Why Sarah Bessey Quit Drinking
Sarah Bessey just released on article called “So I Quit Drinking”.
I commend it to your reading…not because I’m a tee totaler,but because she says some really important things we all need to hear whether we drink or not.
Drinking (or talking about drinking) has become a fad in some Christian tribes, a mark of faux cool and flaunted liberty that comes off as hip as an old man with a beer gut wearing skinny jeans.
“I also began to notice how the church had begun to embrace drinking as well. Others of my generation who had also grown up in legalism regarding or abstention from alcohol perhaps, and so were exploring their emancipation with micro-brews and homemade wine over thick theology books and bible studies and hymn-sings. Then I began to wonder about stumbling blocks and I couldn’t seem to shake off early church admonitions to consider one another, to give preference to one another’s weaknesses. Were we setting someone else up? Were we judging the ones who abstain as legalists?”
We used to talk about my drinking here…it was part of the image that I was a “cussing, Kahlua drinking Calvinist”.
It was a poke in the eye to the establishment we were fighting.
We stopped when I decided to grow up.
Make your own application…and read the article.
“I quit drinking because i felt like God asked me to quit drinking.”
Amen. Do it because God told you to, and for no other reason.
Check her comment at the end as well.
Great article. I commend you, Michael, for featuring it and also commend the change of heart you had on this blog a couple years ago. I remember it well.
Great article!!!
Thanks, Steve.
I’ve had it up to here with wannabe sophisticates in the ministry who talk about craft beer and cigars as if they have replaced the bread and wine.
I keep telling Trey that true “cool” comes from being unique, not in chasing todays fad.
Perhaps I need to invite some adults to our chats…
Very good and reasoned article!
Some convicting writing too! Like that she said the Holy Spirit was gently prodding her. Gently. Not beating her over the head or guilting her into submission. Unlike some people who can’t help but to play God.
She did a great job writing this article. I love the Manning reference. The idea of being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit was well handled by this young lady. I really appreciated that she gives God the glory. Thanks for sharing Michael.
I appreciate her writing and approach on the topic. She explains her own journey and doesn’t condescend to others. And to repeat Papias’ quote, ““I quit drinking because I felt like God asked me to quit drinking.”
I’ve obviously written some of my own thoughts on drinking at this blog. It seems like to me that a significant portion of the fundamental/evangelical American church had/has been too legalistic about not drinking. They want to be rule setters and condescend to those who won’t follow those rules. And then you’ve got the more recent movement of evangelical Christians who have discovered their freedom on the issue and seemingly in turn overreact to the legalism by going to the other extreme by flaunting their freedom and condescending to all those who aren’t “cool” enough to drink.
I grew up in a family where my father set the example by occasionally drinking because he enjoyed it (and also had some medicinal value for a health condition) but never over did it and never pushed it on to others as the cool thing to do or the needed thing to do to express your freedom. I now do pretty much the same. I have never felt an inkling of God telling me I shouldn’t drink (on the whole that is, there have been some individual circumstances where I have thought it better not to drink). I don’t anticipate God telling me that I should give up my occasional drinking, but if He does, I would hope that I would be able to discern Him telling me so and following through. But it’s not my job (or do I believe any other’s) to set up all the rules as to how a Christian should or shouldn’t drink.
I stopped drinking the Kool-Aid because God told me to.
Sarah is a great communicator.
I came across this interesting link a few minutes ago:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/04/breaking-faith/517785/?utm_source=twb
Great essay! Leaves room for the Holy Spirit to work the application in individuals.
On this topic, please pray for someone I love.
Captain,
May the one you love hit bottom and truly recognize that they are there.
And may that person come to realize that changes need to be made for the better.
May they have the strength to turn to Jesus and His love because of your love.
I ask this in Jresus name,
Thank you, Taterhead!!
Surfer51- I had just read your linked article a few minutes before seeing it here on PP. Seems their assumptions about those who do not attend church are skewed. The better question is “what do you believe about God and Jesus Christ?” not “do you attend a brick and mortar church?” There’s a big difference.
#14: “Surfer51- I had just read your linked article a few minutes before seeing it here on PP. Seems their assumptions about those who do not attend church are skewed. The better question is “what do you believe about God and Jesus Christ?” not “do you attend a brick and mortar church?” There’s a big difference.”
Just heard a well-known pastor on the radio the other day say that Christ in you refers not to the individual but to the church corporately. 🙁
“The Thing that used to mean freedom has become bondage. The Thing that used to signal joy has become a possibility of sorrow. The Thing that used to mean nothing has become something, perhaps everything.”
Ouch yes. I have come to realize in the last several years that the Thing has become a “go-to” in times of anxiety and despair. I’m scared to death of trying to quit the Thing because I’ve failed before. The Thing has become an emotional attachment. But I know it’s time. God please help us let go of the Thing and take hold if You.
Thank you for this encouraging article.
You bring up a good point Linnea.
The Church is all of us.
And all of us have an admonition from apostle Paul…
Hebrews 10:25King James Version (KJV)
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Joel I can relate!
Thank you Surfer. I hope you the diet is getting easier for you.