White Horse Inn Pietism: The Movement That Co-opted the Reformation
Nov 2, 2025
Delve into the origins of Pietism and its significant impact on the Reformation and modern evangelicalism. Discover how this movement shifted focus from core doctrines to heartfelt devotion, influencing everything from pastoral training to social activism. Explore the tension between inner spirituality and the Reformation’s doctrine of Christ outside us, and its connection to Enlightenment thought. The discussion highlights both historical roots and contemporary echoes in today’s church, advocating for a return to a Christ-centered faith.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Center Shift From Justification To Sanctification
- Pietism shifted the center from forensic justification to inner sanctification as the mark of true faith.
- That re-centering made sanctification the primary litmus test instead of Christ's objective work for us.
Arndt And Spener Spark Pietist Renewal
- Johann Arndt wrote True Christianity urging a move from doctrine to piety and influenced later pietists.
- Spener later prefaced Arndt and argued that now the church needed internal renewal and devotional practice.
A Return To Inward Medieval Piety
- Pietism returned Protestantism to an inward, experiential locus of salvation similar to medieval Roman piety.
- That inward turn risked making personal fruit the proof of righteousness rather than Christ's declared work.
