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Recovery: Christian Spirituality
Resources for Christian Spirituality
Spirituality is a subject that is much in vogue today. Often, we hear someone described as being very
spiritual, yet we do not know exactly what that means. Quite commonly, we
hear some say that they are spiritual, but they are not religious.
Again, we are never quite sure what they mean.
In many cases, such statements mean that the person speaking has developed his or her own
personal, idiosyncratic approach to God. They have found the spiritual path
that feels right to them. Often, they have chosen a path to God that is
nothing more than a compilation of spiritual practices based on their
personal tastes and preferences. This type of spirituality is very
attractive to many because it allows self, not God, to remain in charge of
one's life.
(For more on today's privatized approaches to spirituality, review
Questions & Answers: Twelve Steps, # 6-8. Click here.)
For many Christians, on the other hand, spirituality is reduced to mere externals. The spiritual life is
measured in terms of duties done, rules obeyed, and effort expended to gain
the approval of God and others. I refer, of course, to the many forms of
legalism that plague today's Christianity. All too often we are told that if
we pray harder, read the Bible more, strive for greater obedience, and
increase our giving, we will find the path to God. While each of these
things may be commendable (when motivated by love), many of us fail to
realize that we serve a God who longs not for the effort of our duty, but
for our love freely given (to paraphrase George MacDonald). Sadly, modern
Christianity, rather than encouraging a mature relationship with God based
on reciprocal love, has reduced spirituality to rules, not relationship,
with the implication that spirituality is measured by performance.
Today there is much confusion about the nature of spirituality. The new age
movement, pop psychology, and the influx of eastern religions into western
society have led many down false paths that lead away from the realm of true
spirituality as demonstrated in the lives of the great saints of Christian
history. Likewise, popular Christianity, with its emphasis on health,
wealth, and other externals has lead many away from the realm of authentic
Christian spirituality.
My book, The Gospel and the Twelve Steps: Following Jesus on the Path of Recovery,
introduces the foundational principles of Christian spirituality to those who struggle to
overcome addiction. This book uses the familiar language of the Twelve Steps to convey essential
Christian truths to those in recovery.
My book, Ashes into Gold: The Journey of Spirituality,
goes deeper into the subject of Christian spirituality to show what a life lived in relationship to
God may be like. And make no mistake, living in relationship with God is not always a pleasant walk
in the park! Like any relationship, a relationship with God has its fair share of difficulties as well
as joys. (Ashes into Gold develops these ideas in detail).
I hope that you will read one or
both these books and will find therein the means to grow in your relationship with God and to live
a life characterized by authentic Christian spirituality.
