christianity

The 2nd half of Renovation of the Heart is by far the most insightful look into the "mechanics" of how spiritual formation happens I have ever read. Willard is a philosopher, and a philosopher of phenomenology at that, making him well-positioned to explain the elements of human personality and will, and the process by which these can be changed.

For readers who have given up on actually becoming a new creation in Christ, particularly those who have received little instruction along these lines beyond 'just pray harder', this book will play a critical role in your growth into Christlikeness.

Willard has yet to reveal the overlap between Edmund Husserl - the 20th century German phenomenology philosopher - who Willard masterfully translates and interprets for his colleagues, and Jesus. I'm real curious, as I know many others are, to know.

Renovation - a book on human nature - seemed like the perfect opportunity to reveal the Willardian ontology, and to situate it next to those of Plato, Descartes, Kant and Nietzsche. But he chose, for good reasons I'm sure, not to do that.

Willard writes a paragraph on existentialism in Renovation, and drops in one-liners about philosophers in Divine Conspiracy. But I'm sure Willard could take the 2,000-year-old conversation on the relationship between Athens and Jerusalem a couple steps forward if he were to write on the topic. Unfortunately, from the list of his current projects on his web site, it doesn't look like that's coming down the pike any time soon.

Dallas Willard's book Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ is an outstanding book. It is a must read for any person who wants to become like Christ: to be transformed to that place where "peace flows like a river." That is, you can reach that level of spiritual maturity where your actions are like "our Lord's" (e.g., Loving God, and living with a clean mind and heart). The inner you can be transformed. It does not come over night. For one's spiritual process is a process, and one must strive (with the help of God's Holy Spirit) to rid oneself of the old self. Lastly, reading this book helps one understand human nature; and how "your" nature is not an excuse for sin, but a reason for repentance.

Most books on spiritual formation are superficial and/or offer cookie cutter formulas for how to grow. This book presents a well thought out formulation of the human personality that is consistent with scriptural teachings and then offers practical advice on how to surrender all aspects of that personality to Christ so that we might become like him. The practical advice is not formulaic but suggests the types of thinking, praying and actions one should consider in trying to develop into a more Christ-like person. I read it too quickly the first time and now I need to go back through and absorb it more carefully. Dallas has set forth a sound theory and a sound method to slowly grow in the image of Christ, which is refreshing in a culture of fast food spirituality.