Dec
03
2009
Hunting Tiger Woods
An excellent blog post here by C.J. Mahaney about Tiger Woods.
An excerpt:
Hunted by the Media
As expected, the allegations of adultery involving a public figure are attracting a media pile-on. This is a big story with a big audience and it’s a story that will not disappear soon. Tiger Woods is being hunted by the media.
But let us make sure we do not join the hunt. A Christian’s response to this story should be distinctly different. We should not be entertained by the news. We should not have a morbid interest in all the details. We should be saddened and sobered. We should pray for this man and even more for his wife.
And we can be sure that in the coming days we will be in conversations with friends and family where this topic will emerge. And when it does, we can avoid simply listening to the latest details and speculations, and avoid speaking self-righteously, but instead we can humbly draw attention to the grace of God in the gospel.
Hunted by Sin
But Tiger is being hunted by something more menacing than journalists. Tiger’s real enemy is his sin, and that’s an enemy much more difficult to discern and one that can’t be managed in our own strength. It’s an enemy that never sleeps.
Let me explain.
32 Comments
A really well written piece. Thanks for linking to it.
On the other side of this coin is the idolatry committed by people who literally worshiped Woods as finally the black-athlete-who-could-do-no-wrong (full disclosure: I’m black). I have sat in conversations with older men who fawn over his accomplishments, his flawless rep and his golf game. How much he gives and what his foundations accomplish. And all of these things are laudable.
But as the article points out, sin is a whole other game. And all of us can fall victim to it. I especially like the way the article ends – But for the grace of God, so go I.
Pray for Tiger and his wife? Definitely. Pray for their children? Most definitely! They will have repercussions their whole life from this. Pray for Tiger and his wife… but don’t forget the kiddos.
[...] HT: Justin Taylor [...]
I will add this to a blog post I wrote about “Tiger Woods and the Myth of American Royalty.” Good post!
http://gbtg.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/tiger-woods-and-the-myth-of-american-royalty/
Adultery happens in the church, all the time. We don’t need more “perspective” on it.
Mahaney’s “there but…” thing is overwrought. Pagans love their wives too, and sometimes even better than Christian men (Yeah, you could argue for common grace on this one, I know, I know). But try this. If you go home to your wife and say, “Ya know, that Tiger, man, there but for the grace of God go I”. She would be justified in slugging you in the mouth, because it is stupid and mundane and skips over the fact that women get it, while men, even Christian men, don’t.
It may be ultimately true, but it does not take into account the little bad steps in between, and the lack of little good steps that lead to adultery.
Sometimes I wonder if the “there but” thing is just a thin veil for “man I wish I could, but…”.
Besides, maybe we should just shut up about all this.
Chris -
I believe the “there but …” is (or at least should be) nothing more than an expression of humility. That we would not sit in judgement of this man, but pray for his regenration and restoration with his family and seek to learn from his mistakes – like Israel of old, Tiger Woods could be God’s instrument of teaching to the man or woman who is sitting WAY too close to sin right now. And let’s not forget that, according to Romans 1, God has simply ‘given Tiger over’ to his sinful desires as His judgement on his sinful, wicked heart. The point of the “there but …” is that it is God’s grace and mercy alone that He does not give any of us over to our own wicked desires. God help us all; strengthen our marriages and glorify Himself on earth like He is in heaven. Beyond that, seriously, anyone using that phrase to justify their wicked actions had better take a good look at their hearts and see if they have ever truly known God’s grace to begin with.
And anyone spouting the line “there but” might just be putting their humility on display. Humility doesn’t need to do that. Right?
I view the “there but” differently. It’s not an expression of one’s humility, but a tool to fight the pride raging at your doorstep waiting to devour you. It isn’t to show how humble you are, but to remind you how vulnerable you are to the sin committed and to the pride that it could never happen to you.
Chris,
What enables those little good steps? God’s grace. But for God’s grace go all of us…
Go tell your wife bro.
