Quietism is a Christian form of mysticism that emphasizes passive contemplation and an internal focus over external action. The key beliefs of Quietism include:
Passivity and Inward Focus
Quietists believe that the way to achieve spiritual perfection and union with God is by quieting one’s thoughts and passively waiting upon the Holy Spirit. This involves minimized external activity to cultivate stillness and an inward attentiveness to God. Quietists try to transcend rational thought and discourse through contemplative prayer and interior silence. As expressed in Luke 10:38-42, Quietists favor Mary’s choice to sit at Jesus’ feet in quiet communion over Martha’s busyness and activity.
Detachment and Indifference
To attain perfect union with God’s will, Quietists emphasize detachment from worldly affairs and indifference to externals. They seek complete resignation and abandonment of the self-will to be fully yielded to God. This includes indifference to health and sickness, poverty and wealth, honor and contempt. As Paul expressed in Philippians 4:11-12, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”
Inner Light Over Reason
Quietists believe that knowledge of God comes through an Inner Light, not reason or intellect. This Inner Light is seen as divine guidance from the Holy Spirit dwelling within a believer’s heart. Quietists seek to turn inward to the light and voice of God over rational thought or theological study. As expressed in Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.”
Purity of Faith
Quietists emphasize purity of faith – a sincere, simple and childlike faith cleansed of pride and self-effort. They believe God is found through the humbling and emptying of one’s own will. Quietists seek to mortify self-love and exert no effort apart from what God works within them. As Jesus taught in Matthew 18:3, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Spiritual Guide
Most Quietists believe a spiritual director is needed to guide devotees through passive contemplation while avoiding potential dangers and errors. Directors provide oversight and discernment to assess spiritual progress. This reflects Proverbs 11:14, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” However, some Quietists believed guidance came directly from God without human intermediaries.
Key Figures and History
While early Church fathers such as John Cassian emphasized contemplative prayer, Quietism emerged later in Christian mystical traditions. Key figures include:
– Miguel de Molinos – 17th century Spanish priest who published Spiritual Guide advocating detachment and inward passivity. Eventually condemned as heretical by Pope Innocent XI.
– Madame Guyon – Prominent 17th century French Quietist who believed one should pray and practice God’s presence continuously through passive contemplation. She was imprisoned on charges of heresy.
– François Fénelon – Influential archbishop who defended Guyon’s views on disinterested love and pure faith but was forced to recant certain Quietist leanings.
– George Fox – Founder of the Quakers, which have some overlap with Quietist teachings on introspection and Inner Light.
Main Differences from Evangelical Beliefs
While Quietism contains some elements in common with evangelical practices like contemplative prayer and interior reflection, key differences include:
– Overemphasis on passivity over active obedience and good works
– Soul annihilation over sanctification – the soul is absorbed into God’s essence rather than perfected in Christlikeness
– Direct revelation from God through an Inner Light that supersedes Scripture
– An under-emphasis on God’s transcendence and over-emphasis on mystical immanence at the expense of God’s attributes
– Antinomian tendencies that diminish or disregard moral law and righteous living
– Indifference to externals which some take to extremes
– Subjective spiritual experiences that lack discretion and grounding in Scripture
So in summary, evangelicals affirm contemplative practices aimed at deeper intimacy with God, but generally reject the passivity, mysticism, and indifference to moral choices found in Quietist writings.
Key Bible Passages
The Bible speaks extensively to themes of prayer, contemplation, and seeking God. But it also emphasizes fruitfulness, wise living, and obeying Christ’s teachings – which Quietist passivity can diminish. Key relevant passages include:
– Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.”
– Luke 10:38-42 – Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet contrasted with Martha’s busyness.
– Matthew 6:6 – “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.”
– 1 Corinthians 14:33 – “God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”
– Romans 8:5-6 – “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
– 1 Thessalonians 4:11 – “…aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.”
– James 1:22 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
– Matthew 7:15-23 – Warning against false prophets known by their fruit.
– Colossians 3:12-14 – Put on compassion, kindness, meekness, patience, and love.
So in conclusion, the Bible commends contemplation paired with Spirit-led action, wisdom, and obedience to Christ.
Cautions and Criticisms
While Quietist authors offer some wisdom on prayer and surrender, evangelicals also raise cautions:
– Passivity and detachment can excuse moral indifference and lack of spiritual fruits when taken to an extreme.
– God calls us to actively love others through service and sacrifice, not just inward contemplation.
– Our relationship with God should lead to greater obedience out of love, not antinomianism.
– Subjective spiritual experiences must be tested against Scripture as the ultimate authority and guard against deception.
– If taken too far, the emphasis on God’s immanence and Inner Light can lead to pantheism and blur the Creator/creation distinction.
– Self- emptied, thoughtless contemplation removed from the intellect, virtues and duties God commands is not modeled in Scripture.
– Danger of pride – professing to have achieved sinless perfection or a higher plane beyond other believers.
– Overdependence on spiritual directors can lead to authoritarianism if not versed in Scripture.
So in summary, Quietist writings should be read with discernment, measuring their claims against Scripture’s teachings.
Practical Implications and Application
Whatever one concludes about Quietist doctrines, their writings can offer some helpful insights to believers seeking to grow in their relationship with God through prayer and biblical meditation:
– The importance of setting aside time to sit at Jesus’ feet amidst life’s busyness.
– Cultivating greater stillness and quiet before God beyond just petitioning Him.
– Listening to God speak through His word and Spirit.
– Humility and recognizing our dependence on God’s grace to transform us.
– Examining our interior attitudes and motivations, not just external behaviors.
However, these practices should be paired with:
– Actively serving and obeying Christ through works of love and fulfilling our vocations.
– Testing inward promptings against Scripture and being wary of deception.
– Maintaining ethical duties and wise living, not detachment from moral choices.
– Grounding prayer in God’s transcendence and majesty, not just mystical immanence.
– Participating in the Church and accountability to other believers.
In closing, Quietist writings remind us of the blessings of slowing down to meet God in stillness and simplicity of faith. Yet they also warn against passivity distorting the balance of faith and works Scripture intends, requiring discernment. Contemplation must translate into action, and waiting on God into walking in righteous obedience with humility and love.
