Pietism is something we have discussed many times over the years on Theocast. Four years into recording together, Jon and Justin pointedly revisit the topic in today’s episode. What is pietism? How would the guys explain it to someone visiting their respective churches? How does pietism affect the individual Christian? How does it affect churches and even corporate worship? And what about the church’s tendency to hitch its wagon to politics and social causes–does that have anything to do with pietism?
For today’s episode, Jon and Justin are joined by Ken Jones (pastor of Glendale Baptist Church and host of Saints and Sinners Unplugged). The guys talk about revivalism. There are two distinct traditions within American Protestantism: one is the confessional/ordinary means of grace tradition; the other pietistic and revivalistic. What are the differences between the two? What about the First Great Awakening? What is it that characterizes any genuine movement of God?
Jon and Justin discuss the purpose of the Christian life and more personal aspects of their understanding on recent events in the reformed world.
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In today’s episode, Jon and Justin reflect on the world of conservative reformed Christianity. Taking a dive into dead orthodoxy on one side to pietism and revivalism on the other, the guys ask: how did we get here? What is God expecting? Can we identify these pitfalls in our own lives? This episode is not about just pointing out faults but being able to recognize harmful habits we’ve fallen into and moving past them.
It sounds a little crazy to say that the gospel terrifies Christians. But it clearly does. Christians are prone to qualify the grace of God in Christ. Christians are prone to hedge on justification by faith alone. At times, Christians can even be unsettled by the preaching of Christ from all of Scripture. Why are these things so? Jon and Justin consider history, fear-based theology, pietism, law/gospel confusion, and Christ-centered preaching in today’s episode.
It sounds a little crazy to say that the gospel terrifies Christians. But it clearly does. Christians are prone to qualify the grace of God in Christ. Christians are prone to hedge on justification by faith alone. At times, Christians can even be unsettled by the preaching of Christ from all of Scripture. Why are these things so? Jon and Justin consider history, fear-based theology, pietism, law/gospel confusion, and Christ-centered preaching in today’s episode.
People make various diagnoses of what ails the church today. To some, it’s a loss of a commitment to moral and social values. To others, it’s a general lack of acceptance. To others, it’s that we don’t preach obedience and holiness enough. If we were to fix these things, would it cure what ails us? Jon and Justin consider these questions and suggest that the issue in so much of the church today is that we’re preaching an anemic gospel.
The guys give advice to those who are stuck in a pietistic context.
At Theocast, we talk a lot about pietism. What is it? What is the difference in piety and pietism? How does pietism affect us? Is there something better? If you find yourself struggling in the Christian life, is there something wrong with you? The guys answer these questions and more.
At Theocast, we talk a lot about pietism. What is it? What is the difference in piety and pietism? How does pietism affect us? Is there something better? If you find yourself struggling in the Christian life, is there something wrong with you? The guys answer these questions and more.
How do you interpret the narrow gate, narrow way?
Answered by Patrick Crandall
If you listen to many in the church, our Christian lives should be characterized by happiness, excitement, and by overcoming difficulty. But, this life is often characterized by pain, toil, and suffering. What do we do with that? And what is it that we’re called to in the church?
Jon and Justin talk about the mission of the church and what it looks like to keep the main things the main things.
If you listen to many in the church, our Christian lives should be characterized by happiness, excitement, and by overcoming difficulty. But, this life is often characterized by pain, toil, and suffering. What do we do with that? And what is it that we’re called to in the church?
Jon and Justin talk about the “taste and see” reality of a church where the gospel permeates everything in the life of the congregation.
Though we would never say it this way, it often seems that the gospel is just the starting point of the Christian life–and that once we believe, we need to move on to other things. Jon and Justin consider how this happens and what it means for people in the church.
Though we would never say it this way, it often seems that the gospel is just the starting point of the Christian life–and that once we believe, we need to move on to other things. Jon and Justin consider how this happens and what it means for people in the church.
The guys consider whether personal Bible reading is a litmus test of being a good and faithful Christian.
Are you discouraged about reading your Bible? Maybe you feel like you don’t understand it? Maybe you read it and feel like you’ve gotten nothing from it? In this episode, the guys talk about how not to read your Bible–and then consider what Scripture says about how to interact with it.
Are you discouraged about reading your Bible? Maybe you feel like you don’t understand it? Maybe you read it and feel like you’ve gotten nothing from it? In this episode, the guys talk about how not to read your Bible–and then consider what Scripture says about how to interact with it.
