The young Arthur Guinness was walking in his native Dublin, Ireland and was so moved by the sight of all the drunks that he was weeping. They were drunk on cheap, home-made hooch, which was both enslaving them – around 50 % of the population – and killing them.
Arthur asked God for a formula for a drink that the men would actually drink and that would do them good!
His testimony is that God gave him one: Guinness beer! The slogan for years was, “Guinness is good for you” – they actually used to give it to expectant mothers in UK hospitals for strength.
In his lifetime, he saw the rate of alcoholism decrease by something like 40%. They liked it – can you blame them? He became very successful.
Some years later, while out walking again in Dublin, Guinness met a young man crying. After inquiring the problem, the young man said that he was appalled by the number of orphans on the streets.
Guinness asked him that if he had the resources, would he and could he do something about it. Young Dr. Barnardo replied, “Yes!” Guinness sponsored Barnardo’s Homes all over UK and Ireland, and all over the world. Guiness was one of the most famous names in all of orphan-recovery history.
Although it’s rumored that Guinness met up with Hudson Taylor and funded his missionary efforts to China, it’s questionable whether or not that happened. The dates don’t seem to line up. However, well-known speaker and writer Os Guinness is descended from Arthur, and the Guinness family continues to do many good works today.
God can use anyone and anything for his purposes. And he does. I like what one guy said about this period of history:
“In the time of revival, at the turn of
the last century in Britain, it was as if God poured out an
entrepreneurial gift on his church and people started doing things that
were unheard of. These are the people, normal people in the pews, that
God got a hold of and helped them to use their entrepreneurial skills
to change society.”
Gary,
While the wealth of the wicked has been promised to the righteous and will undoubtedly be used to help fund the great commission completion,as the story of Guinness illustrates, I hope our message to this upcoming generation of world-changers who are seeking to live life “fully alive” is not “Drink Beer…Support Missions!”
I prefer the more radical call to push aside both illegitimate pleasures (such as drunkenness) and legitimate pleasures (what some would consider social drinking) for the superior pleasure found in knowing Christ. Why not make Paul’s challenge to “Be filled with the Holy Spirit” the cutting edge challenge for our lives instead of embracing the culturally acceptable norms which, unfortunately, have produced untold misery and destruction in millions of lives across the globe? The human price tag of misery and suffering associated with alcohol is staggering. Why go there?
Give our love to the Black Tribe. We love the updates and look forward to being able to connect with you soon. Please know your in our daily thoughts and prayers. Take the nation for Christ!
I love you, Gary, but I have to say you’re off the mark.
On technical level, Arthur Guinness died in 1803 (http://www.diageo.ie/company/history/guinness) and Hudson Taylor was born in 1832 (http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/special/131christians/htaylor.html) so the facts of the article are inaccurate and therefore moot.
Since I’m sure this is a lively discussion, though, I’ll go on with my $.02. If it’s true that the article is not really about alcohol then why choose the subject, “Support missions – drink a Guinness!” since that plainly frames it as being precisely about alcohol? On the other hand, I can certainly see the value of sharing the (perhaps) unexpected philanthropy of Arthur Guinness. Since the facts quoted in the story are false it’s difficult to say what he DID do but I’m an optimist so I’ll praise God for what he “may” have done! But I think it’s a HUGE stretch (and dare I say misapplication) to choose a title encouraging your readers to drink alcohol as a way of supporting missions.
I am assuming that a huge number of your readers are students (or slightly older) who are surrounded by people struggling to practice moderation in their lives. To equate drinking beer with benefiting missions seems naïve and shortsighted.
Again, you know I love you. But if what you meant to do was share a testimony of God using a beer brewer to love orphans then I think there were better ways to do it then simplifying it the way the way you did.
Thanks for what you’re your doing out thereyou are in my prayers every time I get your updates.
At the time of this writing 20 people had viewed this and “no comments”. I was just wondering why an article like this is important to the spread of the gospel. I have watched alcohol ruin a father and an older son, plus many others. I as well am aware that the scripture states “everything in moderation” but it also states “abstain from all appearance of evil” the balance is important.
I don’t follow, Dwayne. What are you saying? It seems that the point of the article has nothing to do with alcohol, but the man behind Guinness beer and his heart for broken people.
…dark beer has never tempted me… W.C. Fields: “Prohibition was the darkest years of my life. I had to survive from day to day on nothing but food and WATER”!
We know the devastating effects of alcohol abuse, but you can’t overlook the irony of how God used a devise of destruction to help build His kingdom! I’m thankful that He chooses to use this flawed vessel as part of His construction crew…ps: I was inspired by the article…Thanks!
I think I’ll have to try Guinness now that I’ve heard this word. And yes I don’t think there is anything evil about having a cold brew. Just as Dewayne says everything in moderation, how many people judge someone drinking a beer and are 100 lbs over weight? Oh that is socially acceptable.
maybe this’ll add some light on the subject: http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4752.htm
it says that most of the stuff here is true, except for the guinness/taylor connection. it also says that it’s almost impossible to get drunk off of guinness beer. interesting.
Hey everybody; I have been traveling in South Africa the past few days – just saw all this! Wow, sorry! if you know me, you know my call is to holiness, prayer, fasting and living life fully alive! Although, I do believe God loves us to enjoy life, even maybe a Guinness now and then, I do apologize if you are offended… love you guys…
Hey men, thanks for your comments regarding the Guinness blog, it has been corrected; you are right, the responsibility to both research and communicate to the next generation is not to be taken for granted; thank you!