I once wrote my pastors and asked not only who they were reading but who they would recommend. There were many who did recommend Dallas Willard. Apprising Ministry linked to this page. It further confirms my squeamish feelings for this man’s influence in the church. I must admit, when I began my research on this man (I came across him after researching Steve Smith who spoke at our church…he mentioned Willard as a big influence on him), I thought that discipline sounded good. It was like a weight loss plan that I wanted to buy into. If I would only be more disciplined, I could be a better Christian. Time passed, I read more, and it just sounded too good to be true (and it was). I couldn’t pin it all down, but I began to realize Dallas Willard’s thinking was not quite right on. I do not believe I really had some magic insight, just that my pastors were preaching unbibilically, and Willard was their influence. As I read more, I did finally learn Willard was part of the Spiritual Formation crowd (and he’s a leader). Read the link and just think on scripture and what is taught about Christ. He’s the narrow gate, no one comes to the Father except through Him.
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As a pastor I have recommended the writings of Dallas Willard and found them to be personally helpful to me, however, with the qualification that the person reading Willard would do so with a good understanding and solid foundation of the Gospel! Although Dallas Willard is very good in the area of sanctification, I think his teaching about important doctrines like justification, the atonement, the cross, the sacraments, etc., which must be a critical foundation to sanctification, is weak.
So, in the Lutheran tradition, from which I am a part of and from which I am coming from, we tend to be strong in the area of justificaiton and weak in the area of application of the gospel (sanctificaiton), and thus Dallas Willard can help us out a bit.