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Transformation Books
By daniel | February 6, 2005
Good morning!
When I write these letters I?m trying to give something to the saints, something real and tangible that we can use to make real and tangible progress. Over time I?ve noticed that, often, the best gifts I give or receive come in the form of truly good books.
Now, I don?t have the money to buy you all a truly good book, but I can make some recommendations. We?ve been talking about the preparation of the bride, which is part of a larger discussion in the New Testament about metamorphosis ? that is, transformation. In modern, Western Christianity we have some pretty messed-up ideas about this, and they?re entrenched pretty deep. And it ain?t pretty. So, when we talk about transformation a lot of un-learning has to take place before meaningful progress can be made. And then what exactly that progress is and is not, how it is to be made, what it?s really for, and a host of other questions make any thorough talk of transformation a rather lengthy discussion. Far beyond the range of a letter like this. So, I thought I?d drop some names, make some suggestions for further exploration on your part if you?re interested in lasting change. Here goes.
My favorite author of all time is Dallas Willard. Dallas is a professor at a major university in southern California. He also has the clearest idea of discipleship I have ever read. He has four books, three of which I?d like to draw your attention to. First, there is a trilogy: Hearing God, The Spirit of the Disciplines, and The Divine Conspiracy. The second and third books are particularly helpful in a discussion of transformation. The Spirit of the Disciplines explores Paul?s idea what it is to be human, what it means to actually be changed progressively by the Spirit, and how that takes place. Chapter Nine is particularly helpful as a brief guide to some of the classic spiritual disciplines ? the exercises prescribed and practiced by Jesus, Paul, and every other significantly useful saint in Church history.
The Divine Conspiracy is the best and most important book I have ever read. No single work, apart from the Bible, has shaped me or influenced my ministry more. Willard is contending for a fresh hearing for Jesus. The book reads in three parts: the gospel of the kingdom, the “Sermon on the Mount,” and a discussion of what it is to be and to make a disciple. This book will make you uncomfortable, will make absolutely perfect sense, and will give you real and abiding hope.
Unattached to the trilogy is The Renovation of the Heart, which methodically and clearly moves through every part of the human personality, explaining clearly what the Bible says about that part, how God intends to transform it, how He goes about that and how we can cooperate. This book is magnificently practical. I have taken several people through it, always with very encouraging results. I think the value of this book is its enormous sanity. No leaps of logic are made. It makes sense.
Before moving to another author I need to mention that Willard is not easy reading. He?s not hard ? as in academically lofty. He?s just not fluffy. There is no extra verbage. No spoonfuls of sugar to help the medicine go down. Rather, you need to read slowly, chew thoroughly and only take the next bite after you have swallowed the last. If you?re not a strong reader, or you don?t enjoy reading, I?d start with one of the following fellows.
Richard Foster has written a book that has become one of the classics of spiritual literature, The Celebration of Discipline. Herein Foster holds our hand and walks us through twelve or fourteen (I can?t remember which off hand) spiritual disciplines that saints have found to be mainstays of the pursuit of Christ. He helps us see how each exercise works, its roots in the Bible, its value, and even some hints on how to begin using each discipline without abusing it (which usually gets us in at least as much trouble as simply being undisciplined). It is a pleasure to read; it flows like music off the page and actually inspires you to greater intentionality and purpose in your growth in grace.
Finally, the most readable and immediately applicable addition to the discussion has come from John Ortberg. The Life You?ve Always Wanted is a discussion of how ordinary people with crazy, ordinary lives can begin to cultivate the habits of holiness where they are. He leans heavily on story, which makes this book very easy to read and very easy to apply. This is a good one to read with a friend and discuss over coffee. If you?re looking for a place to get into this kind of reading, this book is probably the best entrance you?ll find. From here it?s easy to move into the more involved (and therefore more useful) discussion by the other writers.
Well, there you have it. There are other books by other writers. Fenelon, Jean Guyon, Luther, Calvin, Pascal, Nee. Each and all of these have something valuable to offer. We must learn to read and to think. We must make the time for it if our minds are to be renewed. The books I?ve listed above are, I think, a great place to start if you want to learn how change really happens, and especially if you want to help it happen in those you love. We can experience change ourselves without understanding it. But I?ve found it?s very hard to help others unless we see clearly the path we?re on.
I love you,
Virgil
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