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

by E. James Wilder

whether one spontaneously responds to one’s enemies with love.

whether one spontaneously responds to one’s enemies with love.

Christian life came into sharp focus: (1) dialogue with God about everything, (2) do nothing out of fear, and (3) love people deeply.

Christian life came into sharp focus: (1) dialogue with God about everything, (2) do nothing out of fear, and (3) love people deeply.

I was impressed by the greatness of God’s love but, at the same time, not drawn toward closeness with God. Thinking of the Cross did little to enhance my attachment to God.

I was impressed by the greatness of God’s love but, at the same time, not drawn toward closeness with God. Thinking of the Cross did little to enhance my attachment to God.

and emotional maturity. Suppose we focused spiritual exercises and human-relationship exercises less on changing our beliefs or choices and more on building attachment love with God and with people.

and emotional maturity. Suppose we focused spiritual exercises and human-relationship exercises less on changing our beliefs or choices and more on building attachment love with God and with people.

concluded that my relationship to God needed more attachment love. My relationships with people needed more of God’s character. How would this happen? Frankly, I did not expect hesed from church people if my character were to be exposed. Christians had not provided strong enough attachments for me to expose what went on in my brain.

concluded that my relationship to God needed more attachment love. My relationships with people needed more of God’s character. How would this happen? Frankly, I did not expect hesed from church people if my character were to be exposed. Christians had not provided strong enough attachments for me to expose what went on in my brain.

His understanding was that salvation should produce disciples who spontaneously exhibit the character of Jesus.

His understanding was that salvation should produce disciples who spontaneously exhibit the character of Jesus.

Now, every time you put Scripture to the test, you are going to come into incredible opposition. Others do not believe the Scriptures true in the sense of being empirically verifiable.

Now, every time you put Scripture to the test, you are going to come into incredible opposition. Others do not believe the Scriptures true in the sense of being empirically verifiable.

If they believed as much, their lives would be radically changed. But if we understand that the Bible is a record of reliable experience with God, then it is a major player in the field of how to live. In order to fully appreciate it, you have to put it up against all the other books and recommendations that come along.

If they believed as much, their lives would be radically changed. But if we understand that the Bible is a record of reliable experience with God, then it is a major player in the field of how to live. In order to fully appreciate it, you have to put it up against all the other books and recommendations that come along.

The lady from Australia who wrote it is now well off—she certainly found the secret. But I can tell you, if The Secret worked, the world would now be in...

The lady from Australia who wrote it is now well off—she certainly found the secret. But I can tell you, if The Secret worked, the world would now be in...

He looks at his closest followers and friends and says, “Are you going to go away too?” Peter’s response to Jesus is the most important question for us to ask continually: “To whom should we go?”[5]

He looks at his closest followers and friends and says, “Are you going to go away too?” Peter’s response to Jesus is the most important question for us to ask continually: “To whom should we go?”[5]

Frankly, that’s where most of us in our world are—babies emotionally. And we’ve never come to grips with that reality.

Frankly, that’s where most of us in our world are—babies emotionally. And we’ve never come to grips with that reality.

church is caught up in tiptoeing around leaders who are babies emotionally. I don’t think this is intentional, but the fact is that our churches don’t focus on formation as the central issue; consequently, we deal with emotional and spiritual immaturity as a cultural norm far too often.

church is caught up in tiptoeing around leaders who are babies emotionally. I don’t think this is intentional, but the fact is that our churches don’t focus on formation as the central issue; consequently, we deal with emotional and spiritual immaturity as a cultural norm far too often.

But we’re not waiting on the Spirit of God; the Spirit of God is already there. Much of our theology, especially in American religion, would give you the impression that we’re all just sort of waiting around to see if the Holy Spirit will strike us and turn us into paragons of Christlikeness.

But we’re not waiting on the Spirit of God; the Spirit of God is already there. Much of our theology, especially in American religion, would give you the impression that we’re all just sort of waiting around to see if the Holy Spirit will strike us and turn us into paragons of Christlikeness.

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.[11]

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.[11]

It’s very hard to be grumpy when you’re looking at a beautiful rose—try it. It’s turning to what is good that fills out the life of the emotionally and spiritually mature person.

It’s very hard to be grumpy when you’re looking at a beautiful rose—try it. It’s turning to what is good that fills out the life of the emotionally and spiritually mature person.

love into your life, over time, out will come the things that 1 Corinthians 13 says are true of love. That’s the structure we have to learn. We don’t try to do those things—we become the kind of person who does those things.

love into your life, over time, out will come the things that 1 Corinthians 13 says are true of love. That’s the structure we have to learn. We don’t try to do those things—we become the kind of person who does those things.

And having received love, you will be transformed into a person who loves.

And having received love, you will be transformed into a person who loves.

And anytime you find a person with any degree of any success in any area, it will be because they have known not to do what they wanted to do and to do what they don’t want to do. Can you identify with that? See, doing what you don’t want to do is the key to emotional maturity.

And anytime you find a person with any degree of any success in any area, it will be because they have known not to do what they wanted to do and to do what they don’t want to do. Can you identify with that? See, doing what you don’t want to do is the key to emotional maturity.

The emotions, the desires, and the feelings are manifestations of “flesh.” Biblically, flesh refers to the natural powers of human beings. Flesh is not bad. But you can’t allow flesh to rule your life.

The emotions, the desires, and the feelings are manifestations of “flesh.” Biblically, flesh refers to the natural powers of human beings. Flesh is not bad. But you can’t allow flesh to rule your life.

Emotional maturity refers primarily to having our feelings, desires, and emotions under the guidance and control of what is good.

Emotional maturity refers primarily to having our feelings, desires, and emotions under the guidance and control of what is good.

Sometimes this is called self-control, by which we mean that the self has a broad view: not just what is wanted, but what is good. To be emotionally mature is to be in a position to control what is wanted in terms of what is good. Where this dwells in the person,

Sometimes this is called self-control, by which we mean that the self has a broad view: not just what is wanted, but what is good. To be emotionally mature is to be in a position to control what is wanted in terms of what is good. Where this dwells in the person,

The emotionally mature person, on the other hand, is able to direct their “wants,” to speak simply, in terms of what is good. The spiritually mature person is someone who has chosen the Kingdom of God—God’s reign over them—as their guide to what is good. And not only that, but the Kingdom is understood as what will enable them to achieve and live for what is good. They have developed the knowledge and habits that keep them constantly turned toward and expectant of God and God’s action in their life. This is the primary source of direction and empowerment for all that concerns them and their world.

The Kingdom of God is an everlasting metaphysical reality. God and His reign are the natural home of the soul. The Kingdom of God invites us to live in it and call it home. What does that mean? To live in the range of His effective will.

It’s in the Kingdom of God that the spiritually mature person has learned to live. To choose to live in the Kingdom of God is to live from resources that enable us to not do what we want to do.

But the Kingdom of God comes and says, “No, you are abundantly provided for. If you don’t get what you want, you are still in a world where what is good for you will prove to be what you really want and will come to pass.”

When that doesn’t work, you will be disappointed and hurt and angry, and you will probably reject yourself and others around you. You will not be able to love those who are in your presence. You will be filled with fear because you are trying to run your own kingdom.

It is the Kingdom of God that is the source of integrated life—a life that is able to find in the provisions of God what is adequate to their souls. So if you’re going to be a spiritually mature person, you have to think of yourself in a different way.

“I am an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in Go...

“I am an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe.”