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v3n2 text:SFJ Fall2010 10/12/10 7:26 PM Page 125 Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care Copyright 2010 by Institute of Spiritual Formation 2010, Vol. 3, No. 2, 125 Biola University, 1939-7909 Table of Contents Introduction to Issue 3:2 126 Gary W. Moon and Steve L. Porter ARTICLES Embracing Jesus in a First Century Context: What Can It Teach Us about Spiritual Commitment? 128 Darrell L. Bock Spiritual Formation and St. Paul as Spiritual Director: Determining the Primary Aims 140 Victor Copan Learning from Jesus to Live in the Manner Jesus Would If He Were I: Biblical Grounding for Willard’s Proposal Regarding Jesus’ Humanity 155 Klaus Issler “Living with the Lord Always Before Them”: Considerations of Spiritual Guidance Offered by Ignatius of Loyola and Dallas Willard 181 Catherine Looker Redeeming Moral Formation: The Unity of Spiritual and Moral Formation in Willardian Thought 206 Aaron Preston Neither Because nor In Spite of: A Critical Reflection on Willard’s Read of the Beatitudes 230 Gregg Ten Elshof The Willardian Corpus 239 Steve L. Porter REFLECTIONS A Tribute to Dallas Willard: My Favorite Psychologist 267 Gary W. Moon A Reluctant Prophet: How Does Professor Willard Propose to Take Over the World? 283 Bill Hull A Pastor’s Lessons in Kingdom Life from a Master Apprentice of Jesus 296 Keith Meyer 125 v3n2 text:SFJ Fall2010 10/12/10 7:26 PM Page 126 Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care Copyright 2010 by Institute of Spiritual Formation 2010, Vol. 3, No. 2, 126–127 Biola University, 1939-7909 Introduction to the Special Theme Issue: DALLAS WILLARD AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION When we first informed Dallas that we were doing a special issue on his work in spiritual formation, we made it clear that it was not meant to be primarily honorific. Dallas said he was pleased to hear that and he hoped we would give preference to submissions that “blow my stuff out of the wa- ter.” While we had trouble locating any submissions that had this torpedo- like effect, we did receive dozens of quality papers from which we gathered (with the help of a team of blind reviewers) what we took to be the best of the lot. Throughout the process we attempted to stay true to our commit- ment to keep the personal accolades to a dull roar. But why? Without a doubt Dallas deserves the affirmations of his fellow col- leagues and, like all of us, Dallas needs such encouragement. But there is equally no doubt that one of the best compliments that can be paid a scholar is to have his or her carefully presented ideas thoughtfully and crit- ically engaged. The articles and reflections which follow attempt to take Dallas’ work as seriously as he took it, and in that we trust Dallas will be encouraged. But even more importantly is the realization that to praise Dallas for the quality and impact of his writing in spiritual formation is to quite liter- ally miss the point of Dallas’ work. Anyone familiar with Dallas’ writing and speaking on formation is familiar with his definition of grace: “Grace is God acting in our lives to bring about what we do not deserve and cannot accomplish on our own.” We know God is graciously at work in and through us when what is accomplished cannot be explained by human ef- fort alone. Now, make no mistake, we are quite sure that Dallas on his own could make a significant splash. But the quality and outcome of Dallas’ character, thinking, writing, and teaching makes it abundantly clear that God’s grace is at work in and through him. What has been accomplished both in and through this man defies a purely naturalistic explanation. Dal- las is not, at the end of the day, the one to be honored and praised. Once again, if we take the views Dallas has done so much to proliferate seriously, then what we can do is thank Dallas for continuing to do what he can to of- fer his body to God as an instrument of righteousness (cf. Rom 6:13). In do- ing this, Dallas exemplifies what he teaches, harnessing a power beyond himself to accomplish great and eternal good in millions of lives. So, Dallas, 126 v3n2 text:SFJ Fall2010 10/12/10 7:26 PM Page 127 Moon & Porter: Introduction to the Special Theme Issue 127 we do thank you for doing enough of your part that God, in his grace, was able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, accord- ing to the power that works in us” (Eph 3:20 NKJV). May the Lord see fit to use the writings contained herein in a similar manner. This