Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: A Candid Conversation on Drinking, Addiction, and How to Break Free

Seidl (Finding Rest), founder of the Veritas Creative, a digital media consulting firm, brings his religious convictions to bear on this resonant account of recovering from alcoholism. He opens with his rock-bottom moment of getting drunk on a 2023 trip with his wife and lying about it, then rewinds to trace how his drinking developed as a coping mechanism for chronic overwhelm and the lingering effects of childhood trauma. Rather than seek treatment at Alcoholics Anonymous—partly because of its idea that one is always an alcoholic—he underwent a process of “messy sanctification” that helped him draw closer to Christ while becoming more aware of his sins. The steps involved include relying on prayer for guidance; discovering his divinely given passions, skills, and calling; sharing his sins in community settings; and obeying God’s wishes. Despite a few awkward attempts to bolster his points with scripture (“Are you drinking in a way that brings God glory?” he asks ironically at one point), Seidl’s candid and powerful storytelling buttresses his trenchant critiques of a church culture that trafficks in binary views of religious salvation while ignoring believers who continue to struggle with addiction after finding God. Those seeking a faith-based path through alcoholism will find it here. (Oct.)