“Pietism” as a term of insult is making the rounds again. The substance is real, a Christianity that prays for Christ’s kingdom to come but prefers for that kingdom to have no influence in the kingdoms of this world. But...

The term “pietism” is dangerous, as it loads the good word “piety” with baggage, and implies the same false dilemma between piety and politics that it seeks to avoid

Worse, condemning “pietism” gives credence to that tired liberal lie, that Christians should be less heavenly minded, so as to be more earthly good.

The real problem, however, is that Christians are not heavenly enough. Indifference toward tyranny, sodomy, abortion, and other social evils shows a heart of of earthly sinfulness, not heavenly holiness.

True faith, hope, love, and prayer light a fire in the bones against all sin, and stir up an all-consuming zeal to see all wickedness, wherever it be found, destroyed.

So let’s use more accurate terms to name the church’s modern malaise.

The problem is not piety, but worldliness, lukewarmness, coldness toward God, and simply put, a failure to hate sin. And the remedy to these things is not first politics, but piety: true faith in Christ, repentance, self-examination, and careful obedience to the word of God.