Last week it is estimated 150 millions people watched or listened to Tiger Woods apologize for his marital unfaithfulness and for the impact it has had on his family, friends, business partners, fellow golfers and all parents who pointed to him as a role model for their children. For over 13 minutes he revealed a part of his heart that nearly no one had ever heard or seen before. Like you, I want to believe what we heard was genuine and from his heart.
I have prayed for Tiger and his family often throughout this ordeal because I see this as one of the greatest opportunities for grace and atonement in recent history. Having apologized he must seek forgiveness for what he did. And then if true repentance, the kind where he turns his life around and becomes a faithful and loyal husband and father follows; can you imagine the impact his life and message will have on everyone struggling to overcome sin? It could be one of the greatest grace stories ever told.
As I listened to the replay of Tiger’s statement I thought to myself, what would I say if I stood before 150 million people to confess my sin? I assure you in God’s eyes we are all sinners at the same level as Tiger, but because we are not the world’s greatest athlete, a billionaire, or one of the most recognized people in the world we won’t schedule a news conference to ask for forgiveness – maybe we should. Think about it. What would happen if we took James 5:16 to the max and confessed our sin on public television? What would happen if our grace bath was a public event?
There have been, and are probably still, things in my life that disgust God as much as what Tiger Woods did over the past few years, but I know because of my relationship with Jesus Christ, those things have been forgiven and wiped from my life. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalm 103:12 that reads: as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. I stand on that promise and refuse to dwell on past failures that I’ve given to God and boy does it feel good to know God’s grace has been applied to my life.
My question is – will Tiger’s religion of Buddhism be able to forgive Tiger? In a system where one’s deeds and Karma have a direct impact on one’s future, I wonder what impact Tiger’s past sin has on his future. Will he return to golf and pick up where he left off destroying the competition at nearly every event? Probably and that will have little to do with his faith. Will he be able to mend his relationship with Elin? I pray he does and that could have a lot to do with his faith. But what impact will his actions have on his inner spiritual life and will Buddhism provide him with a true source of inner healing? That I am not sure about.
The best I can do is continue to pray for Tiger, Elin and the kids and ask God to plant seeds of true grace and real forgiveness in their lives. The kind that I KNOW Jesus Christ provides to me. The Tiger Wood’s story COULD be the greatest grace story of modern time.
Excellent thoughts!! I must admit when the title was announced I could not imagine what could be said……what a great job!! I am looking forward to reading the next one “Wecome to Graceland” & all future postings. Thanks for taking the time to express thoughts that will help us all grow.
Cathy
It was a well orchestrated conference. I must admit, it is very hard for me not to be cynical in this matter. Tiger has been given everything and still it is not enough. He was having these affairs even as his wife was pregnant. Sex addiction, we are all addicted to sex, but most of us can control our urges to some extent. As Tiger prepares for a return to golf, probably at the Bay Hill Classic, I pray he has learned his lesson. Absolute power (money) corrupts absolutly, but if Tiger gives up himself to the true absolute power, then he can be saved. Only time will tell. Good luck Tiger