“But for the grace of God, there goes Tiger’s wife, and me, and every married person on this globe.” We need to remember that methinks.
At the same time, Tiger was a despicable husband, and any adulterer is. Davis was a murderer and an adulterer, one of the most despicable men in God’s family. But David is a man after God’s own heart as well, and the apple of His eye.
CJ Mahaney wrote: “But let us make sure we do not join the hunt. A Christian’s response to this story should be distinctly different. We should not be entertained by the news. We should not have a morbid interest in all the details. We should be saddened and sobered. We should pray for this man and even more for his wife.”
My response: I concur. I listened to a recorded sermon preached by Martin Lloyd-Jones and he asked if some people get their jollies from reading the court proceeding details. (Back then you didn’t have the internet or Oprah). And we should not be entertained by this stuff. We should change the channels or don’t click on the links from the Woods stories.
As a chaplain to the Professional Touring Caddie on the PGA Tour, I am aware that there are several of the Pro’s on the Tour who have had contact with Tiger and have had spiritual conversations with him. My pray would be that one of these guys would befriend him in such a way as to disciple him to the Truth in order that he cross the line to faith in Christ. “What should it profit Tiger Woods if he should gain the whole golfing world and yet lose his own soul to a Christ-less eternity . . . “
“Go tell your wife bro.”
I have, often. And because shwe understands her own sin, she understands it to be true.
What would you have us say Chris? There but for my willpower and dogged determination go I?
We’ve seen, and are currently seeing marriages failing all around us. Some situations in which we are deeply involved, others among the closest of our friends.
So we look at each other and say “I’ve never been more grateful for the marriage we’ve been given.”
Because, make no mistake, if you have a great marriage, or even a good one, it’s only because God has given something to you that he hasn’t given everyone.
How that’s pride is way above my pay grade.
Well then, Tiger can just blame God for not giving, or removing, His grace.
I think that is the point that Chris is trying to make. And also if I told my wife that she better pray for the grace of God to be upon me, cause without it I am going to sleep around this week. She should smack me.
Please look up the original quote by John Bradford, “There but for the grace of God go I.”
He said this as he saw criminals being taken off to be executed!
This brings much clarity to this oft misunderstood quote. The execution(judgment) and not falling into any particular sin, is what the grace of God keeps us from.
“Well then, Tiger can just blame God for not giving, or removing, His grace.
I think that is the point that Chris is trying to make. And also if I told my wife that she better pray for the grace of God to be upon me, cause without it I am going to sleep around this week. She should smack me.”
…really? …you are making this argument? Read Romans my friend, around 6-8, and then re-think your question. That said, good clarification on the original quote, but it still makes sense in the context even if we’re talking adultery and not execution. For your answer to that one, read Romans 1.
“Well then, Tiger can just blame God for not giving, or removing, His grace.”
Sorry, this was meant to be sarcastic. problem with online discussions sometimes. I was responding to the previous thought,
“Because, make no mistake, if you have a great marriage, or even a good one, it’s only because God has given something to you that he hasn’t given everyone.”
Hope that clarifies.
I get where Chris is coming from even if he didn’t communicate it clearly. I knew it wouldn’t be long before someone trotted out the good ole’ “There but for…” line. Perhaps it’s been used so often, especially in situation like these (where Christians are commenting on non-Christians who have been ‘caught’) that it’s become cliche. Cliche is not good.
As he said, adultery happens in the church all the time, how come we only seem to latch onto it when a high-profile athlete/pop star/actor/politician/fill-in-the-blank is involved?
Clearly, “it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
[...] HT: Justin Taylor [...]
How about if I said, “If not for God’s mercy and grace, I surely could have been in Tiger’s shoes. In fact I was before I was a Christian, almost. But even then, the Lord had His grace upon me, even when I hated Him.
What a Savior we have.
I simply believe if a sinner in this world is without the Lord’s grace and Spirit, then that same sinner is capable of any sin, murder, child molesting, anything.
