So, what is pietism, and why is it evil? Doug Wilson defines it by saying, “though piety is nothing more than simple godliness, pietism is a thorough-going sentimentalist idolatry. It is evil.” His article in the latest Credenda Agenda, on pietism explains well why protecting our children from the evils in the world will not keep them safe from sin.

Sin comes from Adam. It arises in our hearts, unbidden. It does the same thing in the hearts of our children. It cannot be fixed by means of quarantine. When we keep our children away from the government school cooties, we are sometimes astonished when our kids figure out how to lie all by themselves. Only Christ can save us, and when He does this, He does it His way.