The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

XI. Pietism Stresses Vital Christianity Instead of Dogmatics

For centuries the Papacy had opposed efforts at reform from sincere men within her own ranks. Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and Knox were raised up to bring about the needed reformation, and to reinstate Christ as the only Founder and Head of the church, with His Word as the only rule of faith and practice. In some matters these noble pioneers fell short in the application of correct principles and sound fundamentals. Then the masses of their followers, instead of correcting these inaccuracies, began to emphasize the divine call of their leaders and the virtual inerrancy of the Reformation symbols. PFF2 617.2

Great things had been promised by the Reformation. Gifted men had testified fearlessly, and martyrs had sealed their faith resolutely with their blood. Though the Lutherans, Re formed, Baptists, and Brethren disagreed on many things, they were solidly united on the identity of Antichrist and the necessity of gathering out a people from Rome’s communion. But, like all previous spiritual advances, the first love grew cold, and the Sardis condition became general. PFF2 617.3

1. HOLINESS BURIED UNDER STERILE DOGMATISM

The stagnation and unregenerate life of the evangelical state churches needed the powerful remedies proffered by the Pietists, the Moravians, and later the Wesleyans. Such men as Spener, Zinzendorf, Ziegenbalg-and then Wesley and Whitefield—heralded the breaking of the day. PFF2 617.4

A breath of fresh life came from the Pietists, this movement arising in Germany in the latter part of the seventeenth century. Johann Arndt (1555-1621) and Johannes Cocceius (1603-1669) might be called its forerunners. But its full development is to be ascribed to Philipp Spener (1635-1705) and his associates. Spener saw living holiness buried under formalism and sterile theology. ⁷⁹ (tm) Pietism was passionate for the holiness about which orthodoxy was indifferent, and was indifferent about the formulas for which orthodoxy was passionate. PFF2 618.1

2. SPENER’S POSITIONS CENSURED BY THE WITTENBERG FAC ULTY

Spener’s views were adopted by Francke, Anton, Schade, and others. These held Bible meetings at Leipzig, trying to do what Wesley later attempted at Oxford. They were violently denounced—Spener being compelled to leave Dresden and Francke being driven from Leipzig. But Pietism found a home at Halle. ⁸⁰ Controversy arose, however, between the Pietists on the Halle faculty and the orthodox on the faculty of Witten berg; the latter censured as heretical 283 propositions found in Spener’s writings. ⁸¹ But the influence of Pietism was perpetuated in the Moravian Brethren, Count Zinzendorf being a disciple of Francke. PFF2 618.2