“Stop in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life” by Charlie Kirk
Book #4 for 2026
Honestly, I didn’t know who Charlie Kirk was before he was killed. Because he was killed for a cause he believed in so passionately, I felt I owed it to him to read the book he published posthumously. Plus, I enjoy the Sabbath immensely, and I’m always interested in reading books about the Sabbath.
Some parts of this book were really dense and I felt like I had to slog through them. I did not agree with everything Charlie Kirk said in the book. Those two criticisms aside, overall I think the book had a lot of very valuable information, and I am glad that I read it.
“The Sabbath is a sanctified protest against the tyranny of constant motion… Rather than building monuments in space, the people of God were called to consecrate time. And in so doing, they declared that God – [not anyone else] – governs the hours.” page 56
When I got to chapter 6, I underlined something on every page. Now we’re talking Charlie.
Chapter 6:
“As former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris put it, “Technology is not neutral. It is designed to exploit our weaknesses.” Every notification, vibration, and algorithmic feed is built to trigger dopamine release, creating reward loops that mimic the neurological patterns of substance addiction. The result is a populace both overstimulated and undernourished, perpetually online but emotionally depleted. For young people, the effects are even more pronounced and dangerous.” page 121
“A 2022 Gallup survey reported that nearly 60% of teens say they feel addicted to their phones, with many experiencing withdrawal symptoms – irritability, anxiety, even panic – when separated from their devices. And yet, despite widespread awareness, disengagement is rare. Why? Because the phone is not just a tool – it’s an identity portal. It’s where friendships are maintained, status is performed, emotions are processed, and boredom is obliterated. It is both mirror and mask, escape and entrapment.” page 123
“But more disturbingly, the suicide rate among teenagers – after decades of decline – began to surge around the same time. The CDC reports that the suicide rate for youth aged 10-24 increased by 57% between 2007 and 2018. This sudden reversal aligns almost precisely with the widespread adoption of smartphones, especially in middle and high school students.” page 127
If you have teenagers and they have smartphones – Are you frightened? Not nearly frightened enough!
My favorite quote from the whole book was a Godly version of the The Let Them Theory, “You don’t need to prove anything. You don’t need to carry the weight of the world – it already has a Savior, and it’s not you.” page 156
I’ll end with a couple more of my favorite quotes about the Sabbath.
“He [God] calls us to work with excellence and integrity – and then to stop with trust and humility. I push hard because the work matters. I rest deeply because He matters more. And in that rhythm – sacred labor and sacred rest – I find my life not fragmented, but whole. Not exhausted, but aligned. Not burned out, but blessed. That is the gift of the Sabbath. And that is why I guard it – not as a rule, but as a rescue.” page 171
“In a world that never stops, be the person who knows how to stop well. Not because you’re lazy, but because you trust the Lord of time more than the tyranny of hustle. That’s Sabbath. That’s freedom. That’s worship.” page 237
I think this book was a really worthwhile read, especially chapter 6, and I hope you’re able to check it out.
🖤 rest in peace Charlie Kirk
heavens to betty 