I am currently rereading Mark Noll”s book Turning Points: Decisive Points in the History of Christianity. It’s a great read, and an even better reread. One chapter is dedicated to the Evangelical Awakening in Britain and America which was preceded by Pietism in Europe. He uses the conversion and ministries of the Wesley brothers as a focal point. In his historical background he lists six proposals penned by Philipp Jacob Spener in 1675. According to Noll, Spener’s proposals became a banner for Pietism and influenced the Wesley’s who influenced American Evangelicalism.

Spener…
1. said there should be a more extensive use of the Word of God;
2. called for a renewal of the priesthood of believers;
3. appealed for the Christian faith to be expressed in authentic practice;
4. asked his readers to show love and to pray for unbelievers and the erring. There should be restraint and charity in religious controversies;
5. called for reform in the education of ministers. They should be taught piety and devotion as well as academics;
and 6. encouraged ministers to preach edifying sermons, understandable by the people…

WOW, who knew Spener was such a 17th Century Emerging Church Leader? It is stunning how similar these six are to many of the issues taken up by today’s emerging churches (note: emerging not necessarily Emergent)… particularly 3, 4, 5, and 6.

RE: #3 – today “authentic” is nearly used to the point of meaninglessness. But there is a reason for this. Many young believers see the “established” churches as unauthentic in the expression of their faith.

RE: #4 – a call to engage unbelievers (and others) in a dialogue, loving them while we pray for them.

RE: #5 – looks a lot like the classes many schools are adding under the general term of spiritual development or the like. They have seen the need to address an over-emphasis on academics.

RE: #6 – in a word – “relevant” – sermons that build up the believer must be relevant to the believer.

Of course, Spener and Wesley had their ODM’s as well… those who opposed their new methods. For example, Wesley was attacked for preaching outside instead of in a church proper. Many within the emerging churches today are echoing Spener’s call for a revitalized Christianity. I can imagine how Spener would be opposed if he were to write this today. For example:

RE: #4 – Here he is obviously watering down the Gospel… we are not called to dialogue with unbelievers or show restraint – We are called to preach the Gospel and expect to offend unbelievers.

RE #5 – “Piety” and “Devotion” are just synonyms for spiritual formulation which is, of course, code for the new age and built upon pagan foundations.

RE: # 6 – Here Spener is clearly advocating we dumb down the message and use hollywoodesque methods to entertain rather than teach the simple counsel of God.

Of course, this is all somewhat tongue-in-cheek… but it is amazing how similar many of today’s emerging concepts/methods are to the concepts and methods introduced by Spener and Wesley and a host of others. It is also amazing how new ideas are opposed by the “establishment” of the time, every time – whether that time is now, or 350 years ago.