In Gonzalez’s discussion of the Pietist movement some of the major ideas that motivated Pietism were that Pietists wanted to cultivate a more intense and personal faith and piety. Pietism was part of the German movement which was led by Spener and Francke (Gonzalez, 174-175).

Pietism was a response to the stubborn and narrow-minded thinking of the theologians and the rationalism of the philosopher’s both of which it contrasted with the living faith that was the heart of Christianity and to the Thirty Years War (Gonzalez, 259). The result of the Thirty Years War was that many people held a greater value in personal devotion and religious experience (Gonzalez, 261).

The father of Pietism was known to be a preacher named Spener (Gonzalez, 259). He believed that religion should go further than the regular attendance of church and listing to the preacher’s sermon and public practices. He did not agree with congregations attending church and simply listening to the sermon because not everything gets heard. People only pick up on a few things in a sermon and most of what is preached from the Word of God goes unheard. To solve this problem, he started Bible study groups and devotion which he called “colleges of piety.” This was one of his experiments that after five years of observation published the Pia Desideria. The Pia Desideria was an outlined program for the development of piety (Gonzalez, 259-260).

Spener preached that there should be less emphasis on the differences of laity and clergy and more on the common responsibility of all Christians. This meant that there should be a more intense life of devotion and study among the laity. Spener believed that by having members be part of small Bible study groups just like the “colleges of piety”, it would make it easier to meet the goal of being a “True Christian.” This practice made it so members of the church could be examined by others and held accountable in their church groups and society that they are practicing their religion and are being “True Christians.” Spener believed that these study groups would help members gain and develop a more deep and personal faith with God (Stoeffler, 31-32).

Also, in the Pietist movement Spener asked of preachers to not speak in tones and use languages that brought attention to themselves. Spener did not want preachers to be put on a pedestal and make it seem as though they were more knowledgeable or higher up than of its members in the congregation. He believed that preaching should not be done to draw attention to your own knowledge and make members feel uncomfortable by usage of fancy words and talk that draws attention to how knowledgeable you are and make others feel not as knowledgeable or intelligent. Preachers should speak in a tone that would help make people understand and be obedient to the Word of God (Gonzalez, 260).

Spener stated that simply attending church does not help with the development of one’s personal faith. His teachings were different in that he did not put a great emphasis or importance on the manner of life of the believer but held more value to God and his grace. It was not personal sanctity that justifies but God’s grace that justifies. The Pietists insisted on the contrast between what society expects of its members and what God requires of the faithful (Gonzalez 260).

The Pietists understanding of the Bible represents a divergence from the Medieval Catholic views and a continuation of Protestant ideals in that not only ministers but all Christians are made priests by their Savior and are anointed by the holy spirit and are dedicated to do spiritual and priestly acts. It is not something for the Priest and Pastors but for all believers to follow. All spiritual functions are open to all Christians and there was no exception to this rule (Stoeffler, 34-35).

Luther and his spiritual priesthood believed all Christians can be involved with spiritual functions with no exemptions. The church attendances and public performances should be done by the ministers entrusted with that responsibility however; in case of emergency others can perform those acts. For teachings that are not related to public performance and public acts such as studying the Word of God, comforting neighbors, taking part in prayer, thanksgiving etc. all those acts should be done on a daily basis. Pietists were against spiritual functions to be assigned solely to the clergy because this created exclusions for Christians which led to clergy doing as they pleased. Clergy were able to do as they pleased because nobody dared to question or object them for fear of excommunication (Stoeffler, 35). Spener believed that his teachings would make it so Christians would take better care of themselves, have a stronger personal faith and apply to their own edification and of their fellow men in being “True Christians (Stoeffler, 33).”