Conspiracy Commentaries: Conversations ft. Ville Kavilo // on “The Heavens as the Human Environment” by Dallas Willard
Sep 6, 2022
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Guest Ville Kavilo discusses Dallas Willard's perspective on 'heaven' as our human environment, making our universe a perfectly safe place to be. They also talk about starting spiritual formation groups, beer and personal experiences, differences between Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland, finding peace in God's plan, practicing the presence of God, shaping the mind and trickery to believe in God's existence, different levels of experiencing God's presence, and expressing gratitude.
Heaven is not a separate realm, but the enveloping kingdom of God in our human environment.
Practicing the constant awareness of God's presence is crucial for spiritual growth.
Creating a sanctuary at home can help us cultivate a mindset of practicing the presence of God in our daily lives.
Deep dives
The Biblical Concept of Heaven
The podcast challenges the common Western understanding of heaven and suggests that it is not a place physically above the trees or an afterlife in the distant future. Instead, it explores the idea that heaven, as depicted in the Bible, refers to the presence of God among us. It emphasizes that heaven is not a separate realm, but rather the enveloping kingdom of God in our human environment.
Living in the Presence of God
The podcast discusses the importance of recognizing and practicing the presence of God in our everyday lives. It highlights that while some individuals may have powerful manifestations or encounters with God, such experiences are not meant to be constant. Rather, the focus is on cultivating a constant awareness of God's presence in our surroundings and learning to interact with the unseen heavens by faith. It emphasizes the idea of practicing the presence of God as a continual effort and a key component of spiritual growth.
Seeking and Experiencing God's Presence
The podcast explores the process of seeking and experiencing God's presence in our lives. It acknowledges that encounters with God can be transformative and that seeking God with the expectation of his presence is crucial. The discussion highlights the need to move beyond relying solely on occasional powerful experiences and instead develop a consistent practice of seeking God's presence. It emphasizes the importance of faith, seeking God's kingdom, and aligning oneself with the way of living that Jesus exemplified.
Creating a Sanctuary at Home
Creating a sanctuary at home can help us connect with God. By incorporating visual reminders, such as Bible verses or religious symbols, we can anchor ourselves in spiritual thoughts and experiences. These reminders can be in the form of artwork, trinkets, or even certain spaces or objects that trigger our focus on God. By intentionally associating everyday moments or actions with thoughts of God, we can cultivate a mindset of practicing the presence of God in our daily lives.
Reimagining Heaven's Proximity
The traditional notion of heaven being far away in the sky can limit our understanding of God's presence and involvement in our lives. The biblical concept of heaven suggests that God is closer to us than we might imagine, with heaven starting at our feet. Rather than envisioning a distant realm, we are encouraged to recognize God's presence in ordinary places and situations. This understanding challenges us to rethink our perception of God's transcendence and reimagine heaven as a tangible reality that intersects with our everyday experiences.
Possibly one of the most confusing translations in the Bible is what's translated as "heaven." And one of the most helpful aspects of Dallas Willard's The Divine Conspiracy is his explanation that heaven is simply where we live. That means that all the wonderful things that reside in heaven, God himself included, are incredibly near. This comes very close to being the gospel, very close indeed. It leads Dallas to make one of his most comforting and puzzling statements: "our universe is a perfectly safe place to be." Michael Stewart Robb travels to Finland to talk with Ville Kavilo, Lutheran priest and longtime reader of Dallas, about these matters. And as a bonus, Ville gives some great advice about starting spiritual formation group in your church or community. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute
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