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The Writing and Counseling Ministry of Author Martin M. Davis

Resources for Christians in Recovery

Recovery: Legalism

Resources for Legalism


Authentic Christianity, as revealed in the Holy Bible, is a relationship, not a religion. Religion may be described as mankind's attempt to reach God. Authentic Christianity, on the other hand, proclaims the good news that God has, in his grace and mercy, already reached down to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Authentic Christianity is life lived in relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ashes into Gold portrays authentic Christian discipleship as a journey wherein God is our constant companion. The purpose of the journey of spirituality is to develop a relationship with our Creator that is based on love, faith, and trust. God calls us to relationship, not to mindless obedience to rules, regulations, and rituals.

Ashes into Gold draws upon the timeless, universal truths of the Exodus story to show us what a relationship with our Creator may look like and how it is lived out in our daily lives. Like any relationship, our relationship with God is characterized by many diverse elements. Not only is there love, joy, peace, and ultimate fulfillment, but along the way we also experience difficulty, doubt, despair, and disappointment. All these varied aspects of relationship are part of the wilderness encounter with the divine. These myriad aspects of relationship are faithfully and authentically portrayed in Ashes into Gold.

Those who have experienced the abuse of legalism and rigid religiosity will benefit from the portrayal of the spiritual relationship carved out in the wilderness of change and growth as portrayed in the Exodus story and faithfully retold in Ashes into Gold.

If you have experienced religious legalism, wherein God is falsely portrayed as a demanding tyrant rather than a loving Father, then embark on the journey of spirituality as portrayed in Ashes into Gold, and learn what it means to live in relationship with the God who is defined as love.