I will admit it right up front that this is my “take” on the whole “Tiger Apology Affair.” I do hope you will take a few moments to read this but I understand if you want to skip right over this post since there will be 100s and 1000s of blogs talking about it…right or wrong. I just wanted to get my .02 worth in and then be done with it. So…here goes.
First, as a follower of Christ I am well aware of the need to seek, to offer and to give forgiveness. That is, in actuality, a mandate of Jesus. The Model Prayer says that (see Matthew 6:12), as do countless other verses. I need to seek forgiveness from God for my sin. I am to seek forgiveness from another (friend or foe) whenever I have wronged them. I am to offer forgiveness to those who ask or don’t ask for it. And for those who do ask I am to give forgiveness.
Second, I am in no way excusing Tiger’s actions but don’t you think it is time to let it go? The man has paid (dearly) for the revelations that have hit the media in more ways than one. Every part of his life has become open season-from his marriage to his children to his business ventures to his foundation. And he may pay more before this is all over. But for crying out loud…let the man alone! Yes, he was/is a celebrity but doggone it he puts his pants on the same way I do…one leg at a time. We who are Christians need to keep in mind that we have been forgiven of a much greater debt than we could ever repay. We have been given the greatest gift of all…forgiveness from God and eternal life. I agree with these people-we are People of the Second Chance. Above everyone else the church ought to know what it means to be forgiven.
Third, I listened (as long as I could stomach it) to the talking heads who (thought) they had all the answers. “He was/was not sincere.” “It was/was not staged.” “I believe/don’t believe him.” And the one that really wired fired gagged me was the talk about the body language. “He showed no emotions.” “He swallowed here or there.” (Get real!) “He was so stoic.” Bill O’Reilly often has a guest on talking about body language and frankly, I tend to think it is a bunch of hooey and “much-a-do-’bout-nothin'” . I don’t really give a rip whether he turns his head one way or the other, blinks or not, swallows or chokes…the man was on a worldwide stage. What were they looking for? A Jimmy Swaggart-type of confession? Then they would found it too emotional or staged. Maybe Tiger tends to be an unemotional sort of person but that is his personality. How many times does the man have to say he is sorry and that it was his fault? He took responsibility. Move on.
Was he serious? I don’t know and certainly can’t won’t be the judge of that. Only time, his actions, and a bunch of other puzzle pieces will tell. Personally, I hope he learned from this…that no one is above living a life of integrity and playing by the rules. I hope Elin learns to forgive him. I hope when they get older and his children hear all about daddy’s escapades that they have been taught forgiveness and grace. I hope that he and Elin can grow old together and raise their children together. I hope Tiger gets help. I hope he comes back to play golf. I hope he will have accountability on the tour. I hope he won’t surround himself with “yes” men. And if I may take the pastor side of me for just a moment…I agree with Brit Hume: I hope Tiger finds Jesus Christ. It will only be through Him that he will truly know real forgiveness and second chances.
I have said enough. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts. I monitor and approve all thoughts before they are public so just keep that in mind when you comment. I will not allow “slam dunks” on him or comments made. I want to hear your thoughts on apologies, repentance and forgiveness.
“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’” Matthew 9:13
The deepest heart of God, his desire, his delight, is mercy and not sacrifice, not judgment, not the “pound of flesh.”
Mercy and sacrifice can be related in three ways. One, mercy-not-sacrifice. Two, mercy-and-sacrifice. Three, sacrifice-not-mercy. We tend to think of God in that second category, so we never quite know what to expect of him. And the mercy-and-sacrifice outlook can slip too easily into sacrifice-not-mercy. But the gospel takes us all the way into mercy-not-sacrifice, mercy that is pure, unmixed, predictable. It is so counterintuitive, we have to go and learn what it means, how it works, what it looks like, how it changes us.
May God give us more and more churches with a message of mercy-not-sacrifice from the preacher and a culture of mercy-not-sacrifice among the people. It is the deepest heart of God. It is what everyone needs….including Tiger!
“I am to offer forgiveness to those who ask or don’t ask for it.”