Some may disagree, and think humans can live good lives without God’s grace, and I understand where you’re coming from.
I don’t believe I can do one good deed, that is righteous, unless it is by God’s gracious grace and power. And every good deed I seem to do in and of myself is tainted, though it may be a good deed for sure.
This is a deep subject, and am thankful for the thoughts and comments to make me think.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day.
Is the statement “there but for the grace of God go I” a cliche? Probably. But focusing on whether a proposition is new, trite, original, comforting, offensive, seeker-friendly, or whatever — should be secondary to one question: is it true?
C. S. Lewis has Screwtape make this point rather clearly when he observes (paraphrasing now — I’m at work and don’t have the book handy) that humanity is easily distracted from essential truth by getting bogged down in how that truth is expressed, until given enough distraction, we wind up discarding the truth altogether in debating its presentation.
Hebrews 12 would seem an apt reference at this point… but since it’s not original, I won’t (he said, ducking and grinning).
– Jeff
Chris & Jeremiah,
You underestimate Jeremiah 17:9.
When a man looks and learns from the mistakes of others that is what is called wisdom. (Prov. 24:30-34)
I do not think that CJ was trying to get anyone to excuse the sins in their lives. He is really confronting the sin of self-righteousness. That is often what we do in the church and he was making sure that before we bring the hammer, we look at the speck in our own eyes. (Matt. 7:1-7)
What keeps either one of you guys from committing the sin of adultery or any other sin? If your answer is anything other than the grace of God working in my life as He makes me more and more like His Son, you do not understand the Gospel. (Phil 2:12-13)
Tiger is an unbeliever and is clearly in the area of Romans 1, but that was not the point of the article. The point was to pray for him, and not become like the ’stone throwing’ masses out there. How do we do that? By realizing that though we have not committed the same sin, we have enough sin in our own hearts to do the same if not worse.
Ok, can I clarify my initial intent?
Every day there are stories in the news of sinners who publicly act out. Just the other day there was a man who walked into a coffee shop and gunned down four police officers. That was just one story among many.
Now, why is it that when sexual immorality, adultery, is mentioned suddenly the old “there but” gets hauled out? Why didn’t Mahaney get online and write up a quick “but for” when the guy gunned down the officers, or the man beat his wife to death, or the man held up the bank?
Do you see my point? There seems to be a cliff-like existence in some men’s hearts, where they walk on the edge of tipping over into the gully every time they see a pretty woman, or a lady gives them a furtive glance. If they are, there is deeper trouble going on. But, when a wife hears this, what does she think? “My husband is that close to falling over?” What about the other side of the coin, in that resurrection life now dominates me, and I do not WANT to commit adultery, but instead love my wife?
In my view each one of us has certain besetting sins, and we are not all alike. Some are vain, some are full of jealousy, some are angry. But, not every man is going to tip over into every sin that goes public. That is why the bumper-stickerish “but for” now sounds trite. If Mahaney had said, “Man oh man do I wrestle with lust and sometimes long to sleep with another woman besides my wife”, well now, THAT is a real confession. And, maybe that is what he was saying in an ambiguous sort of way.
One more thing, grace is no excuse to sin. I am with Paul on that one. So if anyone read that kind of idea into what I was saying, I am sorry that I was not more clear, and you misunderstood. “Be holy as I am holy, says the LORD”.
Frankly, this whole thing just gets to me, when a Christian believes that every event requires “perspective” from an authority. Sorry, but most of us read our bibles and know what adultery is, and we know our own hearts. The Bible really is sufficient.
Chris– well said, and a good gloss on your initial comment. I see what you’re getting at and agree.
I’m sorry, Chris, but both your original statement & this clarification come across as unnecessarily harsh, in my opinion. I believe I understood what C.J. Mahaney was trying to express, and it seems to me that what he said was quite appropriate. Further, I don’t see how his use of “there but for the grace of God go I” was trite. No matter how trite the phrase may seem to you, it is still so very true. Tiger’s sin should humble us all.
