What is Pietism?

Response

While few contemporary groups would explicitly label themselves as Pietist, there exist numerous modern churches that have been significantly influenced by Pietist principles. Pietism, a movement within Christianity, emphasizes individual holiness and a consistent Christian lifestyle. It is often spearheaded by laypeople or local pastors who are dissatisfied with what they perceive as hypocrisy or inconsistency within the broader church community. Various Pietist movements have emerged, leading to the establishment of new denominations or fellowships.

Jan Hus, a preacher in the 1400s in present-day Czech Republic, was among the early proponents of the Pietist movement. Influenced by the teachings of John Wycliffe, he aimed to reform the Bohemian church. Hus was executed by burning at the stake in 1415 on charges of heresy. Despite his brief ministry, Hus’s reform initiatives had enduring impacts, with Martin Luther being influenced by his teachings. The contemporary Moravian or Bohemian Brethren Church (with 825,000 members) directly traces its origins to Jan Hus’s followers.

The Pietist movement played a role in the establishment of the Lutheran Church, leading to a reform movement within it in the 1670s. Philipp Jakob Spener, influenced by Pietist and Waldensian instructors, recognized the necessity for moral and religious reform within German Lutheranism. He observed a rigid orthodoxy draining the vitality from the Christian life of the church. In response, he initiated gatherings in his home to promote personal and small-group Bible study, laypeople’s involvement in church leadership, and a preaching style that would nurture Christianity internally and produce tangible fruits of good deeds. Many Lutherans embraced these reforms while others departed to establish various new churches, often with names indicating their Pietist influence.

Including the term “Brethren,” Swedish Lutherans who were influenced by Spener’s teachings came to America and established the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Evangelical Free Church of America. In England, the Pietist movement influenced John Wesley, who initiated the Methodist movement.

The philosophy of ministry that led to the Pietist movement has been embraced by true believers from the outset. When Peter and John were prohibited by the Jewish religious leaders from speaking in the name of Jesus, they replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot refrain from speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). These brethren believed that every believer and every church must submit to the authority of God’s Word, and any practice or teaching that contradicts God’s clear command must be relinquished. To that, let every believer today say a resounding “Amen.”