History of the Church II: Week Eight

Pascal and Pietism  The Catholic Church had many spiritual people around the world but in France where royal power was re-enforced by the Pope, the Jesuits had enormous power.  Through confession priests develop the skill of casuistry: the science of right and wrong for the Christian conscience.  The Jesuits were particularly lenient in confessions especially because they wanted to impact the political word as much as the spiritual.  Thus the idea of “cheap grace” was formed. Jesuits, who were the priests of the monarchy in France, were accused of forgiveness without contrition.

Blaise Pascal 

Pascal and Pietism  Blaise Pascal was a French scientist and philosopher who took on the Jesuits in his native land.  By the age of 27, Pascal had became one of the leading mathematicians in Europe, had invented the calculator and had discovered the basic principle of atmospheric and hydraulic pressures. He was truly one of the great minds of the age.  In 1646 he came into contact with a group of physicians named the Jansenists. They had helped his dad recover from a dislocated hip.  The Jansenists had been a group who opposed “cheap grace” but needed a spokesman.

Pascal and Pietism  Pascal learned about the condition of the mankind from the Jansenists and immediately started to study Scripture.  After his father died, Pascal was reading John 17 when the “Fire” appeared as he said in his notes.  He joined the Protestants at Port Royal outside of Paris and wrote 18 essays called the Provincial Letters about Jesuit practices and beliefs.  Although condemned by the Pope, they became instant bestsellers as well as classics still used today.

Pascal and Pietism  Pascal was in the process of writing a book about the evidence for Christianity when he was struck by a fever and died at age 39.  He “cut across the doctrine and pierces to the heart of man’s moral problem.” Read pgs  Soon after his death the Catholic Church and the French monarchy kicked out all Protestants but not while he was alive. Pascal took on the philosophes by saying that reason alone cannot explain man’s plight.  France wasn’t the only place the Age of Reason corrupted.

Pascal and Pietism  Even though Luther started the Reformation in Germany, the state still controlled the church.  In fact to this day, the Lutheran Church in Germany is provided for by the citizens through a tax.  As with any state-sponsored church, the condition of the soul takes a backseat to other concerns.  In other words, the church becomes stale and mundane.  From this background arose a movement called Pietism.

Pascal and Pietism  Pietism is the exact opposite of the state sponsored church.  Its emphasis is on the individual’s life and the condition of the heart.  Pietism emphasized a personal salvation experience and attention to the afterlife not the here and now.  Modern day evangelicals owe much to this movement which settled in Moravia in Germany, spread to the Netherlands (where the Puritans were influenced) and eventually to the colony of Georgia where the Moravians sent missionaries.

Pascal and Pietism  Pietism was the first movement to use the term “born again” and emphasized the personal salvation experience.  They were the first Protestants to send missionaries overseas to places like England, the Americas, Caribbean Islands, India and Africa.  They recognized the plight of the African slave and heavily influenced the slaves of the American south.  They influenced American Christianity because they were not concerned about the social plight of man or politics. This was also their biggest weakness.

Pascal and Pietism  Pietism made an enormous contribution to Christianity worldwide.  Made preaching and pastoral care central to Protestant belief  Enriched music used in the service  Salvation was an experience not a theological doctrine  It was the foundation for all modern-day revivals  The two main traits evangelicals gained from Pietism were:  Emotion was so much a part of salvation experience that reason played little part in Christianity. There was no place for God’s place in nature or history. There was no answer for the increasing secularism.

Pascal and Pietism  The movement assumed the existence of the institutional church. The church became a voluntary group of believers. Denominations became the norm and multiplied religious movements spread using evangelism.  This was the type of church which flourished in America and became the basis for future revival movements led by preachers like John Wesley and George Whitefield.