The Allure of Gentleness – Review
I have read a lot of books on apologetics. It can be difficult to come up with something new. But when I saw that a book on apologetics by Dallas Willard was released, I was instantly interested.
Dallas Willard is one of my favourite Christian writers and thinkers. He is able to bring fresh perspectives to familiar subjects. The Allure of Gentleness is not exception.
What most apologetics books go for is solid content. If we can just get the right argument across, then we will get the desired result. If we don’t get it at first, then we push the argument harder.
Dallas Willard offers a different way. Dallas puts more emphasis on how we do apologetics. Gentleness is not the same thing as weakness. Gentleness is the Jesus way.
Willard also integrates the Christian life into apologetics. It is not just about what we say, it is about how we live. This not an example of “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.” Rather Willard asks us to match our lives to our words and together they make a powerful combination.
Some apologists may be put off by the word “Gentleness.” It may be interpreted as light on theology. That is not the case here. Willard puts forth strong arguments for the faith and is willing to criticize weak arguments against Christianity.
The Allure of Gentleness is a very good book that helps to set a healthy tone for doing apologetics.
” A better approach to spread Christ’s word, Dallas Willard suggests, is to use the example of our own lives. To demonstrate Jesus’s message, we must be transformed people living out a life reflective of Jesus himself, a life of love, humility, and gentleness.”
in that these qualities are not limited to Christians, exactly how is this supposed to work?