According to Alvin Reid in Firefall the Puritan movement through William Perkins (1558-1602) influenced William Amesius and William Tellinck, who “led the movement of the Reformed Pietism in the Netherlands.[1] A Lutheran by the name of John Arndt (1555-1621) also led in the early stages of Pietism and was the author of True Christianity.[2]
The early Pietist leader, Philip Spener, was heavily influenced by Arndt’s work and wrote the manifesto of the Pietist movement, Pia Desideria (1675).[3] Originally a manual for the reform of Lutheran churches, Spener’s work made an impact on Lutheran as well as Reformed and Moravian streams.[4]
The six measures of reform in the Pia Desideria were: 1. A greater commitment to spread the word of God. 2. A renewed emphasis on the Lutheran view of the priesthood of all believers. 3. A greater focus given to the development of individual spiritual life. 4. Truth should not be established through disputes but through repentance and a holy life. 5. Candidates for the ministry should be genuine Christians who have had spiritual training. 6. Sermons should not demonstrate the preacher’s erudition, but attempt to edify.[5]
Two specific results attributed to the Pietist movement by Reid include encouraging revival and pioneering world missions.[6] The Pietist also increased focus on disciple making in individual lives. Revival and world mission have a clear connection to the emphasis on the spiritual life. When a person grows deeply as a believer, revival and missional impulse come natural.
The Pietist movement demonstrates a historical phenomenon connected with personal piety. The movement, as some have suggested, can lead to a mystical spirituality;[7] yet, the benefits of historical results outweigh the risk. Like the Anglican church of the Puritans, much of the American church is highly institutional, with little to no missional impulse. Since the Pietist movement did result in revival and missionary fervency, one should expect a similar result if our congregations determined to live lives of purity and holiness in Christ. This is not to say the revival is automatic, but instead to say conditions preceding revival will always include a renewed emphasis on personal piety.
The natural overflow of a deep and abiding relationship with Christ will always be a love for people and a passion for God’s mission. Works like True Christianity and the Pia Desideria can help our modern context return to a faithful, Christ-centered disciple making method, rather than a consumer based entertainment approach.
