Tiger Woods has hit the news and it is not because he is in the lead for a Major Championship. No, this time, he is in the news for something far more serious – his infidelity to his wife. So how do we handle this news (and all news) as believers? This weekly email sets out to help us think this through.
I like Tiger Woods. He is a model of discipline, hard work and amazing giftedness. A few years ago Luke and I sat down to watch him play. After a few hours of watching Tiger and swinging his plastic club, my son had a relatively good swing unlike his daddy J.
I still like Tiger Woods. He is two years my junior and until last week was one of the most influential people in sports. Although Tiger is a machine when it comes to training, he is human when it comes to, in his own words, transgressions. He is a sinner. He proved undoubtedly Numbers 32:23, “You have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.”
Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Tiger was not hungering for righteousness. He was hungering for something else because he was never satisfied. To be at the top of your sport, more money than you know what to do with, a model (literally) wife and two children would lead many to believe that Tiger had it all. He of all people should be satisfied, right? Well, this string of clichés should not surprise us. One can have it all according to the world’s standards and still not be satisfied. Tiger’s “serial marital infidelity” proves that point.
I am attaching two great articles about what we can learn from this. Too often we hear the news, read the news and watch the news but not learn and pray and use media for sanctification. Too often we, at least me, can get caught up in the middle of the story without learning from the story. I would encourage you to read them in their entirety but if not I have summarized the lessons for you below:
The Travail of Tiger Woods – Lessons Not to Be Missed
1. Acts done in private can and will have public consequences.
2. The public still believes that adultery is a big deal. (My comment – Isn’t it amazing that even now there is something within us all that finds what he did despicable. I just read Tiger’s website and many are saying, “He’s human, we all make mistakes.” They are right on the human part. But let’s just call it like it is, adultery. And apparently that still, by God’s grace, strikes a chord with the general population.)
3. A fall from public favor can happen in an instant.
1. False fronts will crumble.
2. You cannot hide your sin indefinitely.
3. The stage will be bigger.
At the end of the day, I will always like Tiger Woods the golfer. I have followed him for too long not to. But now more than ever, I will pray for my fraternity brother. He is a Sigma Chi from Stanford. Here is my prayer:
Father, would you be so kind as to lead Tiger Woods to true repentance (Romans 2:4)? Would you be so gracious as to open his heart to pay attention to the truth of the Gospel (Acts 13:14)? Would you do the incredible and restore this marriage to a better state than it ever has been (Joel 2:25)? Would you do all this through the media to further Your glory (Isaiah 46:8-11)?
Father help me not to forget even in the little things, I can commit spiritual adultery against you when I find the world more satisfying than you (James 4:4)?
In your son’s name I pray, amen.
Tags: Tiger
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Tiger needs to deal with this with his wife. He doesn’t owe me an apology or an explantion, no more so than I owe him one for any of my behavior…….I never planned to select my auto, accounting firm or anything else based upon Tiger’s opinion or endorsement of any product, never had and never would, regardless of his behavior. This is an issue between him, his wife and his savior.
I love him and his show even more now that it’s on Sirius.
Thanks for your love for Tiger. I love him too. He has taught my son how to swing a golf club. However, I believe you overlook the impact we all have on each other. Tiger does owe more than his wife an apology. He owes the PGA an apology, his family, his sponsers, etc. To seperate his sinful actions from his career is the same thinking that would allow Clinton to get away with his shinanigans. Tiger isn’t running the country but he is accoutable for his actions to more than just his wife. I hope he repents an models for the world how to own up to his sin instead of dismiss it as private like so many do. Have a good day!
Good article. thank you
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Thanks for the list of “promises.”