4
emphases of Renovation of the Heart. Then I will look at Demarests understanding expressed in
Satisfy Your Soul to see its both its similarities and differences from that of Willard. And finally
I would like to compare and contrast these evangelical views of spiritual formation with three
significant models of sanctification the Reformed, Wesleyan, and Keswick models (as
presented in the two five views books) pointing to what I will argue is a mutually beneficial
relationship between the two approaches.
DALLAS WILLARDS UNDERSTANDING OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Let me sum up Dallas Willards understanding of spiritual formation in the
following six theses.
(1) The goal of spiritual formation is Christo-centric transformation. Willard
understands spiritual formation in general to be "the process by which the human spirit or will is
given a definite ,,form or character" [DW, 19]. Specifically Christian spiritual formation, then,
is "the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it
becomes like the inner being of Christ himself" [DW, 22].
8
Its goal is "an obedience or
conformity to Christ that arises out of an inner transformation accomplished through purposive
interaction with the grace of God in Christ" [DW, 22].
(2) The human persons who are to experience spiritual formation are holistic
8
A similar definition is given later in the book. "Spiritual transformation into
Christlikeness . . . is the process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that
it takes on the character of the inner being of Jesus himself" [DW, 159].