Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms

by E. James Wilder

Many churches close as spinners go from gray to white hair. Spinning churches age but do not produce disciples. One can be a pacifist, evangelize heathens, and worship and feed the hungry while “the people we help” never become “my people.” There is no load on our character. By contrast, attaching to our enemies with love reveals our hidden character flaws. Staying in a comfort zone results in overlooking our own iniquities. Our children and grandchildren are led to believe these iniquities are Christian character. “That is how Christians are!” our children think and tell their friends. Churches who make disciples must neither strive nor spin. Actively practicing spontaneous, loving attachment to our enemies will keep us on the right track. We are training character in the fast track. Only a mutual mind with Jesus provides spontaneous, loving attachment to “horrid people.”