Philip Jakob Spener on Pietism

As a response to the dry orthodoxy of 17th Century Lutheranism, Spener penned these six points:

1. The Word of God must be more widely stuidied by the people. To this end he proposed discussions under the pastor's guidance.

2. The universal priesthood of all believers needs new emphasis. All Christians should exercise this privilege by testifying, instructing and exhorting each other.

3. Mere head knowledge is not Christianity, but such knowledge must be translated into action.

4. More love and gentleness between the Christain denominations is needed in polemics.

5. The schooling of the clergy must include training for personal piety as well as intellectual knowledge.

6. Sermons should be preparaed with less emphasis on rhetorical art and more on the edification of the hearers.

Wendland on Orthodoxism

By this we mean the fact that many pastors and parishioners often mistook a mere intellectual knowledge of carefully systematized doctrine for faith. A personal conviction of sin was lacking, as also a faith which rested on the assurance of a forgiveness and had as a natural result a consecrated life of sanctification. A religious intellectualism began to control many Lutheran classrooms and pulpits, which consumed practically all of its energy... 'The humbler duties of preaching the Gospel and ministering to the spiritual needs of the people were often shunned in favor of the more glamorous field of theological debate.... the people had grown weary of the endless and useless theological disputes in which their pastors and prfoessors engaged.... leaders of Lutehranism found time, opportunity and funds for extensive theological debate and publication, but none for missions.

Wendland on Movements

Any movement, whether religious or polictical, with an 'ism' appended to its name, is usually the result of a reaction over against a state of affairs which has become intolerable, and therefore its inception is understandable. Because it is a reactionary moevement, however, it almost inevitably goes to extremes. Thus no matter how justified its causes may be, or how sincere the zeal of its proponents, we have come to regard any 'ism' with great suspicion.