Sanctus Forum

Conspiracy Commentaries: §41 Recalling Abraham’s Faith and Righteousness

Dallas Willard's own view of salvation can sometimes get lost in his criticism of the gospel on the right. But a lot of it can be discerned in his phenomenological exegesis of Abraham who is not only the paradigm for faith but also for salvation. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Conspiracy Commentaries: §42 The Gospel as Entirely Social

Do you think that following Jesus should make a difference in the real world? That's what churches on the theological left think as well and in this episode Michael Stewart Robb adds to Dallas Willard's very short history of the gospel on the left. Basically there are two major groups and if you live in Europe you'll be able to find both. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Conspiracy Commentaries: Conversations ft. Trevor Hudson // on “Re-Visioning God and His World” by Dallas Willard

Most of us have as adults picked up a view of God. Even if we don't believe in God, we have a view of the God we don't believe in. Dallas Willard sets out to unsettle our view of God by insisting that he's about as joyous as anyone can be. In this episode Michael Stewart Robb sits down with Dallas's friend Trevor Hudson, a teacher and author who didn't react benignly to this section of The Divine Conspiracy when he first read it. That reaction was actually common, says Dallas. We also talk about whether there might be more to say about God's heart regarding human suffering, more than just, "He's full of joy." BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Conspiracy Commentaries: §43 Religion Becomes Social Ethics

Dallas Willard taught at a university where the gospel on the left had a foothold. He has a lot to say about how the Christian left (in America) became what it is. And "become" is the word that stands out the most in this little history. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Conspiracy Commentaries: Conversations ft. Ville Kavilo // on “The Heavens as the Human Environment” by Dallas Willard

Possibly one of the most confusing translations in the Bible is what's translated as "heaven." And one of the most helpful aspects of Dallas Willard's The Divine Conspiracy is his explanation that heaven is simply where we live. That means that all the wonderful things that reside in heaven, God himself included, are incredibly near. This comes very close to being the gospel, very close indeed. It leads Dallas to make one of his most comforting and puzzling statements: "our universe is a perfectly safe place to be." Michael Stewart Robb travels to Finland to talk with Ville Kavilo, Lutheran priest and longtime reader of Dallas, about these matters. And as a bonus, Ville gives some great advice about starting spiritual formation group in your church or community. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Conspiracy Commentaries: §44 God and Jesus Immanent in Human Love

Is love all you need? For some people, explains Dallas Willard, there is nothing more important about Jesus than that he "identifies with and loves oppressed people and those who are different." What these people say with all seriousness is "Get with the program! God is found in our attempts to accept all people, especially those who are having a hard time. Get rid of the oppressive and exclusive social structures and life on earth will be great." While there's much to applaud, it is hard to see why this is not an incredibly naive view of humanity and a reductionistic view of God. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Conspiracy Commentaries: §45 The Political and Social Meaning of Love

Does it make any sense to follow Jesus but without the classical understandings of a transcendent God and prayer? Some think it does or at least have resigned themselves to the idea. What they believe we should hold on to is Jesus's notion of love. But what is love, if you've given up the metaphysics of Jesus's spirituality? Dallas Willard thinks this "love" can't rise above support for the reigning ideology. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Conspiracy Commentaries: §46 The Gospel Gap

Spiritual formation is hardly a cure-all. ⁠There is in many churches a gap between what people believe and the abundance and obedience that ought to come with trusting Christ. What's the disconnect about? How can we find the personal integrity and whole life discipleship which seems appropriate to Jesus's spirituality? Some say the missing link is spiritual formation. But it could be much deeper than that, suggests Dallas Willard in The Divine Conspiracy. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Conspiracy Commentaries: Conversations ft. Roy Searle // on “Space Inhabited by God” by Dallas Willard

"There is very little that is new" says Dallas Willard at the beginning of The Divine Conspiracy. Roy Searle, a founder and former leader of the Celtic-influenced Northumbria Community and a mentor for pioneering British churches, and Michael Stewart Robb explore whether that's true. We set the Celtic Christian view of the world up against Dallas's own view of "Our God-Bathed World" and look for wisdom for modern Europe, where we must "sing the Lord's song in a strange land." Imagine Dallas Willard and St. Cuthbert sitting in a room together and chatting. This isn't that but it might be the closest you'll come this side of eternity. Or so we hope. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Conspiracy Commentaries: §47 The Case of the Missing Teacher

For all of its talk of spirituality and spiritual formation, western churches aren't known for their interest in Jesus as someone whose thoughts matter. The boom in spiritual formation has us discovering new spiritual disciplines, seeking new experiences rather than puzzling over the Sermon on the Mount. By and large our churches are not known as places where Jesus's teaching is studied and brought into connection with our moment-to-moment existence. Have we substituted spiritual liturgies or a rule of life for an everliving teacher? It makes you wonder if Dallas Willard's "Case of the Missing Teacher" is still unsolved, 25 years after Dallas Willard wrote The Divine Conspiracy. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute