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Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher, and Christ Follower
Dallas Willard was a personal mentor and inspiration to hundreds of pastors, philosophers, and average churchgoers. His presence and ideas rippled through the lives of many prominent leaders and authors, such as John Ortberg, Richard Foster, James Bryan Smith, Paula Huston, and J. P. Moreland. As a result of these relationships and the books he wrote, he fundamentally altered the way tens of thousands of Christians have understood and experienced the spiritual life. Whether great or small, everyone who met Dallas was impressed by his personal attention, his calm confidence, his wisdom, and his profound sense of the spiritual. But he was not always the man who lived on a different plane of reality than so many of the rest of us. He was someone who had to learn to be a husband, a parent, a teacher, a Christ follower. The journey was not an easy one. He absorbed some of the harshest and most unfair blows life can land. His mother died when he was two, and after his father remarried he was exiled from his stepmother’s home. Growing up in Depression-era, rural Missouri and educated in a one-room schoolhouse, he knew poverty, deprivation, anxiety, self-doubt, and depression. Though the pews he sat in during his early years were not offering much by way of love and mercy, Dallas, instead of turning away, kept looking for the company of a living, present, and personal God. In Gary W. Moon’s candid and inspiring biography, we read how Willard became the person who mentored and partnered with his young pastor, Richard Foster, to inspire some of the most influential books on spirituality of the last generation. We see how his love of learning took him on to Baylor, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Southern California, where he became a beloved professor and one of the most versatile members of the philosophy department. The life of Dallas Willard deserves attention because he became a person who himself experienced authentic transformation of life and character. Dallas Willard not only taught about spiritual disciplines, he became a different person because of them. He became a grounded person, a spiritually alive person as he put them into practice, finding God, as he often said, "at the end of his rope." Here is a life that gives us all hope.
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Published March 27, 2018
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About the author
Gary W. Moon
22 books30 followersSometimes credited simply as Gary Moon
Gary W. Moon (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is director of the Martin Family Institute and Dallas Willard Center for Christian Spiritual Formation at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He also codirects Fuller's doctor of ministry degree program in spiritual direction, which blends ancient Christian spirituality, Ignatian spirituality, and spiritual formation insights from Dallas Willard. He served as distinguished professor of psychology and Christian spirituality at Richmont Graduate University, editor in chief for the journal Conversations, and director of the Renovaré International Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation. His books include Apprenticeship with Jesus and Falling for God.
Gary W. Moon (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is director of the Martin Family Institute and Dallas Willard Center for Christian Spiritual Formation at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He also codirects Fuller's doctor of ministry degree program in spiritual direction, which blends ancient Christian spirituality, Ignatian spirituality, and spiritual formation insights from Dallas Willard. He served as distinguished professor of psychology and Christian spirituality at Richmont Graduate University, editor in chief for the journal Conversations, and director of the Renovaré International Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation. His books include Apprenticeship with Jesus and Falling for God.
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January 29, 2022
Such a good book! Several years ago I read Willard’s commentary on the sermon on the mount (part of the Divine Conspiracy) and later some of his essays and book chapters. I knew he was a philosopher, but I did not encounter him as such in these readings.
That’s why i thought it was fascinating to see in this book how Willard’s philosophical views informed the way he conceived and gave language to his Christian faith. Part of the urgency of his message to the church grew out of his struggle against unhelpful trends he saw in the philosophy department — which, in one way or another, always trickle down to the masses.
So in strong objection to the dominating (or assumed) idealism among philosophers, he held to the minority view that you can actually “go to the thing itself”, even if this thing is the Trinity or the Kingdom of God. He was a realist.
He insists: “There is knowledge of God and the spiritual nature of man, as well as other types of reality..., that are not reducible to the world dealt with by the so-called "natural" sciences. The idea that knowledge - and, of course, reality - is limited to that world is the single most destructive idea on the stage of life today”.
We Christians need more philosophy!!
Also very illuminating and exciting for me was to see how he seamlessly integrated different fields of studies (philosophy, theology, psychology) in the service of a coherent Christian vision of reality. Specialization was not really his thing. If only more Christian academics today could bear the shame of being generalists.
That’s why i thought it was fascinating to see in this book how Willard’s philosophical views informed the way he conceived and gave language to his Christian faith. Part of the urgency of his message to the church grew out of his struggle against unhelpful trends he saw in the philosophy department — which, in one way or another, always trickle down to the masses.
So in strong objection to the dominating (or assumed) idealism among philosophers, he held to the minority view that you can actually “go to the thing itself”, even if this thing is the Trinity or the Kingdom of God. He was a realist.
He insists: “There is knowledge of God and the spiritual nature of man, as well as other types of reality..., that are not reducible to the world dealt with by the so-called "natural" sciences. The idea that knowledge - and, of course, reality - is limited to that world is the single most destructive idea on the stage of life today”.
We Christians need more philosophy!!
Also very illuminating and exciting for me was to see how he seamlessly integrated different fields of studies (philosophy, theology, psychology) in the service of a coherent Christian vision of reality. Specialization was not really his thing. If only more Christian academics today could bear the shame of being generalists.
March 28, 2018
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been reading and loving a new biography written by my friend, Gary Moon, of the Dallas Willard Center at Westmont College. The title is Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher, and Christ Follower. What a well-written, fun-to-read book!
It was a gift to reflect on so many intersections and near-path-crossings with Dallas over the years. For example, when Gem and I married in 1985 and moved one month later to Southern California, we joined the staff of a church where Dallas had been an early Sunday adult class teacher (then Faith Evangelical Church, now The Church at Rocky Peak).
That church was only three miles away by back canyon road from the Willard home in Chatsworth. In Becoming Dallas Willard, Gary references at least four messages Dallas taught at that church.
I remember reading The Spirit of the Disciplines when it came out in 1988. Those were years when “unhurried” was not in my vocabulary, nor anywhere near my lifestyle. Looking back at my copy (faithfully marked up in red pen), I see many of the ideas Dallas offered in that book that would soon become key insights in my own formation .
I was never in Dallas’s inner circle like other friends of mine: Todd Hunter (who is bishop now under whom I am an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others) and James Bryan Smith (of The Apprentice Institute), to name two.
Perhaps the main reason I never reached out to Dallas directly was that God provided a Dallas-like mentor to me in 1990 in Chuck Miller (Barnabas, Inc.). For nearly thirty years, Chuck mentored me in Christ-like life and leadership.
But, I remember when I was on staff with The Leadership Institute, we invited Dallas to come speak to our first four generations of The Journey in May 1998. I still have those recordings. What a gift to hear Dallas talk then about “Abiding,” “The Spiritual Disciplines,” “Living Godly in a Postmodern Age” and “Developing Models for the Church.”
On that retreat, I sat with Dallas and Chuck as they talked about a book Chuck had waited at least 20 years to write and which would capture his insights on Christian life and leadership over those years. Dallas, who was then the editor of a spiritual formation series hosted by NavPress, invited Chuck to write it for that series. (Renovation of the Heart was the flagship title in that NavPress Spiritual Formation Book series).
I remember how encouraging and gracious Dallas was in that conversation. Unfortunately, two car accidents spaced a year apart would delay the completion of Chuck’s book by nearly 10 years (The Spiritual Formation of Leaders) and so he self-published.
There would be a number of continuing “path crossings” at college chapels, church services, banquets and, finally, at Dallas’s last major public ministry engagement at Westmont College at the “Knowing Christ Today” conference.
I could tell Dallas was physically drained that weekend from his ongoing battle with cancer, but his spirit was perhaps brighter and more potent than I’d ever witnessed. The rich insights of that conference were captured later in Living in Christ’s Presence (IVP).
I still remember receiving a message from Jan Johnson, one of Dallas’ good friends, on the morning of May 8, 2013 when he “entered into the joy of his Master” (as the service folder from the family memorial said it).
I remember Gem and I standing with family and friends at the graveside in Chatsworth as we were saying our farewells. As each of us walked by to drop a single rose on the casket, I remember thinking and praying, “Lord, would you help me live a life like Dallas lived?”
Dallas’s writing and speaking over the years was a source of wisdom, guidance and encouragement in the way of kingdom life in Jesus that I was seeking to cultivate for myself, my family and the communities I shepherded along the way. Becoming Dallas Willard has provided me some wonderful context and history to help me understand and appreciate even more Dallas’s teachings over the years.
I urge you to take a moment to purchase a copy for yourself. I can already tell that this is going to be one of the most important (and enjoyable) books I read in 2018.
It was a gift to reflect on so many intersections and near-path-crossings with Dallas over the years. For example, when Gem and I married in 1985 and moved one month later to Southern California, we joined the staff of a church where Dallas had been an early Sunday adult class teacher (then Faith Evangelical Church, now The Church at Rocky Peak).
That church was only three miles away by back canyon road from the Willard home in Chatsworth. In Becoming Dallas Willard, Gary references at least four messages Dallas taught at that church.
I remember reading The Spirit of the Disciplines when it came out in 1988. Those were years when “unhurried” was not in my vocabulary, nor anywhere near my lifestyle. Looking back at my copy (faithfully marked up in red pen), I see many of the ideas Dallas offered in that book that would soon become key insights in my own formation .
I was never in Dallas’s inner circle like other friends of mine: Todd Hunter (who is bishop now under whom I am an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others) and James Bryan Smith (of The Apprentice Institute), to name two.
Perhaps the main reason I never reached out to Dallas directly was that God provided a Dallas-like mentor to me in 1990 in Chuck Miller (Barnabas, Inc.). For nearly thirty years, Chuck mentored me in Christ-like life and leadership.
But, I remember when I was on staff with The Leadership Institute, we invited Dallas to come speak to our first four generations of The Journey in May 1998. I still have those recordings. What a gift to hear Dallas talk then about “Abiding,” “The Spiritual Disciplines,” “Living Godly in a Postmodern Age” and “Developing Models for the Church.”
On that retreat, I sat with Dallas and Chuck as they talked about a book Chuck had waited at least 20 years to write and which would capture his insights on Christian life and leadership over those years. Dallas, who was then the editor of a spiritual formation series hosted by NavPress, invited Chuck to write it for that series. (Renovation of the Heart was the flagship title in that NavPress Spiritual Formation Book series).
I remember how encouraging and gracious Dallas was in that conversation. Unfortunately, two car accidents spaced a year apart would delay the completion of Chuck’s book by nearly 10 years (The Spiritual Formation of Leaders) and so he self-published.
There would be a number of continuing “path crossings” at college chapels, church services, banquets and, finally, at Dallas’s last major public ministry engagement at Westmont College at the “Knowing Christ Today” conference.
I could tell Dallas was physically drained that weekend from his ongoing battle with cancer, but his spirit was perhaps brighter and more potent than I’d ever witnessed. The rich insights of that conference were captured later in Living in Christ’s Presence (IVP).
I still remember receiving a message from Jan Johnson, one of Dallas’ good friends, on the morning of May 8, 2013 when he “entered into the joy of his Master” (as the service folder from the family memorial said it).
I remember Gem and I standing with family and friends at the graveside in Chatsworth as we were saying our farewells. As each of us walked by to drop a single rose on the casket, I remember thinking and praying, “Lord, would you help me live a life like Dallas lived?”
Dallas’s writing and speaking over the years was a source of wisdom, guidance and encouragement in the way of kingdom life in Jesus that I was seeking to cultivate for myself, my family and the communities I shepherded along the way. Becoming Dallas Willard has provided me some wonderful context and history to help me understand and appreciate even more Dallas’s teachings over the years.
I urge you to take a moment to purchase a copy for yourself. I can already tell that this is going to be one of the most important (and enjoyable) books I read in 2018.
December 17, 2018
To my shame, I haven't read any of Dallas Willard's work. Luckily, this biography was recommended to me, and I was blown away! Dallas's story is inspiring on its own merit, but the way Gary Moon composed it in this account is especially beautiful and moving. I truly didn't realize how unique Willard was, as a Christian and philosophical force, nor did I grasp the extent of his impact in the American church, until I finished this book. He was a singular figure, and I am utterly grateful for him. I would recommend this to anyone (and I know there are many out there) who are struggling to know how to integrate a conservative-evangelical-American upbringing with a thoughtful intellect. Dallas fearlessly walked this road, and gives all of us permission to do the same!
I'm so deeply grateful to Moon for putting the research and due diligence into composing a biography worthy of the person he so clearly respected! And now I can't wait to dig into some of Willard's work firsthand.
I'm so deeply grateful to Moon for putting the research and due diligence into composing a biography worthy of the person he so clearly respected! And now I can't wait to dig into some of Willard's work firsthand.
January 29, 2025
Four stars for the biography. Five stars for Dallas Willard.
March 26, 2018
I love reading biographies - especially about people I look up to. Sometimes I look at wise people and wonder, "How did they get to this point? What did they read? How did they interpret life experiences? How did they navigate pain? How did relationships shape them?" This book helps to address those questions around Dallas Willard. Charming, heartbreaking, funny... loved this book!
July 9, 2018
Very inspirational. It inspired me to read the Dallas Willard books that I haven’t yet read. And to go back and reread the ones that I have.
July 16, 2025
For a while now, I’ve been wanting to get back into reading more biographical books, and this one was first on my list… and it didn’t disappoint. It honestly felt like a sacred experience to catch some glimpses of how Dallas Willard became Dallas Willard, and yet at the same time it was so ordinary, so relatable, so true to the human experience… which made it all the more a beautiful read, because it’s a reminder that a life of fellowship with the Trinity and a life lived in the reality of the Kingdom of God is possible for us all. Willard was more brilliant than I’ll ever be able to wrap my mind around, and it sounds like his gentleness and ability to truly be present with every person he encountered exuded Jesus… and I’m grateful for the work that went into capturing those things for those of us who never got to meet this man this side of eternity. His life and his death are an inspiration, to be sure. I 100% recommend!
June 10, 2019
This is a great biography about a great, and interesting man. I have been impacted by Willard’s books and messages so I was very interested in reading this. However, this would be a great book to read even if you have never read his books. Our world needs more leaders who are humble and present like Dallas Willard.
October 8, 2023
All great biographies humanize their subjects. This is a great biography. A fitting telling of a rare human.
November 10, 2018
I read this book as part of the Renovare Book Club for 2018-2019. It was their first of four selections for this season.
Gary Moon has given us a spectacular vision of a man who has become one of my heroes. It surprised me to know just how "ordinary" Dallas Willard was. He was born in a small Missouri town in 1935. His mother died when he was just two and a half years old, and his father sent him to live with an aunt and uncle. Later, he was raised by his older sister, newly married, and still a teenager, herself. In Bertha's own words, "we raised each other."
I won't go through the whole biography here, as this is simply a review of the book. I only wanted to demonstrate how the life of this man began, in circumstances that would not normally produce the kind of man that he was.
This biography takes us all the way from birth to death, in 2013. We get a magnificent glimpse of how Dallas became the man he was, and the extent of his influence in the Christian world as well as the academic world. It is rare for one to be so well-accepted in both.
We see the growing of different friendships, including that with Richard Foster, who founded Renovare and convinced Dallas to work with him in that organization.
Throughout the book, there are important statements, some quotes from Dallas, himself, and others from people upon whom he had a dramatic impact.
"The single most important thing in a person's mind is his idea of God and its associated images." ~ Willard
"Holiness is not different action but different being." ~ Willard
"You felt as if the kingdom was breaking into the room." ~ Keith Matthews about Willard
"Dallas lived in the house of his own teaching." ~ Trevor Hudson
One of Dallas's biggest ideas was gleaning from Scripture that Jesus was inviting us into a kingdom that is here, now, not someplace we are waiting to go after we die. Then he became convinced that the best way to walk in that kingdom was to adopt some of the practices that he saw Jesus doing when He walked the earth. So Dallas began spending long periods of time in solitude and silence.
Through this book, I learned of some of the people that influenced Dallas. Too often, we only hear about people that Dallas influenced. But I am glad that Gary introduced us to the people who had an impact on Dallas, people such as George Finney and John Wesley; John Bright, A.B. Bruce, George P. Fisher, and George Barker Stevens. And, certainly not least, A.W. Tozer.
We also learn of the humanity of Dallas Willard. Imagine my surprise to learn that Dallas taught philosophy classes while smoking rum-soaked cigars!! Of course, this was long before smoking was banned in buildings.
I could go on and on, but I would be writing more about Dallas Willard than this book about him. I must suffice to say that this glimpse into Dallas Willard's life (and death) is one of the best books I have read this year. It drew me back to a place where I needed to be in my own life, redirecting my focus. That focus, mind you, will NOT be on Dallas Willard. Rather, it will be on the God that Dallas worshiped, walked with, and served. That focus will be on how I can walk in that kingdom while living on this earth.
I don't want to become Dallas Willard. We already have one of those. I will simply endeavor to become what God has in store for me.
Thank you, Gary Moon, for giving us this book.
Gary Moon has given us a spectacular vision of a man who has become one of my heroes. It surprised me to know just how "ordinary" Dallas Willard was. He was born in a small Missouri town in 1935. His mother died when he was just two and a half years old, and his father sent him to live with an aunt and uncle. Later, he was raised by his older sister, newly married, and still a teenager, herself. In Bertha's own words, "we raised each other."
I won't go through the whole biography here, as this is simply a review of the book. I only wanted to demonstrate how the life of this man began, in circumstances that would not normally produce the kind of man that he was.
This biography takes us all the way from birth to death, in 2013. We get a magnificent glimpse of how Dallas became the man he was, and the extent of his influence in the Christian world as well as the academic world. It is rare for one to be so well-accepted in both.
We see the growing of different friendships, including that with Richard Foster, who founded Renovare and convinced Dallas to work with him in that organization.
Throughout the book, there are important statements, some quotes from Dallas, himself, and others from people upon whom he had a dramatic impact.
"The single most important thing in a person's mind is his idea of God and its associated images." ~ Willard
"Holiness is not different action but different being." ~ Willard
"You felt as if the kingdom was breaking into the room." ~ Keith Matthews about Willard
"Dallas lived in the house of his own teaching." ~ Trevor Hudson
One of Dallas's biggest ideas was gleaning from Scripture that Jesus was inviting us into a kingdom that is here, now, not someplace we are waiting to go after we die. Then he became convinced that the best way to walk in that kingdom was to adopt some of the practices that he saw Jesus doing when He walked the earth. So Dallas began spending long periods of time in solitude and silence.
Through this book, I learned of some of the people that influenced Dallas. Too often, we only hear about people that Dallas influenced. But I am glad that Gary introduced us to the people who had an impact on Dallas, people such as George Finney and John Wesley; John Bright, A.B. Bruce, George P. Fisher, and George Barker Stevens. And, certainly not least, A.W. Tozer.
We also learn of the humanity of Dallas Willard. Imagine my surprise to learn that Dallas taught philosophy classes while smoking rum-soaked cigars!! Of course, this was long before smoking was banned in buildings.
I could go on and on, but I would be writing more about Dallas Willard than this book about him. I must suffice to say that this glimpse into Dallas Willard's life (and death) is one of the best books I have read this year. It drew me back to a place where I needed to be in my own life, redirecting my focus. That focus, mind you, will NOT be on Dallas Willard. Rather, it will be on the God that Dallas worshiped, walked with, and served. That focus will be on how I can walk in that kingdom while living on this earth.
I don't want to become Dallas Willard. We already have one of those. I will simply endeavor to become what God has in store for me.
Thank you, Gary Moon, for giving us this book.
September 3, 2019
This is a fine continuation of Eternal Living, which was a compilation of reflections on Dallas’s life. It covers his early childhood in the poverty-stricken Ozarks (and echoes some of Thomas Oden’s own memories), his move to Temple Tenn. and later marriage to Jane.
Theme of the book: Dallas went to “the thing itself,” whether in philosophy or in prayer.
Metaphysical Realism
Is the object I see simply a representation of my own thoughts? If it is, can I ever really know the object in question?
Moore and Husserl
Moore was the first philosopher in terms of an analytic approach that Willard read. Moore helped explode the idealist thesis. Moore, however, left undone one crucial aspect: what to make of the human mind? Husserl filled in the gap.
Husserl (as Dallas reports him): the basic problem is to understand consciousness and not try to hide philosophical problems by focusing on language or words. We have knowledge. We deal with reality and not merely some historical process.
It is possible to have direct experience with a mind-independent world.
The Philosophical Split and USC
Brother Dallas came to USC when the analytic/continental split was beginning to harden. Some clarifications:
Analytic philosophy: originally began as a break from idealism and focused on linguistic analysis.
Continental philosophy: subjective starting point. It later became postmodernism.
Dallas was able to avoid the worst of this split by focusing on the philosophical classics. He focused more on questions of goodness, the soul, and moral development.
Finishing Well
Before his death, Dallas gave an outline to JP Moreland on where the spiritual formation movement should go:
1) Metaphysical realism. There is a mind-independent world to which we have access. This also includes the soul, the kingdom of God, and the Trinity.
2) Epistemic realism. We are in direct contact with objects of knowledge. Nothing stands between the mind and items of knowledge “in cases of direct awareness.”
3) Models of the human person and Christian spiritual formation.
4) Spiritually formative practices that are objectively testable.
The final section when Dallas was on his deathbed was very good. Being weak and barely able to speak for weeks, before he died he said “Thank you” in a very clear voice to Someone else in the room.
Theme of the book: Dallas went to “the thing itself,” whether in philosophy or in prayer.
Metaphysical Realism
Is the object I see simply a representation of my own thoughts? If it is, can I ever really know the object in question?
Moore and Husserl
Moore was the first philosopher in terms of an analytic approach that Willard read. Moore helped explode the idealist thesis. Moore, however, left undone one crucial aspect: what to make of the human mind? Husserl filled in the gap.
Husserl (as Dallas reports him): the basic problem is to understand consciousness and not try to hide philosophical problems by focusing on language or words. We have knowledge. We deal with reality and not merely some historical process.
It is possible to have direct experience with a mind-independent world.
The Philosophical Split and USC
Brother Dallas came to USC when the analytic/continental split was beginning to harden. Some clarifications:
Analytic philosophy: originally began as a break from idealism and focused on linguistic analysis.
Continental philosophy: subjective starting point. It later became postmodernism.
Dallas was able to avoid the worst of this split by focusing on the philosophical classics. He focused more on questions of goodness, the soul, and moral development.
Finishing Well
Before his death, Dallas gave an outline to JP Moreland on where the spiritual formation movement should go:
1) Metaphysical realism. There is a mind-independent world to which we have access. This also includes the soul, the kingdom of God, and the Trinity.
2) Epistemic realism. We are in direct contact with objects of knowledge. Nothing stands between the mind and items of knowledge “in cases of direct awareness.”
3) Models of the human person and Christian spiritual formation.
4) Spiritually formative practices that are objectively testable.
The final section when Dallas was on his deathbed was very good. Being weak and barely able to speak for weeks, before he died he said “Thank you” in a very clear voice to Someone else in the room.
October 28, 2019
I enjoyed this book. I did wonder at first what I had got myself into, but listened to it on audio for the whole 10 hours. I don't know a lot about philosophy but I know more now. It was great to hear about this person's life and struggles, and to learn more about the interaction between philosophy and following Jesus. I am interested in reading some of Dallas Willard's work as a result of this audio book. He seems to understand what is important in life, and came to have a life of deep joy, with great understanding His was an authentic life well lived, and for the benefit others.
December 12, 2020
This biography caused me to shed more tears than any other book I read in 2020 and it’s a book I read pretty quickly for a research project! Dallas Willard is a giant of faithful proclamation of God’s Kingdom. His humble, philosophical approach to discipleship and actual interaction with Christ is something I’m so excited to explore more as I read some of his own works. This book, which examines his peaks and his valleys, gives me great hope about God’s power to meet people in their ordinary lives and extraordinarily transform them. People like you. People like me. Thank you Dallas Willard.
May 29, 2023
An absolutely beautiful, moving book. I’m so glad I read it.
June 12, 2025
Such a great book. Well written and the audio book is well read. I've only recently really understood how important Dallas Willard's teaching is and this book provided a treasured opportunity to discover what made him who he was and to learn from his life as well as his teachings. I highly recommend this and anything Dallas Willard has written or taught.
November 20, 2023
Goated.
April 23, 2018
I pre-ordered this book so that it arrived on the first day out in the public and arrived in time for me to read it while flying out of my home state. I easily give Becoming Dallas Willard by Gary Moon five stars, and not just because I've sat under Dallas's teaching (and Gary's, too, come to think of it) or know some of the people that helped Gary make this book be the best it could be. I read the book every page from title page to endnotes in four days, and I will read this book again and again. It won't be sitting on a shelf looking pretty. Why would I re-read a biography? I first "met" Dallas in 2003 when he was a keynote speaker at a teacher's convention. About the same time, one of my sisters gave me his Divine Conspiracy to read (I had a tough time getting past page 80 that first time of reading). Ten years later in 2013, I sat close enough to hear and see his interactions with people as he gave some of the last lectures of his life. In other words, I met him at a time when who he was seemed unachievable to me: incredibly kind and gentle at the same time that he was incredibly brilliant and humorous. This story Becoming Dallas Willard illustrates so well how the Dallas who closed out this life in 2013 was not the same Dallas who entered it in 1935.
He grew up in more challenging circumstances than many American readers; however, like many of us, he was a normal teen capable of activities that indicated his brain was not fully developed (read, foolish, dumb, stupid, thoughtless). There's nothing wrong with being a super good, moral, kind teenager, but I was not, and it's helpful to see that someone I respect and admire became that better person. He also sat under some of the same church teaching that I did and came to realize how it fell short of the fuller trusting real relationship one could have with Jesus, who "will walk right up to you", and that the kingdom of God and invisible things are real (131-132). Dallas failed in some of the same ways I have failed as a parent. To learn from someone who has struggled with my same struggles encourages my soul. Because spiritual practices were so much a part of Dallas's life, the book is a veritable source of spiritual practices in life narratives. Even the section of Dallas's years as a philosophy professor, which some reviewers have not enjoyed, I appreciated. How does the transformed life look during the hours of employment?
(This last paragraph comes from reviewing three books I read during my school break, and the Becoming Dallas Willard is the thread that pulls the three together so I have included it here.) What does the transformed life look like when one comes out from under all the "shoulds" we or our culture places upon us? What does the transformed life look like when light and goodness shine forth? That's the connecting thread between these three books. Dallas Willard became who he was/is because his "must" was a vibrant relationship with Jesus, knowing that the kingdom of God is real and living in light of that eternal truth. He practiced in indirect ways actions that enabled the love of Jesus, the goodness, the kindness, the intelligence, the beauty and art of a life with Jesus to naturally flow out when it was directly needed.
He grew up in more challenging circumstances than many American readers; however, like many of us, he was a normal teen capable of activities that indicated his brain was not fully developed (read, foolish, dumb, stupid, thoughtless). There's nothing wrong with being a super good, moral, kind teenager, but I was not, and it's helpful to see that someone I respect and admire became that better person. He also sat under some of the same church teaching that I did and came to realize how it fell short of the fuller trusting real relationship one could have with Jesus, who "will walk right up to you", and that the kingdom of God and invisible things are real (131-132). Dallas failed in some of the same ways I have failed as a parent. To learn from someone who has struggled with my same struggles encourages my soul. Because spiritual practices were so much a part of Dallas's life, the book is a veritable source of spiritual practices in life narratives. Even the section of Dallas's years as a philosophy professor, which some reviewers have not enjoyed, I appreciated. How does the transformed life look during the hours of employment?
(This last paragraph comes from reviewing three books I read during my school break, and the Becoming Dallas Willard is the thread that pulls the three together so I have included it here.) What does the transformed life look like when one comes out from under all the "shoulds" we or our culture places upon us? What does the transformed life look like when light and goodness shine forth? That's the connecting thread between these three books. Dallas Willard became who he was/is because his "must" was a vibrant relationship with Jesus, knowing that the kingdom of God is real and living in light of that eternal truth. He practiced in indirect ways actions that enabled the love of Jesus, the goodness, the kindness, the intelligence, the beauty and art of a life with Jesus to naturally flow out when it was directly needed.
July 11, 2018
My first encounter with Dallas Willard was in John Ortberg's Christianity Today article remembering Willard immediately following his death. Willard died in 2013, so it's been at least five years since I read that article, but I still remember much of it, including this quote, Willard's response when asked if he believed in total depravity:
"I believe in sufficient depravity. I believe that every human being is sufficiently depraved that when we get to heaven, no one will be able to say, 'I merited this.'"
It's both clever and wise, with a deep focus on what truly matters. It's sort of answer you don't forget, and I haven't. At the time, though, I didn't read any further than the article.
My second encounter with Dallas Willard was several years later, in a footnote in Sarah Bakewell's excellent book At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails . Unexpectedly, Willard was referenced as a well-respected scholar of Edmond Husserl, the father of the phenomenology.
Here was a puzzle. I read Becoming Dallas Willard to try and reconcile those two seemingly very different men.
