Called to Drink

Published on by D. G. Hart

Bryan and the Jasons don’t seem to update their blog much. Jason Stellman’s conversion narrative is still there. But no one at Called to Communion seems to notice where their call led Jason (thanks to our Michigan correspondent):

JASON STELLMAN, cohost of the podcast Drunk Ex-Pastors, is a Southern California native and transplant to Seattle who wishes he still lived in Europe. He served as a missionary with Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa in Uganda (’91-’92) and in Hungary (’94-2000). Ordained In the Presbyterian Church in America, he was called to plant Exile Presbyterian Church in the Seattle area where he served from 2004-2012. In September 2012, he was received into the Catholic Church. He drinks and questions his faith regularly.

Don’t get me wrong. I like a drink as much as the next man. But I haven’t made drinking a fruit of the Spirit or a reason to be Presbyterian (hey, wait a minute).

17 thoughts on “Called to Drink”

  2. Heh. It’s been a long while since I’ve seen that Greek word used. First time I heard it was when it was used by a ruling elder to describe a bit of errant preaching in a pastor’s sermon.

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  3. Stellman… Cross… Hahn… Have you read Peter Kreeft’s narrative of discovering the rosary as a college student? These guys are not hard to take seriously, but they are hard to take.

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  4. Called to Drink:
    …like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:3,1-2

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  6. “In September 2012, he was received into the Catholic Church. He drinks and questions his faith regularly.” What a CV Stellman has! Get this cultural unicorn a book deal so he can chronicle his incredibly unique life experience as a lapsing, drunk Catholic!

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  7. Matthew 26:29. “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, UNTIL THAT DAYu when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

    Luke 9 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose his life, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save his life. 25 What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For as many as are ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when the Son of Man comes in His glory and that of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth: There are SOME STANDING HERE WHO WILL NOT TASTE DEATH UNTIL THEY SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD .” 28 About eight days after these words, Jesus took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As Jesus was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white.30 Suddenly, two men were talking with Jesus—Moses and Elijah. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of His DEPARTURE (his death), which Jesus was about to ACCOMPLISH in Jerusalem.

    John 12:32 As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself. 33 Jesus said this to signify what kind of DEATH He was about to die

    John 14:1, Jesus said, “I depart to prepare a place for you.” Where was Jesus going to do this? Answer: the cross on earth on which Jesus was lifted up and died for all the sins of all the ELECT

    http://www.creedcodecult.com/all-i-really-want-is-some-peace-man/

    Jason Stellman–a charge of universalism is absurd when we consider a homily by Francis from last month, where he said the following: “It is not possible to find Jesus outside the Church. The great Paul VI said: ‘Wanting to live with Jesus without the Church, following Jesus outside of the Church, loving Jesus without the Church is an absurd dichotomy.”

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  8. Horse Hockey, Francis is an inclusivist, just like Jimmy Akin and much of the hierarchy. At best Franky’s inconsistent as he contradicts himself. And RC’s doctrine of invincible ignorance is there to save those who haven’t heard the name of Jesus.

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  10. His next book will be his journey from misfit faith to zero faith just like his podcast partner. Yippee, what a Christian bulwark! I told him when the podcast started that he’ll become an atheist after his apostatizing and he said maybe. Will Susan still be a fan?

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  12. I shouldn’t be responding…..but here goes.

    ‘I told him when the podcast started that he’ll become an atheist after his apostatizing and he said maybe”

    I began to offer glib remarks too when I was fed up with everybody’s rude accusations and soothsaying. What made you believe that his “apostasy” would result in atheism?

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  14. Susan,

    …Stellman gives an edgy, honest, heart-on-his-sleeve account of what it means to be a mixed-up Christian outsider in the twenty-first century (and why this is a can be good thing). Misfit Faith is an invitation to all the religious vagabonds and exiles with nowhere to really call home, those wanderers who increasingly feel like mere fans of spirituality rather than committed members of the team.

    If you’ve ever questioned your faith, felt like a spiritual malcontent, or sought solace for your existential angst at the bottom of a bottle of bourbon, then Stellman just may be the best drinking buddy you’ve never met.

    Sorry, but that doesn’t sound like a guy as on-board as the rest of the CtC team. That sounds like a guy who still hasn’t sorted it out in a CtC sort of way. Sounds happily agnostic first, accidentally Catholic second. And some might say that was a helluva price JJS paid to still be unable to call anywhere home and a “mere fan of spirituality.” But, he also sounds optimistic at least. Maybe the next call will be Oprah?

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  15. Here’s recent tweet from the DXP. Really mature, sounds like me at 19. So edgy, very earnest, much broad.

    “Life’s too short for fascist faith and trickle-down ethics. We need love. Be merciful builders of bridges, not petty builders of walls.”

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  16. I chortled. Mentor for hire.

    “As someone with 25 years under his belt of helping people navigate practical and spiritual difficulties—both informally and professionally, both here and abroad—and as someone who has experienced more than his own share of personal and religious struggle and transformation, Jason has gained a lot of insight into the human heart and what makes us tick.
    If you are struggling with a specific challenge or are simply in need of a fresh set of ears, message Jason today and find out more (you’ll be glad you did!).”

    http://jasonstellman.com/mentoring/

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