Pietism

Pietism was a movement, in the Lutheran Church, lasting from the late-17th century to the mid-18th Century. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to begin the Brethren movement. The Pietist movement combined the Lutheran emphasis on Biblical doctrine with the Reformed, and especially Puritan, emphasis on individual piety, and a vigorous Christian life.

Forerunners

As forerunners of the Pietists in the strict sense, not a few earnest and powerful voices had been heard bewailing the shortcomings of the Church and advocating a revival of practical and devout Christianity. Amongst them were Christian mystic Jakob Boehme (Behmen); Johann Arndt, whose work on True Christianity became widely known and appreciated; Heinrich Müller, who described the font, the pulpit, the confessional and the altar as the four dumb idols of the Lutheran Church; the theologian, Johann Valentin Andrea, the court chaplain of the landgrave of Hesse; Schuppius, who sought to restore to the Bible its place in the pulpit; and Theophilus Grossgebauer (d. 1661) of Rostock, who from his pulpit and by his writings raised "the alarm cry of a watchman in Sion."

Related Topics:
Christian mystic - Jakob Boehme - Johann Arndt - Heinrich Müller - Johann Valentin Andrea - Schuppius - Theophilus Grossgebauer

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