Re-Emerging Pietism: The Emerging Church as Postmodern Pietism

Abstract

Germany in the seventeenth century was ripe for religious reform: the Thirty Years War had created doubts about the correctness of contemporary religious institutions, theologians of most denominations were engaged in abstract, scholastic theological controversy, and inter-denominational conflict was increasingly off-putting. It was into this climate which Pietism emerged as an alternative way of doing religion. Its central tenants were: (1) a more extensive use of Scripture, (2) a reinvigorated spiritual priesthood, (3) an emphasis on orthopraxy, (4) irenic conduct in religious controversies, (5) the establishment of seminaries as centers of personal spiritual cultivation, and (6) sermons emphasizing faith and its fruits. The impact of this historical movement was geographically and philosophically far-reaching. A number of religious organizations in the United States including Evangelicalism can trace their roots back to Pietism. As a result, the most contemporary expression of Evangelicalism, the Emerging Church (a sort of postmodern version of Evangelicalism), also shares a historical link with seventeenth century Pietism. More important than the historical connection are the theological similarities. I have shown how the Emerging Church, in response to the philosophical movement of postmodernism, has taken up the six central tenets of seventeenth century German Pietism. In the process, the Emerging Church has taken these tenets to the next philosophical level. After providing a cultural-historical background I have shown how the Emerging Church has developed these central tenets and the implications for the Emerging Church and Christianity in general.