The Moscow Mood - Introduction and Piety

It seems that since Kevin DeYoung critiqued the Moscow Mood a few months ago, Moscow likes to talk about their mood.

I’ve been around the Moscow Mood for over 15 years, and recently have attended other Reformed churches, which have very different “moods” from Moscow.  I think I have something to add, here.

Let me start with a question that exposes the important and differing assumptions everyone makes in debates like this:

What is piety supposed to look like?

A. In some Reformed churches, it is assumed that godliness – especially in worship – should be slow, somber, reverent, cerebral, formal and deliberate.  This is the Ligonier Ministries mentality - the bowed head, furrowed brow, and concerned tone.  Generally, this view assumes piety will look and feel OPPOSITE of the world.

B. In others, piety should look more easy-going, winsome, warm-hearted on your sleeve, emotionally expressive and sensitive.  This is the Tim Keller approach - the upbeat, always smiling, love-everyone-warmly tone.  This view more adopts the inter-relational customs and fads of how the world acts.

C. In stark contrast, the Moscow Mood thinks of piety primarily as a fight.  A recent CREC’s Council’s slogan was “Fight the Good Fight.”  Fight, Laugh, Feast!  “Nice” borders on being a swear word.  There is a battle going on for your country, family, church, and soul.  To not fight is compromise.  Of course, this is coming mainly from Doug Wilson: a combative, provocative tone meant to stir you to action in the battle, and usually to feel hostile to the world so you'll fight more effectively.

None of these are totally off base, but there are pros and cons to each.

A. Reverence is essential to piety.  Much of the evangelical world has lost it and churches aren’t encouraging it much.  Group A is right to react against that.  Believe it or not, some churches have almost total silence in the meeting room before the service, as an expression of this.  You can argue if that specific practice is ideal, but we must recover reverence.  

B. Love for neighbor should be integral to piety.  We are not hostile to anyone, but see the image of God in everyone we meet.

C. Fighting the spiritual war is also essential to piety.  We are hostile to a spirit of anti-Christian malevolence, wherever it appears.

I wish there were churches that blended all three of these together better, but alas, that seems beyond the reach of the current church.  We need reverent, warm-hearted, happy warriors.

There is much more to say about the "Moscow mood.”  In future posts I’ll interact with DeYoung and Wilson's response, consider "the mood" theologically (VanTil’s “no neutrality,” v. common grace), politically, and culturally (what is Christian culture?).

Until then, the question I leave you with is this: what is your standard for godliness?  We all have shorthand markers: things we think, feel, or do, that reassure us we are being godly.  What are yours?  Are those correct, in the light of Scripture?