Tiger's Troubles

Most the world has heard about Tiger Wood's troubles. I was forwarded the article below that speaks to what the author says should be the response of those who follow Jesus.

How do you feel about it? What do you think about his view?

CJ Mahaney on Tiger Woods

Hunting Tiger Woods by CJ Mahaney

Tiger Woods wants his privacy back.

He wants the media entourage to disappear from his life.

He wants to be left alone so he can manage his personal problems in private.

Not a chance.

The story began unfolding in the early hours of last Friday when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a tree and a fire hydrant near his Florida home. He refused to speak with the police about the incident, raising curiosity about the circumstances. The story has now escalated into allegations of marital infidelity, and that generated a blog post from Tiger that stated, "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart." This statement by Tiger has led most to believe that the allegations of infidelity are true.

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.

Sin Lies
The Bible in general, and the book of Proverbs in particular, reveals an unbreakable connection between our character, our conduct, and the consequences of our actions. These three are inseparable and woven by God into His created order.

Deception is part of sin's DNA. Sin lies to us. It seeks to convince us that sin brings only pleasure, that it carries no consequences, and that no one will discover it. Sin works hard to make us forget that character, conduct, and consequences are interconnected. And when we neglect this relationship--when we think our sins will not be discovered--we ultimately mock God.

Sin Hunts
We've all experienced it: Sin lies to us. We take the bait. And then sin begins to hunt us.

One commentator on Proverbs articulated this truth like this: "The irony of a life of rebellion is that we begin by pursuing sin...and end up being pursued by it!....You can 'be sure your sin will find you out' (Num. 32:23...)."* In other words, sin comes back to hunt us.

In light of this fact, sin is an enemy Tiger can't manage. He can't shape this story like he does a long iron on a par 5. Tiger doesn't need a publicity facelift; Tiger needs a Savior. Just like me. And just like you. And if by God's grace he repents and trusts in the person and work of Christ, Tiger will experience the fruit of God's promise that "whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).

Conclusion
Tiger cannot intimidate this enemy like he can Pebble Beach or any of the field of professional golfers. And there is no privacy he can claim from this enemy, regardless of his resolve, his silence, or the name painted on his yacht. It's likely Tiger only perceives the press hunting him out of a vain "curiosity about public figures." But Tiger is being hunted and hounded by a far greater foe: the consequences of his sin.

And this story should humble and sober us. It should make us ask: Are there any so-called "secret sins" in my life? Is there anything I have done that I hope nobody discovers? Is there anything right now in my life that I should confess to God and the appropriate individuals?

And this should leave us more amazed by grace because there, but for the grace of God, go I.

This article originally appeared on Sovereign Grace Ministries Blog.

Baseball, Steroids and Truth

"The shadow of your sin will overtake you; you'll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark." (Proverbs 5:22)

Barry Bonds . . . Roger Clemens . . . now, Alex Rodriguez . . . they've all proven this proverb in recent time. You can run, but you can't hide. (These are 3 of the greatest ever Major League baseball players who have either confessed to - or the evidence points against them - taking steroids to enhance their careers.)

And before I (or we) start sounding smug, we all know it as well. We've tried to hide. And when we try to live in darkness it's oppressive and miserable.

But I've also seen the truth of this proverb revealed loudly through baseball and steroids:
"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13

Jason Giambi, Andy Petite (two other players who confessed and didn't try to hide using steroids) and now Rodriguez have come clean . . . and in Rodriguez own words: "When you take this gorilla . . . off your back, you realize that honesty is the only way."

There is life and forgiveness in confession, but in prideful hiding there is death. A great picture from this for all of us.


And yes, I will end by answering the question on all of your minds.
Unequivocally, NO.
I have never taken steroids to help enhance my sermon preparation. Although I have drank a whole lot of coffee :)

Scorched . . .

"Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?
Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?
So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished." Proverbs 6:27-29

No, I'm not confessing anything. This was in my reading in Proverbs this morning and it made me reflect on how lightly we many times approach sin . . . and yet how it kills.

Yeah, this is talking about adultery, but ALL sin shackles us and will destroy us if we aren't set free. 'No one who touches her will go unpunished.' There are consequences every time we choose against God's grace.

And the enemy stands ready to use it against us in every way possible - his only mission is to steal, kill and destroy.

Our hope is to stand honest before God and seek to follow His Spirit. Why live in the shackles of sin, when we can sleep well at night in the freedom of Christ?

What do you think?