Our Heads on Straight: Sober-Mindedness - A Forgotten Christian Virtue

by Michael W. Philliber

Our present day is highly charged. Many Christians are on edge and anxious. Social media is aflame with vitriol. Countless numbers assume that others are guilty until proven innocent. Of all people, Christians who believe in Jesus and trust that the Scriptures are the final rule of faith and life should be steady in their work and social relations. This book unpacks sober-mindedness—what it is and some ways it can look. From beginning to end, the Gospel of Jesus is the heart of sober-mindedness and the reason we should want to be known as a sober-minded people. By the time readers put this book down, they ought to find their interactions on social media different, their responses to slanderous talk corrected, and any temptation to panic-mindedness replaced. But most of all, they will come to have their trust in the storm-calming Savior strengthened.

Genres: Theology

146 pages, Paperback

Published August 16, 2021

About the author

Graduated Moore High School, Moore OK in 1979. Spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and worked as a cop, correctional custody manager, air frame repair technician, and recruiter. For 5 years while I was in the AF, I was a bi-vocational minister in the Church of Christ. Retired in 1999. Finished Seminary in 2000 and was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America 11 Feb. 2001.

Reviews

[Joost Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with really timely wisdom. I especially recommend it for anyone in a leadership role. Very pastoral and concrete in application.

I’d give it 5 stars, except that the author at times indulges a cutesy penchant for alliteration that distracts instead of delighting the reader.

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading my own book (again). Yes, I do think it a great book, if I can say so as the author. The study I put into it was hugely beneficial to me on a personal level, and I hope that comes through to readers, and proves beneficial to them as well. Real sobriety is not what our present moment fosters. Instead, we live in a world, and age, that is more and more out of it's mind, like someone intoxicated and staggering about. And that inebriation has poured into the church, where we speak and write and act in destructive, drunken ways. And especially pastors and elders, who should be leading soberly from the front, are leading with flailing arms swinging this way and that, with their hair on fire. But God has not given us a spirit of fear. Rather, he has given us a Spirt of power, love, and sober-mindedness (2 Timothy 1:7). Pick up the book, work through it, work it over, and see if I have made my case that Sober-mindedness is a forgotten Christian virtue. And in the end thank God that his grace is teaching us to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age (Titus 2:11-12). As you read the book, feel free to ask me questions in the comments below. Cheers, Mike

[Jay Sklar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Testament commands and commends “sober-mindedness” for Christians—far more often than I ever realized. What does that mean? What should it look like? Philliber provides a helpful, pastoral answer to those questions, defining sober-mindedness as “having your head on straight” and showing what that should look like in the Christian life today.

The chapters are short and each focused on one aspect of sober-mindedness. In a few places, the connection to the book’s overall theme does not seem overly tight, but the book as a whole is a series of wonderful meditations on this important (but often overlooked) theme.

(I would also note that he applies this theme in a subsequent book, Beyond Outrage, to the topic of how we interact with media—social or traditional—today. It is an excellent read!)

[Dagan Mayfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently received this book from a member of my church (I just happen to currently pastor the author's former congregation - they all love and speak highly of you by the way). Excellent treatment of this oft ignored Biblical doctrine, evidencing a well-read, wise, and pastoral approach. Brief but still able to deal with the relevant texts in a robust way, making me see that sober thinking is much more thematic throughout Scripture than I previously realized. All that being said (good stuff all), my favorite aspect of this book was the devotional, Christ-centered, Gospel-rejoicing current that runs throughout. No shortage of reminders about how we get our heads on straight in the first place, our gracious and powerful Savior, Jesus Christ, redeems us.

[Bevan Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the privilege of serving in the same Presbytery as Rev. Philliber, so I will be generous with any book he writes as I would be a friend. Beyond that though, I strongly commend this book as very appropriate to our times and one that benefited me greatly by reading. Two separate times I was struggling over a matter and reading a section of this book untangled my thoughts and led me to make better decisions and adjust my posture. What more can you say for a book that encourages your spirit and helps guide your steps?

[Sean McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. A well written work on an often neglected subject. Although the call for a Christian to be sober minded is clear in the New Testament, it seems to be forgotten by many Christians today. This book is a helpful resource. Recommended.

[Zach de Walsingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best chapter in this book I believe was the second to last chapter on bearing true witness. If there was to a chapter I'd like see fleshed out in anew book, this would be it.

This book took awhile to finish, not because it was not good writing, and it has plenty of useful and helpful things to say about being sober minded and controlled. But it took awhile because many things in there were things I have thought on or about repeatedly in the last few years, and so I put it off to read stuff I was more currently interested in.

That being said, it is refreshing to look back and realize that the author, Rev. Philliber, has had some similar thoughts and challenges in his military and pastoral careers. He definitely gets the issues surrounding rage, alcohol abuse, lying and racial strife cause. Several times through the book, I thought, "Pastor Philliber is only showing the surface of his anecdotal experience dealing with broken humanity here". I would hope that more Presbyterian ministers have such a care for their congregants.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to see the pastoral care side of theology.

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, it is my book. I just finished reading it again. My own book was just what I needed to read. So much I learned when researching and writing the work. So much I have forgotten since publishing it. Sigh. It was good for my heart to go through the volume again. Oh God, who has not given me a spirit of fear, but the Spirit of power, love, and sober-mindedness, thank you. May I flourish in sober-mindedness. Amen.