Dallas Willard
Dallas Willard died yesterday.
I didn’t immediately go to the computer and put my thoughts about him and his legacy down on cyber paper…because his writings had little impact on my own thinking and thus, little impact on my life.
In fact, I found much I disagreed with theologically in his work and those disagreements were large enough to cause me to pay little attention to his body of work.
Upon further reflection, I believe that even those of us who disagreed with Willard theologically owe him a debt of gratitude.
His brilliance was undeniable, matched only by the humility with which that brilliance was shown to the world, both sacred and secular.
He was an intelligent, Christ centered voice in academia and because of that intelligence and humility, he was heard.
He had that rare gift of being able to communicate with equal clarity both to the academy and the pew and challenge both with the things of God.
Finally, he made us think…think more deeply about what we believe and why, always with the focus on Christ.
For that alone, we should all thank him.
He was a giant…and he will be missed.
He had a voice in academia and was a witness to Jesus in an arena that is increasingly unavailable.
BD,
Agreed.
I am unfamiliar with this gentleman. Did he have any distinctive teachings that stand out?
Xenia,
He was actually a philosopher at USC…spoke a great deal about Christ and culture.
“The Divine Conspiracy” was his magnum opus.
Others here will be able to give a much fuller representation of his thought.
He was best known for the kind of writings that make discernment ministries break out in hives which is endorsement enough for me.
Blessed be his memory.
He was big on the spiritual disciplines and brought them into the modern protestant world. That did freak some people out, which yes, is cool.
I put a Youtube video of him lecturing in the article.
Fascinating…
Willard was a good friend of Richard Foster. He attended the church where Richard served as pastor back in the 70’s. Richard considered him a mentor. I had the opportunity of hearing Dallas at a Renovare Conference in 1991. My life was in such turmoil at that time that I was not able to take advantage of the week. I have regretted that many times. Dallas was a brilliant teacher.
I liked his rewording of the Lord’s Prayer in “The Divine Conspiracy”, it really spoke to my prayer life:
Dear Father always near us,
may your name be treasured and loved,
may your rule be completed in us-
may your will be done here on earth in
just the way it is done in heaven.
Give us today the things we need today,
and forgive us our sins and impositions on you
as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.
Please don’t put us through trials,
but deliver us from everything bad.
Because you are the one is charge,
and you have all the power, and the glory too is all yours-forever-
which is just the way we want it!
‘deliver us from everything bad’ and ‘which is just the way we want it’ really challenged me in the way I think my preferences over God’s ways ( you know, my rebellion) and made me look at God’s good, pleasing and perfect will . . . that they would be good TO me, pleasing TO me and perfect for me; that my thinking would be reshaped by God. That’s the short version of why I have treasured WIllard’s books The Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart.
I was able to take one class and one seminar from him at Regent. I remember him being kind…and available…and humorous. He was not bothered by questions and was willing to talk in the aisles long after the lecture.
He was one of many who sparked my desire for the disciplines in my life…and I still know my lack in that area.
I did not follow him closely, but the two interactions with him are vibrant memories.
Well, any theology he may have had wrong is now properly corrected
Xenia, I think you’d find much in Dallas Willard that you would appreciate.
Michael, is it his insistence on Free Will that you don’t like about Dallas Willard?
MTM,
Willard came along at a time when I was pathologically unable to hear from anyone who wasn’t overtly Reformed.
Now that I’m over that…he is interesting, but I do think he overstates free will and I find N.T. Wright much more compelling on the kingdom.
That takes nothing away from what others may have gleaned from his teachings and I honor him as an important figure in our generation.
It was interesting when I read of Dr. Willard’s passing, I read some wonderful memories of some who knew the man. What really was astounding was some Christians really really hated this man personally with a deep God ordained loathing. It was even more intense then Rick Warren. I have never been been able to do that myself. I always found that strange, and it is something I am often ashamed of.
brian,
If some Christians ran out of people in the Body to hate they would change faiths to find some more…
I just saw some of what Brian was talking about…sick, perverted, souls who think they own admittance rights to heaven.
Well, here’s my take on Dallas Willard and theology. The older I get, the more I realize that bridge builders make at least as much impact if not more than those who blow up the bridges. To have a view of theology in your end sight is critical. To love those at various junctures along the way and to help them bridge their understanding is God’s heart, I believe. I don’t care how pure your theology is…if there is not love, there is nothing.
Linnea’s #19 enters the running for top 10 PhxP comments, IMNSHO!
Thanks, CK!
“if there is not love, there is nothing.”
Amen. Love wins (and should always win).