I won't attempt to recount the full story of Willard's life here; it's enough to say I found the biographical answers I was looking for and far more besides. Willard had a gift for bringing together the experiential and intellectual elements of the Christian life and a deep reserve of wisdom and kindness. I'm eager to dig into Willard's own books.
Moon did a quality job with the biography — I wouldn't be a bit surprised if this ended up on year-end best-of lists for 2018. Joe Geoffrey did an excellent job as reader.
"I believe in sufficient depravity. I believe that every human being is sufficiently depraved that when we get to heaven, no one will be able to say, 'I merited this.'"
It's both clever and wise, with a deep focus on what truly matters. It's sort of answer you don't forget, and I haven't. At the time, though, I didn't read any further than the article.
My second encounter with Dallas Willard was several years later, in a footnote in Sarah Bakewell's excellent book At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails . Unexpectedly, Willard was referenced as a well-respected scholar of Edmond Husserl, the father of the phenomenology.
Here was a puzzle. I read Becoming Dallas Willard to try and reconcile those two seemingly very different men.
I won't attempt to recount the full story of Willard's life here; it's enough to say I found the biographical answers I was looking for and far more besides. Willard had a gift for bringing together the experiential and intellectual elements of the Christian life and a deep reserve of wisdom and kindness. I'm eager to dig into Willard's own books.
Moon did a quality job with the biography — I wouldn't be a bit surprised if this ended up on year-end best-of lists for 2018. Joe Geoffrey did an excellent job as reader.
April 3, 2018
This biography is a joy. It has both an interesting subject and a skilled examination of the person that creates life upon the pages. If you’re tempted to think a biography of a man who is a philosopher and a college professor is too dull for pleasant reading, I challenge you to prove yourself wrong by reading this book. Dallas Willard’s life never allows the reader to become complacent. His journey twists and turns and yet follows an upward trajectory. As a reviewer, I probably come from a different vantage point than most in that as much as I love to read I’ve still never read any of Dallas Willard’s works. I suppose many readers are drawn to this biography because they love his writings, but you may be like me and have this biography entice you toward his writings.
Part one covers the first 30 years of his life in seven chapters. His Missouri upbringing deeply influenced him. His mother’s death and other family situations that required his moving around were expertly probed without resorting to psychoanalysis. As a reader, you will be emotionally attached to Mr. Willard by the end of this rendition of his first 30 years.
Part two looks at the middle part of his life. There was always some sort of gravitational pull toward the Lord and the ministry in Mr. Willard’s life. Earlier, he went to Tennessee Temple University under the direction of Dr. Lee Roberson, which was also the place he met his wife, and loved many aspects including their zeal and revival emphasis but grew to have a problem with the “view of salvation that is complete when one has publicly professed (put forward an understanding of) the gospel and which only has a past tense.” It was that middle section of his life where he developed his much-appreciated thoughts on communion with God.
The latter part of the book gave much detail on how each of his books came together. Believe it or not, that was interesting and shed more light on who he was as a person. I could not agree with every conclusion that Mr. Willard came to hold, but I found him to be genuine, sincere, and a person who would be interesting to either talk to or pray with. This biography didn’t obscure his weaker traits, whether it be his nomadic nature or his family struggles, but a man who loves the Lord shone through. I really can’t imagine how Mr. Moon could’ve made this biography any better.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
July 8, 2018
In the last several years, I have increasingly benefited from the works of Dallas Willard. Some of my favorite books were written by Willard. One thing that seems to come across is his intellect and humility. Moon confirms this impression. Moon clearly did His legwork in this excellent biography of a wonderful man.
July 4, 2018
If you have ever been inspired by Dallas Willard, read this bio!! Finally the mentor I’ve always longed for!!
This man brings together intellect and spirit in humility and goodness. I’m so tired of dumbed down Christianity teachings. As I soak in his teachings my mind and heart are satisfied and drawn to the Lord.
He learned to bring the will, mind and heart into Gods glorious Presence and knowledge.
I’m honored to learn about his life and family. So thankful the Lord made me aware of his materials.
This man brings together intellect and spirit in humility and goodness. I’m so tired of dumbed down Christianity teachings. As I soak in his teachings my mind and heart are satisfied and drawn to the Lord.
He learned to bring the will, mind and heart into Gods glorious Presence and knowledge.
I’m honored to learn about his life and family. So thankful the Lord made me aware of his materials.
May 27, 2018
“Who you become is your most important contribution to the world.”
Arguably Dallas Willard’s life impacted others as much, if not more, than his writings. Though not perfect, life was an apologetic for the truthfulness of his message. He truly believed that the immaterial, spiritual world was as real as the empirical. And it could be engaged and experienced through biblically practiced spiritual disciplines. In addition to his own testimony to the reality of God’s kingdom, he had strong, philosophical reasons for making such claims.
This biography will add greatly to one’s understanding of Willard’s writings. Understanding how he lived what he taught is powerful.
May his life be an example to all of us on how to live in the kingdom of God.