special issue is organized into two main parts. First, we have seven featured articles. These articles span New Testament studies (Bock and Co- pan), systematic theology (Issler), the history of Christian spirituality (Looker), and philosophy (Preston and Ten Elshof). The final article (Porter) offers an analytical retrospective of Willard’s five main mono- graphs in spiritual formation. These articles are followed by three reflection essays (Moon, Hull, and Meyer). Since Dallas’ influence comes not only through his writings but often through his embodied life and personal pres- ence, it seemed important to select three essays which discussed Dallas’ per- sonal impact. By God’s grace, we hope you benefit from this special issue. Gary W. Moon and Steve L. Porter Special Issue Editors v3n2 text:SFJ Fall2010 10/12/10 7:26 PM Page 128 Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care Copyright 2010 by Institute of Spiritual Formation 2010, Vol. 3, No. 2, 128–139 Biola University, 1939-7909 Embracing Jesus in a First Century Context: What Can It Teach Us about Spiritual Commitment? Darrell L. Bock Dallas Theological Seminary Abstract. It is appropriate to open an essay in honor of someone by commemorating that person. When I think of Dallas Willard I think of someone who has not been afraid to point to Jesus and spiritual commitment in an age when most people are committed to themselves. Dallas has been very clear in all of his writings that know- ing Jesus is not a hobby, a business transaction one makes and forgets, nor an add-on to life; it is an entry into a journey God is to direct in the context of the uniqueness of His person and the enablement of His rule and presence. The Father leads, Jesus mediates and exemplifies, and the Spirit enables. This commitment to Jesus is the goal of this article. It deals with unique claims about Jesus within the Second Temple Judaism of the first century, as well as looking at what religious life was like in the first century Greco-Roman world. Such background might seem distant in a journal on spiritual formation, but let me warn you that is not the case. To understand the world in which “decisions” for Jesus were made is to appreciate what it took to re- ceive Jesus and begin the journey with Him. The study hopes to show that Willard’s emphasis that genuine faith in Jesus is life-changing came with the first century terri- tory. I proceed in three parts: the Jewish context, the Greco-Roman context, and then the application. The Jewish Context Those who study Jesus know that he emphasized the coming of the kingdom of God, the reestablishment of a rule among His people lost by Adam and sought for in Israel. The failure of this rule to gain a consistent response among God’s people led to the promise of the prophets that one day God would do a work in the hearts of people. Whether this was called the New Covenant (as in Jeremiah), the Eternal Covenant (as in Isaiah), or simply described (as in Ezekiel), the point was that God would cleanse His people and bring them enablement from within so His rule could now be 128 v3n2 text:SFJ Fall2010 10/12/10 7:26 PM Page 129 Bock: Embracing Jesus in a First Century Context 129 visible. This inner reading of the Law stands at the core of Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus measures integrity not by the Law’s letter but by the heart. This is a text Dallas Willard developed so well in his key work, The Divine Conspiracy. So murder is not the issue, anger is. Adultery is not the issue, lust is. Divorce is not the issue, a commitment be- fore God and His design are. The presence of an oath is not the point, hav- ing your word be true is. An eye for an eye in revenge is not the point, but vulnerability in the seeking to serve peace is. Hating your enemy is not the call, loving your enemy is. In all of this Jesus pushes for human responses that are hardly instinctive, as He argues that disciples are to have a living standard greater than the world. The pursuit of morality is not what made Jesus controversial. Jesus teaching that we should do unto others what we wish would be done to us was not a new idea. The “golden rule,” a name that became attached to this teaching centuries later is actually echoed in many ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish teachers.1 His offering of the kingdom in itself was not offen- sive. It was quite Jewish, even if Jesus’ articulation and model of that rule lacked the coercive political power Jews had hoped would come with the new era.