Pietism Paradigm	Truth Paradigm
Definition
Divides reality into two realms: physical and spiritual (secular and sacred).	Sees reality as an integrated whole.
Characteristics
1. Concerned about being spiritual.	1. Concerned about being truthful.
2. Goal is to obtain spiritual attitudes, feelings and practices.	2. Goal is to discover, appreciate and cooperate with truth.
3. Premium is put on feelings, emotion, experience, fervor, sincerity and rule-keeping.	3. Premium is put on content, truth, logic and behavior that is in conformity with truth.
4. Values spontaneity and sincerity.	4. Values authority and fidelity.
5. Short-term focused.	5. Long-term focused.
6. Results are unimportant if only the motivation is correct.	6. Recognizes that truth works and lies don't.
7. Emphasizes the subjective.	7. Balances the subjective with the objective.
Manifestations
1. Constantly looks inward searching for correct motivation and right-thinking, spiritual feelings.	1. Constantly seeks to discover truth and align with reality.
2. May seek out experiences that are fundamentally irrational.	2. Checks experience by reference to Scripture.
3. Worship can border on the hysterical.	3. Worship is deeply transforming.
4. Study is secondary to experience.	4. Study results in experience.
5. Seeks edification over enlightenment.	5. Sees edification coming from enlightenment.
6. Discussions center around moods, feelings and “sensitivity”.	6. Discussions center around ideas and content.
7. A disproportional concern about offending others.	7. Tries to live at peace with all men without compromising the truth.
8. Conflict is avoided and often seen as a spiritual problem.	8. Conflict isn't sought but is seen as often a necessary step to clarify things.
9. Confuses witness with respectability (public opinion).	9. Sees witness as a faithful demonstration of integrity (loyalty to truth).
10. The hard and raw aspects of life are sanitized and made palatable.	10. Is unafraid to confront and engage the hard and raw aspects of life.
11. Prefers cultic simplicity and easy solutions.	11. Embraces difficult and perplexing questions.
12. Vulnerable to manipulation through emotional appeal.	12. Less vulnerable to manipulation through emotional appeal.
13. Commitments are subordinate to impression or how he feels.	13. His word is his bond. “He swears to his own hurt and does not change.”
14. Often sees the physical world, the body, the arts, economics, the sciences, the humanities and sexuality at war with the soul.	14. Is comfortable with the physical world and engages it from a Christian perspective.
15. Approaches morals in terms of what is permitted or not permitted.	15. Approaches morals in terms of what is wise or unwise.
16. Tries to follow a host of moral codes and petty rules seen as absolutes.	16. Leans towards freedom and principle oriented decisions.
17. The purpose of God's laws are seen as for making one right.	17. God's laws are seen as practical guidelines that describe how reality works.
18. The goal of Christian maturity is being right.	18. The goal of Christian maturity is being in love.
19. Tries to Christianize all they do, to somehow make it “holy” in order to justify it.	19. Sees all of life's activities as legitimate and as part of an integrated whole.
20. Diminishes “secular” activities and talents in favor of “serving God” and “the Lord's work”.	20. Sees all vocations as inherently good. There is nothing intrinsically more spiritual about saving a soul than filling a tooth.
21. Measures the legitimacy of a church by what “ministry” it is doing.	21. Understands the Church's very existence is the embodiment of God's righteousness and the prefiguring of the reconciliation and healing of the world.
22. Art appreciation is truncated and seen in terms of utility.	22. Art is seen as nourishment for the mind and soul.
23. Strange or tangential doctrines or practices pursued.	23. Theological exploration and practical application of doctrine promoted.
24. Salvation is an experience of pardon, change of destiny and personal fulfillment (individualistically focused).	24. Salvation is an on-going conversion to the Kingdom culture. It is life and hope found in the manifestation of the Kingdom (corporately focused).
25. Sees God's work as saving souls.	25. Sees God's work as the establishment of a new kingdom.