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| This is an important topic, because Walther was a cell group Pietist who joined Stephan's cell group Pietism, borrowing his concept of UOJ from Stephan. |
A brief history of pietism « Churchmouse Campanologist:
What follows is a brief history of pietism, a subject to which this blog intends to return with practical, modern examples.
Our churches today are full of ‘holy’ behaviours and small groups meant to reinforce them for the ‘true’ believer. I use these words advisedly, as orthodox Lutherans, Calvinists and Anglicans believe that it is only by grace through faith that a person is saved and comes to share eternal life with Jesus Christ.
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brief history of pietism « Churchmouse Campanolo...":
Well said, LPC. Yes, it can be difficult to articulate the difference between the gracious fruits of faith and mandated legalism by the Revd A. N. Other.
The other thing I noted is the commonality of the following in pietism: outdoor revivals, small groups (!) and problems with the opposite sex. The last of these Dr Jackson has documented in detail and, consequently, got me interested in pursuing this subject further.
Hmm. Calvinists politely call pietism 'legalism', but there is a real set of moralistic stories here. Researching my upcoming posts made me rather queasy -- Wesley's and others' problems with women, the doctrinal church and secular law.
What I learned about pietism: 'Nature' abhors a vacuum. Satan stands by ready to fill it.
A Calvinist clergyman (now retired) commented either on my blog or his some time ago that the only church history 'these people' know are 'their own celebrities'. They know nothing about the foundations of the Reformation.
Churchmouse
Well said, LPC. Yes, it can be difficult to articulate the difference between the gracious fruits of faith and mandated legalism by the Revd A. N. Other.
The other thing I noted is the commonality of the following in pietism: outdoor revivals, small groups (!) and problems with the opposite sex. The last of these Dr Jackson has documented in detail and, consequently, got me interested in pursuing this subject further.
Hmm. Calvinists politely call pietism 'legalism', but there is a real set of moralistic stories here. Researching my upcoming posts made me rather queasy -- Wesley's and others' problems with women, the doctrinal church and secular law.
What I learned about pietism: 'Nature' abhors a vacuum. Satan stands by ready to fill it.
A Calvinist clergyman (now retired) commented either on my blog or his some time ago that the only church history 'these people' know are 'their own celebrities'. They know nothing about the foundations of the Reformation.
Churchmouse
5 comments:
The real mark of Pietism to me is its cultic nature. This explains to me why in the USA, the General Conference liquified compared to the Synodical Conference.
The General Conference, liquified because they were not cultic while the Synodical Conference solidified because they have more pietism in their blood and so became more cultic. Not all from the General Conference became liberal, but almost all from Synodical Conference turned out to be cultic and idolatrous of their synods.
Pietism reduces to cultism - Walther being as you said a Pietist, was a true cultic figure.
IMHO a Christian can not avoid some pious actions, for that is part of being a follower of Christ. For example Jesus told us to pray and welcomes our prayer, he said we will fast when he leaves. St. Paul expects us to assemble, advices us to read the Scriptures etc. We can not escape some pious actions.
What is wrong then is how these pious actions are used and interpreted; for example as exemplified by the Pharisees. Then also when pious actions are given merit status with God drowning the free work of Christ at the Cross. Pietism then leads to two extremes, on the left is works righteousness and on the right is antinomianism as exemplified by Walterian types.
LPC
Well said, LPC. Yes, it can be difficult to articulate the difference between the gracious fruits of faith and mandated legalism by the Revd A. N. Other.
The other thing I noted is the commonality of the following in pietism: outdoor revivals, small groups (!) and problems with the opposite sex. The last of these Dr Jackson has documented in detail and, consequently, got me interested in pursuing this subject further.
Hmm. Calvinists politely call pietism 'legalism', but there is a real set of moralistic stories here. Researching my upcoming posts made me rather queasy -- Wesley's and others' problems with women, the doctrinal church and secular law.
What I learned about pietism: 'Nature' abhors a vacuum. Satan stands by ready to fill it.
A Calvinist clergyman (now retired) commented either on my blog or his some time ago that the only church history 'these people' know are 'their own celebrities'. They know nothing about the foundations of the Reformation.
Churchmouse
Churchmouse,
Look at the link between Puritanism and Pietism too.
I believe Pietism began when Christians saw and make judgements on the behaviour of other Christians wherein that behaviour had no marked difference from the world. However, the cure they followed was not the hammering of the Law and the Gospel, the method of God. Rather they sought to curve people's worldliness by rules and not by the positive delivery of the Law which convicts unrighteousness and then by the Gospel which gives the righteousness of Christ.
LPC
Good point -- I have been struggling with this over the past few years!
One wonders how much further the Puritans -- Knox- and Cromwell-influenced -- took Calvin's teachings from their original intentions. I had read where Calvin told Knox to chill out in his dealings with non-Calvinists.
There is still a division, from my reading, between Calvinists who drift towards a certain legalism (no telly on the Sabbath) and those who don't feel the need to watch it on a Sunday.
Earlier this year, I read an amazing polemic on whether one should watch the Super Bowl broadcast or tape it to watch the next day. Questions included: 'Is the Sabbath midnight to midnight or to 6 p.m.?'
Another non-orthodox and pietistic Calvinist movement is the New Perspectives on Paul (NPP) and Federal Vision (FV) -- quasi-Catholic and very legalistic.
Churchmouse
Churchmouse,
between Calvinists who drift towards a certain legalism (no telly on the Sabbath) and those who don't feel the need to watch it on a Sunday
We have these types of Presbyterians here. One of them was a teacher of my son and we had discussions many years before I became Lutheran. One of his sons rebelled against his strict code.
LPC
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