Dallas Willard, Philosopher of Ministry, Teacher of Christlikeness

Abstract

In the profession of ministry what do we intend to do and how do we do it? Dallas Willard’s conviction was that the ministry’s aim is the transformation of persons. In the last 30 years of his life, Willard spent many hours in many settings and countries, teaching vocational ministers on the philosophy of ministry. In 1999’s The Divine Conspiracy, he famously advocated for the development of curricula of Christlikeness for Western churches which, presumably, were devoid of them. Without a clear understanding of Willard’s theology of God and the soul, his call to developing a curriculum of Christlikeness is apt to sound like crafting an experientialist discipleship program with a built-in multiplication scheme and a polished presentation. One of the realities that mitigates against such programs’ success, taught Willard, is the importance of the minister’s mind, heart, and body to the transformational process of others. Another is the incredible value of another person’s will within God’s eternal purposes. A third reality is the uncircumventable priority of the mind in human personality. Most importantly, a minister, according to Willard, must serve out of an abundance of grace, out of the availability of the kingdom of God to them and through them. Therefore, ministry’s aim of transformation requires the presence, above all, of teachers of Christlikeness, of the sort that Dallas Willard himself aimed to be.