Throughout his writings and presentations, Wilder repeatedly refers to the differences between the brain’s “fast track” and “slow track” processes. His basic premise is that our reactions to life around us happen almost entirely from the fast track of our brain, which is why we need training instead of education alone (slow-track process) in order to change our character.
Anyone who has thought about their own behavior is aware of the dynamic being described here. We often react to people and events in ways that we immediately regret, either because we were “triggered” or because we simply have some long-standing patterns that take precedence over rational thought. Some Christians refer to this character disconnect as a split between their “head and heart.”
Dallas Willard addressed this issue thoroughly in his writings, especially in The Spirit of the Disciplines, and The Renovation of the Heart. He used a different terminology, one that makes this whole area very accessible to us. He preferred the term “embodied” when speaking of those aspects of our character that come out effortlessly and spontaneously.
This embodiment of behavior can be seen in nearly everything we undertake that requires a bit of skill. When we first begin learning how to drive, it seems like there are a thousand things to think about all at once: are we really in the lane? am I going the right speed? how hard should I press on the accelerator and brake? how much do I need to turn the wheel in order to make the turn properly?
Fast-forward a few years, and almost none of this comes to mind anymore. We no longer have to think about these things or consciously monitor our actions. Driving a car has become embodied in our very being, and it happens almost effortlessly.
The same thing happens when we practice connecting with God through various spiritual disciplines. For example, when attempting to spend some time in solitude, people are often initially at a loss as to how to quiet their mind, bring God into their thoughts, and not get bored with the process. But over time, this practice can become so fluid that (barring some mitigating circumstances) we can enter into the presence of God almost effortlessly and spend considerable time there without exhausting its value.
The Point
Some very important ideas emerge at this point.
- The difference between slow-conscious-effort-of-the-will and automatic-built-in-ability has been known for thousands of years. This is not something “new” that has been discovered as a result of brain science. Everyone experiences this every day.
- Everyone knows that in order to become proficient at a skill (relational, emotional, or otherwise) we need to practice until it becomes second-nature; everyone knows that this kind of learning is experiential in nature, and that we have to interact with the world around us and other people in order to embody those values and habits. We may need to remind ourselves of this from time to time, but this is common knowledge.
- This in turn means that we always begin with a slow, conscious process. There is no other starting point. And if we are persistent, over time, this process becomes embodied in our being, so that we do not have to think about every detail in order to respond well to the world.
- Character traits that we admire do not arise spontaneously in adults who come to Christ. There is no “fast-track” creation of these admirable characteristics. They must all be developed from scratch, and they all look slow at the beginning.
Consequently, Wilder’s effort to promote “fast track” and deride the “slow track” is a false dichotomy. These two elements are properly tied together, such that with good Vision and Intention and Means, we can develop important character traits from spiritual practices that seem clumsy at first. That’s how anything new gets developed.
True Christian Spiritual Formation has always understood all of this. It’s nice to know that neurology supports this process of the soul. But the neurological data brings nothing new to the table. We do not need new buzz words in order to grasp the value of training our soul.
The problem is that Wilder: (1) not only believes that the brain science offers something that was missing; (2) he has also greatly misunderstood our dependence on slow conscious thought and practice as a way to develop the means to train our mind, so that desirable traits can become embodied and more-or-less the default in our life.
In short, his teaching on fast-track priority is sadly misleading at its core.
The Real Problem
No doubt, Wilder was attempting to address one of the great problems in the Modern Western Church. That is, much of the Christian world today relies almost entirely on theoretical knowledge of the Bible, and has little or no coherent plan for character transformation. That would be what Wilder called complete dependence on the slow track. On this particular point, we can agree with his assessment.
But what the Church has been lacking is a Vision for the Means by which we can embody spiritual traits that we all desire. That is what makes the contributions of Dallas Willard so important. He restored that Vision, and wrote extensively about the process (Means) to bring that about.
Unfortunately, Wilder failed to grasp what Dallas was teaching. And worse, Wilder’s “solution” robs the reader of tremendous resources that we all need in order to become formed spiritually more and more into the image of Jesus.