Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #712752 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-15
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio CD

From Amazon.com
Although Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart is an accessible handbook for learning about spiritual formation, it's not lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. It compels the reader to take in the concepts slowly, underline important passages, scribble notes in the margins, and slowly absorb and put into practice the ideas Willard espouses. "Although there is much talk about 'changing lives' in Christian circles, the reality is very rare, and certainly much less common than the talk," writes Willard. But, he adds, no one need live in spiritual and personal defeat. Rather, the way of change is through inner transformation and taking the small steps that lead one to it. Beginning with an introduction to spiritual formation, he then outlines the avenues through which transformation takes place, including thoughts, feelings, choices, social context, the body, and the soul. Each chapter concludes with questions for personal or group reflection. Read it once, then keep it close for further reference--it's a book that will continually refresh a spiritual journey. --Cindy Crosby

From Publishers Weekly
Willard (The Divine Conspiracy), a professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California who is also a Southern Baptist minister, here tackles the central Christian question of how to be more like Christ. He claims that the church's failures throughout history are a result of Christians' reading biblical passages that adjure them to Christ-like perfection and then trying to reach that perfection by behaving more perfectly. Instead, he argues that believers should allow God to transform them internally so that their actions, though never quite perfect, will at least be more aligned with God. Willard delineates six areas of such transformation thought, feeling, will, body, social context and soul and delineates a general process toward transforming each. The book's chapters are divided into very short subsections, which, especially in the first four chapters, are inchoate as Willard struggles to explain exactly what the "heart" is and why it is important. Though trained as a philosopher, he does not explicate philosophical discussions over, for example, human nature, settling instead for saying that "we cannot deal with [them] here." Such a position contributes to the book's early incoherence and to a consistent lack of support, and, therefore, power. However, many evangelicals will appreciate his fresh and less guilt-ridden approach to Christian spiritual growth. The book is heavily Bible-based, provides discussion questions and includes a chapter on spiritually transforming congregations as well as individuals.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap
A high school student raised in a Christian home who turns to drugs and alcohol. A woman who has tried to stop criticizing others––for ten years. A father who knows he needs more patience with his children, but his efforts seem in vain.

What do these people have in common? They are all in desperate need of further renovation of the heart, of transformation of the spirit. But just what is this transformation? Author Dallas Willard explains that its ideal end is when "all of the essential parts of the human self are effectively organized around God, as they are restored and sustained by him. Spiritual transformation in Christ is the process leading to that ideal end, and its result is love of God with all of the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and of the neighbor as oneself."

Although you may acknowledge this as the ideal, you may still wonder, How do I get there? Renovation of the Heart helps to answer that inquiry. It lays a foundation for understanding the ruin and restoration of humanity, by discussing human nature and its components, how they operate, and how they are renewed. It describes common misunderstandings about our human nature, and the discipleship process. Most important, it outlines the general pattern of personal transformation––not as a formula, but as a systematic process that we have the responsibility to undertake as intentional apprentices of Jesus. Only then will our transformation be accomplished, through interaction with the grace of God in Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and spiritual treasures stored in the body of Christ.

Customer Reviews

Wordy Willard
I was wholly dissatisfied with Dallas Willard's work, Renovation of the Heart. I believe that Mr. Willard's heart was in the right place when he wrote the book, but he could not clearly or effectively communicate his message. His writing style is unnecessarily wordy, does not flow well, and forced me to re-read section after section because of his point's obscurity. Additionally, the work was poorly edited and contained innumerable choppy sentences and gross typographical errors, the worst of which is on page 255. I believe the word in this example is supposed to be "Christlikeness" but instead reads "C;keness."
Willard also brings up points of interest only to quickly drop them by making some cryptic statement like, "we can say little more than that." (see bottom of page 79) Within this same topic Willard inserts a footnote to give the impression that there was a reliable source quoted that supported his opinion. But the footnote itself is a reference to more of Willard's own opinions merely stated elsewhere. This is just not good writing.
I did glean some useful information from this book, but overall, I am disappointed with its quality and content, and hope that others have found the work more useful than I did.

The best book on spiritual formation I have ever read
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.

Spiritual Formation Step by Step
Renovation of the Heart is a step by step guide to spiritual formation, in which Dallas Willard talks about how to change in mind, heart, body, and soul. Willard has a wonderful grasp of the psychology of human beings to which he applies his insights from Scripture in teaching us how to put on the character of Christ. If you have ever wanted to get beyond doing the right things to being the right person, if you long for transformation not just in your external behavior but in your automatic responses, if you want to avoid not only committing acts of sin but being driven by sinful desires, you can hardly afford to miss this book. It is one of the most powerful books on transformation available today.