Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ with Bonus Content (Designed for Influence)

by Dallas Willard

The revolution of Jesus is in the first place and continuously a revolution of the human heart or spirit. It did not and does not proceed by means of the formation of social institutions and laws, the outer forms of our existence, intending that these would then impose a good order of life upon people who come under their power. Rather, his is a revolution of character,

One begins to get smart when he or she fears being crosswise of God: fear of not doing what he wants and not being as he requires.

God is not mean, but he is dangerous.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For that circle is the only one that is truly and totally self-sufficient. And all the broken circles must ultimately find their healing there, if anywhere.

This is one of the most common points of commiseration among our leaders. The leader of one denomination recently said to me, “When I am finished with this job I am going to write a book on the topic, Why Are Christians So Mean?” Well, there actually is an answer to that question. And we must face this answer and effectively deal with it or Satan will sustain his stranglehold on spiritual transformation in local congregations. Christians are routinely taught by example and word that it is more important to be right (always in terms of their beloved vessel, or tradition) than it is to be Christlike. In fact, being right licenses you to be mean, and, indeed, requires you to be mean—righteously mean, of course. You must be hard on people who are wrong, and especially if they are in positions of Christian leadership. They deserve nothing better. This is a part of what I have elsewhere called the practice of “condemnation engineering.”3 Now I must say something you