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In chapter one of Acts, we are told that the Church "joined constantly in prayer." Where did that kind of zeal go, and how might we get it back?
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When Personal Piety Is Problematic
July 9, 2008
.....devote yourselves to prayer. Colossians 4:2
In theory, we know we should pray more. But why is it so difficult to gather the people of God together and pray? What keeps us from making it a priority?
In a recent book on the subject of prayer, J. I. Packer proposes a most interesting reason for the decline of public prayer, of the gathered local church seeking God together. The suggested culprit that has diminished the importance of corporate prayer is - are you ready - pietism, which he smilingly admits is an "unfair use of a noble word."
"True pietism is piety, godliness and devotion anchored in the truth that my individual relationship with God is the most important thing in my life, and so must ever be my top priority. The popular form of pietism that we now face found among evangelicals as well as others, is this priority of "personal relationship with God" pulled out of shape by this modern, secular, Enlightenment-bred type of individualism, that teaches us to see ourselves as distinct from, if not actually against it, all existing forms of society (family, school, political consensus, cultural consensus, church, whatever).
In secular contexts this individualism glorifies the rebel; in Christian contexts it makes recognition of churchly identity as part of our Christianity difficult, even when we have learned to distinguish between one universal church that God sees and knows and the many local, denominational, building-housed or home-based churches that we see and know.
The popular pietist way is to value church services and para-church gatherings as we value gas stations and parties and maybe college lectures too:we show up in order (in one sense or another) to fill up and then go on our way without any sense of continuing commitment to the source of the filling." PRAYING by J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom page 251-252
If the shoe fits.....
Here is our hope and the promise of God for us:
And I will pour out...a spirit of grace and supplication. Zechariah 12:10
In theory, we know we should pray more. But why is it so difficult to gather the people of God together and pray? What keeps us from making it a priority?
In a recent book on the subject of prayer, J. I. Packer proposes a most interesting reason for the decline of public prayer, of the gathered local church seeking God together. The suggested culprit that has diminished the importance of corporate prayer is - are you ready - pietism, which he smilingly admits is an "unfair use of a noble word."
"True pietism is piety, godliness and devotion anchored in the truth that my individual relationship with God is the most important thing in my life, and so must ever be my top priority. The popular form of pietism that we now face found among evangelicals as well as others, is this priority of "personal relationship with God" pulled out of shape by this modern, secular, Enlightenment-bred type of individualism, that teaches us to see ourselves as distinct from, if not actually against it, all existing forms of society (family, school, political consensus, cultural consensus, church, whatever).
In secular contexts this individualism glorifies the rebel; in Christian contexts it makes recognition of churchly identity as part of our Christianity difficult, even when we have learned to distinguish between one universal church that God sees and knows and the many local, denominational, building-housed or home-based churches that we see and know.
The popular pietist way is to value church services and para-church gatherings as we value gas stations and parties and maybe college lectures too:we show up in order (in one sense or another) to fill up and then go on our way without any sense of continuing commitment to the source of the filling." PRAYING by J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom page 251-252
If the shoe fits.....
Here is our hope and the promise of God for us:
And I will pour out...a spirit of grace and supplication. Zechariah 12:10
