“Guinness was a Christian who thought that by brewing beer he was doing God’s work,” according to author Stephen Mansfield in his book, The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World. Bob Smietana reports:
The Guinness family, especially in the company’s early days, was known for the Christian faith, which had been shaped by John Wesley, founder of Methodism. Wesley encouraged his followers to work hard and to give as much money away as possible. The Guinness family took that challenge seriously, Mansfield said. They paid their workers more than other brewers. Their company offered generous benefits — often sending employees’ children to private schools, and having doctors, dentists and a masseuse on staff.
That’s Christians living out their faith in the marketplace. I love it, but I’m not going to try another Guinness for St. Patrick’s Day. I may stick with something safe, like green cookies.
The relationship between evangelicalism and alcohol is a complicated one. Methodists tended to be teetotal, although I’m not sure when that ethic developed within their community. In my own Haugean community, the founder, Hans Nielsen Hauge, built a distillery in his old age, but was persuaded by friends to close it down.
The Guinness factory (of whom Os Guinness is a member) helped refurbish St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin centuries ago. As a dedication, the church put in a stained-glass window with Matthew 25:35 on it. (“I was thirsty and ye gave me drink.”)
Phil, you have to know that Guinness is not only the preferred quaff of old Irish men, but that also of young Reformed men seeking cultural relevance.
Mmmmm, Guinness.
Ha, hah! Am I seeking cultural relevance? If I am, I should repent. Hell, I’m repenting now in my doubt. Oh . . . thanks, Loren. I’m slipping into a funk.
Ahh, Guinness! A beer that a man can sink his teeth into.
I recall a book I read several years back, originally published in England in either the 1800s or perhaps even the 1700s, in which the author decried the habit of drinking tea as being wasteful and unhealthy. Instead, he recommended that each household should brew beer for its refreshment and nutritional value. (Wish I could recall the title and author.)
Actually, since I’m the one who (occasionally) drinks stout and writes about vampires, maybe I need to repent.
I’m with Greg. Mmmmm, Guinness.
Guinness, yuck! Give me a German beer anytime.