Theology is just what you really think about God, and if you're going to do that, you'd better use your mind and not just let it be a receptacle - a catch-all for whatever beliefs happen to be passing by. Dallas Willard More Quotes by Dallas Willard More Quotes From Dallas Willard And God has set up prayer in such a way that, if you want to explain it away, you can. That's the human mind. God set it up like that for a reason, which is this: God ordained that people should be governed in the end by what they want. Dallas Willard prayer mind people If we allow everything access to our mind, we are simply asking to be kept in a state of mental turmoil or bondage. For nothing enters the mind without having an effect for good or evil. Dallas Willard asking evil mind Human beings are at their core defined by what they worship rather than primarily by what they think, know, or believe. That is bound up with the central Augustinian claim that we are what we love. Dallas Willard worship believe thinking I submit my tongue as an instrument of righteousness when I make it bless them that curse me and pray for them who persecute me, even though it "automatically" tends to strike and wound those who have wounded me. I submit my legs to God as instruments of righteousness when I engage them in physical labor as service, perhaps carrying a burden the "second mile" for someone whom I would rather let my legs kick. I submit my body to righteousness when I do my good deeds without letting them be known, though my whole frame cries out to strut and crow. Dallas Willard crow legs body Find a person who has embraced anger, and you will find a person with a wounded ego. Dallas Willard wounded ego persons "Spirituality" wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God. Dallas Willard spirituality rebellion misery Bodily pleasure is not in itself a bad thing. But when it is exalted to a necessity and we become dependent upon it, then we are slaves of our body and its feelings. Only misery lies ahead. Dallas Willard body feelings lying In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus not only teaches us to help people in need; more deeply, he teaches us that we cannot identify who “has it”, who is “in” with God, who is “blessed”, by looking at exteriors of any sort. That is a matter of the heart. There alone the kingdom of the heavens and human kingdoms great and small are knit together. Draw any cultural or social line you wish, and God will find his way beyond it. Dallas Willard blessed heart jesus Understanding is the basis of care. What you would take care of you must first understand, whether it be a petunia or a nation. Dallas Willard care understanding firsts Kingdom obedience is kingdom abundance Dallas Willard abundance obedience kingdoms Jesus is actually looking for people he can trust with his power. Dallas Willard people jesus The truly powerful ideas are precisely the ones that never have to justify themselves. Dallas Willard justify powerful ideas Spiritual transformation into Christ-likeness in not going to happen unless we act... What transforms us is the will to obey Jesus Christ. Dallas Willard transformation spiritual jesus In thus sending out his trainees, [Jesus] set afoot a perpetual world revolution: one that is still in process and will continue until God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven.... He has chosen to accomplish this with and, in part, through his students. Dallas Willard done heaven jesus Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food. Dallas Willard findings fasting source My central claim is that we can become like Christ by doing one thing -- by following him in the overall style of life he chose for himself. Dallas Willard style claims christ Grace is not opposed to effort; it's opposed to earning. Dallas Willard effort grace earning When the will is enslaved to a desire, it will in turn enslave the mind. Dallas Willard turns mind desire Most problems in contemporary churches can be explained by the fact that members have never decided to follow Christ. Dallas Willard church problem facts We are becoming who we will be-forever. Dallas Willard becoming forever
