Pietism: Getting Personal with God

To call a person "pious" often has a negative sense to it: as though a person is putting on the appearance of being spiritual, but lacks the inner reality. Pietism, however, has enjoyed a rich and respected role in the history of Christianity.

Throughout the centuries of the Christian faith, there have been two opposite movements, with the one often reacting to the other. Broadly speaking, there is the movement that emphasizes dogmatic theology and doctrines-basically an intellectual approach to the faith-and the movement that emphasizes a personal, intimate relationship with God. When one movement has seemed dominant, the other has risen to challenge it and to give a more balanced approach to the faith. There is no reason why the two cannot be combined, but often that is not the case.

As we've entered the 21st century, there may be more of a need for pietism. In an age when there is a growing distrust of absolute, hard and fast doctrines and truths, the approach to God for many people may be found more readily in pietism. One website defines pietism as a movement that emphasizes a heartfelt relationship with God, but also ethical purity, charitable activities, and a theology that encourages an outreach to people.

I belong to a denomination (the Baptist General Conference) that has a strong streak of pietism in its history. According to an article in the Baptist Pietist Clarion, pietism includes these elements:

A. The Bible is the final authority for faith and living
B. The church is composed of born-again believers
C. Believers are to be separated from worldly lifestyles
D. Pietists have a strong independent streak
E. Pietists emphasize the atonement, especially the blood of Jesus
F. Prayer is an important part of the life of the pietist
G. Pietists are strongly committed to a spirit of peace and love

Rather than the often contentious doctrinal debates that characterize much of today's church---debates that often accomplish nothing except to solidify the positions of the participants-perhaps it's time to return to a pattern of faith that brings the individual into personal contact with God. Although the church has often been accused of being too individualistic and too little concerned with the needs of others, there is a place for a relationship with God that can affect the individual's life and transform him or her into a caring person who does care for others and displays the character of Jesus Christ to a spiritually hungry world.

When our intellectual arguments do not work, perhaps our attractive personalities will. It's worth a try.

Sources:

mb-soft.com/believe/txc/pietism.htm
cas.bethel.edu/dept/history/Baptist_Pietist_Clarion_Issues/BPC_June_2007.pdf