Commenting on Luke 17:3 (”If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him”), John Stott, Confess Your Sins: The Way of Reconciliation, page 35, writes:
“We are to rebuke a brother if he sins against us; we are to forgive him if he repents — and only if he repents. We must beware of cheapening forgiveness. . . . If a brother who has sinned against us refuses to repent, we should not forgive him. Does this startle you? It is what Jesus taught. . . . ‘Forgiveness’ includes restoration to fellowship. If we can restore to full and intimate fellowship with ourselves a sinning and unrepentant brother, we reveal not the depth of our love but its shallowness.”
I have never been a Tiger fan and couldn’t care less about the game of Golf. The media show was about saving his Brand and recouping what $$$ he can. As for his family he doesn’t need the media to fix that if it is fixable. I think his wife would be well within reason to kick him out to the curb next to the garbage can. I, like you , hope it has a happy ending but I would side with the wife and whatever she needs to do to protect her children and her dignity. Tiger never cared about that.
I choose not to let cable TV in my house so I have no idea what the talking heads say. I am sure they are having a profitable good time playing the story.
I question your thought that we need to seek forgiveness from God. I thought the Cross took care of that. I know of no reference in the Bible, after the Cross, that would suggest that we need to continue to ask God for forgiveness. I think our sins have been forgiven. Are you saying our sins have not been forgiven and we need to continue to ask God for forgiveness?
Ike: I agree that mercy is an essential to our walk with Christ. I especially agree with your last statement. As for Stott’s quote: I refuse to hold a lack of forgiveness in my heart. The only breeds bitterness. Bitterness breeds a barrier between me and God and me and that person. Yes, I would like to see repentance but if it is not forthcoming then I have to move on. He is also speaking of an “unrepentant brother.”
jeff: everyone is entitled to his opinion. 🙂 I could really care less about golf either but some do. Some do/did look up to Tiger. (Shame on us for putting anyone on a pedestal). I cannot judge the efficacy of the media show..maybe it was as you say. As for asking forgiveness: “If I confess my sins He is faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.” The cross makes it possible to receive forgiveness but confession and repentance show sincerity in our heart.
Anyone else want to weigh in?
For me it was simply sad in two ways: To see how sin destroyed his life and to hear him say he was going back to Buddhism. Sin is a destroyer but it destroyed him in public – that does not happen to 99% of us. Buddhism is an empty religion and I do not think it offers what he needs which is forgiveness that only Christ can give and life only in a way Christ can give.
Everything else to me is a mute point.
Thanks for your .02 worth and this was my .02 worth.
Jim: I absolutely agree with you. Sin is a destroyer and he is/will pay the price for it. And I agree about Buddhism. I too was sad to hear that. I also feel the way you do about Jesus being the only hope…with all my heart. Appreciate your .02 worth.
First off, I am so glad that Judgment is not on my list of duties…leaving that up to The One who is most qualified. 😉
With that said…..it’s so funny how we (collective we, Christians) feel justified or comforted by the false security of “well, at least I am not sinning as much as so-and-so….”
sin is sin.
Like you said “We who are Christians need to keep in mind that we have been forgiven of a much greater debt than we could ever repay” We are ALL sinners.
And it’s only because of His grace and mercy.
I love this definition of “mercy”
the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
Have a great day Bill!
You are so right Michelle. Judgment is not on my list of duties. Sin is sin and we need to keep that in mind. What comes to my mind: “there but for the grace of God go I.” Thanks for stopping by Michelle. Hope you have a great day also.
We are not golf people but did admire the way Tiger appeared to handle his status in the media prior to the events in November.
All I can say is I’m so happy I don’t have to stand in public and confess all of my sins. Tony and I have said since the beginning, he admitted he was at fault, he is taking the blame, leave him and his family alone. When there are problems within a family it is difficult enough to fix them privately, I could not imagine having to do it with the entire world watching and every where I turned there being a reminder.
I’m so thankful for the cross and the One that knows all about me and yet loves and forgives me anyway.
Danaye: Well put! I am not a golf person either. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be in the public eye like this. I prefer my privacy and agree with Tony. big thanks this way also. Appreciate you stopping by.