Arguably Dallas Willard’s life impacted others as much, if not more, than his writings. Though not perfect, life was an apologetic for the truthfulness of his message. He truly believed that the immaterial, spiritual world was as real as the empirical. And it could be engaged and experienced through biblically practiced spiritual disciplines. In addition to his own testimony to the reality of God’s kingdom, he had strong, philosophical reasons for making such claims.
This biography will add greatly to one’s understanding of Willard’s writings. Understanding how he lived what he taught is powerful.
May his life be an example to all of us on how to live in the kingdom of God.
October 13, 2023
Amazing. Feel like there is some sort of spiritual osmosis going on when I read this. Like, Dallas Willard was on an absolute different spiritual plane than the rest of us.
Eugene Peterson and Dallas Willard fans, you'll enjoy this book
Eugene Peterson and Dallas Willard fans, you'll enjoy this book
July 8, 2021
This book was a difficult one to rate. Dallas Willard was a fascinating individual, with many elements that deserved coverage in a biography. He was an intellectual giant as a leading scholar in Husserl studies, a formative thinker in spiritual formation, and, from all accounts, a great practitioner of what he taught and researched, while being fully accessible, both in his thinking and his persona. However, at the end of the day, I think this book tried to do too much for too many audiences, leaving me wishing that it had gone in one direction and done that really well. Instead, this book tries to be a biography that gives a taste of the intellectual, spiritual, pedagogical, philosophical, and personal depth of the man, but each taste feels incomplete or, at the least, lacking in direction as to how to go deeper in getting at Dallas Willard. A nice annotated bibliography might have helped address some of these things, but it may also be a matter that the biography was written too close to Willard's death that we lack the resources to go deeper in the areas I had hoped for.
The short version of this review: Dallas Willard the person is a 5+ star topic, but the execution of this biography was more like a 2.5-3 star book.
The short version of this review: Dallas Willard the person is a 5+ star topic, but the execution of this biography was more like a 2.5-3 star book.
February 24, 2023
5/10
My issue with this book is with its access, not its content. Great biographies are made great often in large part by either incredible access or incredible effort. Unfortunately, it seems neither were present here. If you separate the quality of the man from the quality of the book, you are left with a mediocre book and a great man.
“I don’t ask you to succeed, only to try.”
“He didn’t remain in Missouri, but Missouri remained in him.”
"The evangelical church saves souls and loses minds." This is hillarious.
"We had revivals every august, whether God showed up or not."
“The lie most commonly told in academic circles is ‘Oh, I’ve read that book.’”
“People often starve in the presence of the feast of the Word.”
My issue with this book is with its access, not its content. Great biographies are made great often in large part by either incredible access or incredible effort. Unfortunately, it seems neither were present here. If you separate the quality of the man from the quality of the book, you are left with a mediocre book and a great man.
“I don’t ask you to succeed, only to try.”
“He didn’t remain in Missouri, but Missouri remained in him.”
"The evangelical church saves souls and loses minds." This is hillarious.
"We had revivals every august, whether God showed up or not."
“The lie most commonly told in academic circles is ‘Oh, I’ve read that book.’”
“People often starve in the presence of the feast of the Word.”
October 28, 2019
Finished reading Gary Moon’s “Becoming Dallas Willard.” Having read and been blessed/challenged by some of Dallas Willard’s books, I looked forward to knowing more about him through this book. I was not disappointed; beautifully written, warm, thought-provoking… It made me wish I could have met the man in person, made me want to read more of his writings; more than that, it made me want to know and love Jesus Christ even more, allowing Him to be reflected in my life. I highly recommend this book to whoever wants to “meet’ Dallas Willard, a giant of a man.
November 30, 2018
I joined the Renouvre book club in October with the first book being Becoming Dallas Willard. A great bio on him. So much better to get his background before reading his books however 10 years ago read a couple of his popular ones. So started rereading “ The Divine Conspiracy” and seeing it in a new light. Great!
November 30, 2018
An outstanding biography of a man whose thought and work have had a great influence on my faith. I was particularly moved by the final couple of chapters that describe the dignity and faith of Dr. Willard's journey through cancer and death. I am finding a need to reread a few of his books, especially The Divine Conspiracy, now that I have a clearer understanding of his foundational thoughts on the with-God life. Dallas Willard was a supreme example of a loving, gracious, persevering, counter-cultural Christian. This books beautifully develops how that came to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2019
This was excellent. Start to finish it captured the life and teaching of one my absolute favorite authors/teachers/theologians to date in an engaging and powerful way. Few people that I've ever met so clearly articulate their beliefs and ALSO live them well. Story after story in this biography captures well the life of a man who's lived with incredible congruency. I pray and hope that at the end of my life the same could be said for me.
August 9, 2020
This book revealed to me how much the very best parts of the American church, and my own thinking, have been influenced by Willard. He was humble and a conventional income disciplemaker who influenced generations of philosophers and clergy. I recommend you listen to Joe Geoffrey's excellent audio narration.
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