sick, and evangelizing.

Johann Arndt’s work is recognized as the first great literary expression of Pietism. In his True Christianity he lays the foundation for biblical faith and how the believer must experience the power of faith in a vivid Christian lifestyle.

The Manifesto of Pietism.

To offset the decline in moral and spiritual values, Pietists sought to establish new standards of conduct and Christian discipline. Often these standards appeared to be perfectionistic and Pietists were criticized for this tendency. However, as this selection from A.H. Francke shows, Pietists also recognized human imperfections and thus strove for their ideals, fully aware that frailty and ignorance are a part of man’s struggle.

Pietist hymns express spiritual desires.

One of the immediate concerns of Henry M. Muhlenburg when he arrived in Pennsylvania in 1742 was the improvement of the quality of the clergy in the colonial Lutheran churches. To aid this process, Muhlenburg created a series of questions to examine candidates for the ordained ministry. While the author is concerned with loyalty to the historic Lutheran position, evidences are apparent of his “reverend fathers in Halle.”

Pietism has had its severe critics right from its beginnings and continuously through its history.

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