OK. I can agree to disagree.
For me the question is, are we going to confess “sin” or our “sins”? The first is so obviously true for me and I would think for every Christian that it kind of goes without saying. It is a sort of easy out. The second can be incredibly painful and truly humbling. To say, “Yeah I am capable of that” is one thing, but to say “I have these thoughts” is another. It moves from the theoretical to the actual, the concrete.
If we end up in the “I am capable of that” category all the time we will be posting blogs about every single event of the pagan world! But, to talk about my own, my personal sins, makes it, well, personal.
Take care,
Chris
PS- I checked out your site. See you are a musician. Here is my personal music site, still under construction, but more will come soon. Loops will be posted on the opening page later today.
in Christ,
c
Hayden,
Thanks for your response.
Yes, we should look and learn from the mistakes of others and to take heed lest we fall.
However I would point out that we, as believers, play a part in our sanctification. Phil 2:12, Rom 8:13 obviously this is not apart from the Holy Spirit but in cooperation. Also, there will be degrees of reward. I believe you can understand the gospel and affirm this.
There is a responsibility that a believer has before God that an unbeliever doesn’t. We have the Holy Spirit and therefore the ability walk uprightly before the Lord. And the Spirit should keep us humble in all things, but the Spirit also brings sin to the light. Praying that the same Spirit would do a work of true conviction in Tiger, that would lead to new life.
Grace and peace.
Btw, does anyone out there know why CJ doesn’t let people comment on his public blog? Curious?
While everyone mentions Tiger’s sins, I don’t think we should forget the women that he sinned with. Realistically, can any of them say they didn’t know he was a married man? Those women share in the guilt, also. Both the one who sins and the one who tempts another to sin are alike guilty.
Chris,
I have no idea why CJ didn’t write an article on gunning down people in a coffee shop. (He has written similar things in the past about other issues though) I can tell you as a Pastor that has counseled others that the sin of adultery is far more prevalent than cold blooded murder in the church today. I understand that we all have the sin within our hearts to commit murder but is it at epidemic proportions in the church today?
Your clarification was helpful, but, CJ was just trying to be pastoral in a situation that no matter where you look, it is on the front page. (And will be for some time)
Jeremiah,
Yes we are to work out salvation with fear and trembling. There is no ‘let go and let God’ in me. But realize that any good work you do is because of the grace of God (Romans 7:14-ff). It is not because you have some super will to overcome sin. Sanctification requires God empowered work through the Holy Spirit. All glory goes to Him. (That is not what came across when you and Chris wrote in my opinion)
You have adultery in your heart. You have murder in your heart. Were it not for the Spirit and most likely a healthy fear of consequences of your actions from loved ones and the ‘government’ you too could fall. (That is CJ’s secondary point)
All,
The bulk of CJ’s article was about praying for Tiger’s salvation. The secondary point was to examine yourself. (Matt 7:1-7; Gal 6:1-4). Let’s not lose the point. You may not struggle with sexual sin but ‘take heed lest you fall’ (1 Cor. 10:12) in other areas of you life. When public sin is shown we are to pray for the one in sin and also search our own hearts. That is the Biblical model.
Hayden,
Thanks for the gentle words. I see your point. You pastors are just so, well, pastoral.
God bless,
c
I truly believe but for the grace of God I could have been Osama Bib Laden, or Hitler, or the even a dentist.
But as we practically live out our lives here in this cesspool of sinful society, certainly we commend good behavior, and call for justice when it is called for.
There’s a time to hate and a time to love.
Jesus says to love your enemy. Does that mean I love him as i love my wife?
The Christina walk has deep subjects, and doctrines, which are all laid upon the Rock of Ages, and built upon our Cornerstone Jesus Christ, who is the Truth.
This has been a benficial thread for me.
Thanks Justin.
Have a great weekend an Christ-focused Lord’s day in this most joyful season of commemorating our Lord’s birth.