Posted on 01/10/2010 4:45:24 AM PST by Kaslin
Unless you've been living under a rock or were recently abducted by aliens, chances are you've heard about Tiger Woods' humiliating exposure as a serial adulterer and the resulting damage to his marriage and career.
The Woods scandal has filled the front pages and dominated the airwaves, inviting commentary from pundits from CNN to ESPN to TMZ. While folks like Dennis Rodman and Hugh Hefner are speaking out in defense of the golfer - justifying his plight by blaming the pressure of fame or mocking the concept of marital fidelity - it's clear to most people that Mr. Woods' marital and professional crises are problems for which he bears sole and direct responsibility. By any standard of measure, his actions have been outrageous and utterly unacceptable. Undoubtedly, in the coming months Tiger will be looking for a way to restore his reputation and, perhaps, save his shattered marriage.
So how does one recover from all this?
Fox News Sunday panelist Brit Hume stunned many when he suggested on air that Tiger, a rumored adherent of Buddhism, should seek redemption and forgiveness through the Christian faith. Well, if history is any measure, that's good advice. The Bible recounts many stories of individuals whose lives were corrupted by evil deeds but who found forgiveness and redemption through the grace and love of God. King David was an adulterer and murderer, yet because he repented and sought the forgiveness of his Maker, he will forever be known as a man after God's own heart. The Apostle Paul was also an evildoer - the chief of sinners in his own estimation - yet he found forgiveness and redemption in the saving work of Jesus Christ. And who can forget the Samaritan woman, a known adulteress and societal outcast, who went to the local well for a bucket of water only to have her transgressions washed away and soul restored by the Savior of mankind.
Love, forgiveness, and redemption - these are the central reasons why Christ died on the cross. His death was, is, and will forever be adequate atonement for our sins.
Brit Hume, a believer in Christ, knows this well, and it is not wrong to suggest that the message of Christianity is one that Tiger Woods could benefit from embracing at this dark hour in his life. Of course, no sooner had the word "Christianity" left his mouth than the media intellegensia pounced. The Washington Post's Tom Shales blasted Hume's remarks as utterly inappropriate for a news show and suggested that his "dissing" of Buddhism calls for a public apology.
While Hume's remarks were certainly unexpected compared to the commentary normally heard on the Sunday morning news show circuit, they were made as part of an editorial segment on a show that solicits the opinion of its panelists. And truth be told, Buddhism does not offer the kind of redemption and forgiveness offered by Christianity. Buddhism is a non-theistic religion that might better be described as a school of philosophy; it does not speculate on the existence of God and certainly does not embrace the idea that man is connected to the Creator of the Universe through the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, for the purposes that Hume was discussing, he was accurate in his statement that Buddhism does not offer the kind of redemption and forgiveness offered by Christianity.
But of course, this kind of theological certainty makes many uncomfortable. While Shales was quick to acknowledge that Hume's faith has done much to help him through some difficult times, he was clearly uncomfortable with a departure from the post-modern religious relativism that rules the day. That Brit Hume has experienced the power of Christ in his own life and has suggested that a troubled young man facing the loss of his family and career might do the same makes no difference.
Regardless of what Shales or anyone else may think, Hume does not owe anyone an apology for his words. While everyone else is busy speculating as to how Tiger might strategize his way back into the nation's good graces, Brit Hume is one of the few willing to offer the beleaguered athlete an authentic path to restoration. Tiger Woods is not a unique individual; he is no worse than the rest of us sinners. But now that his private sins have been exposed for the whole world to see, it may indeed be the ideal time for him?as so many of us have done?to drop to his knees with humility and gratitude and ask his Heavenly Father for guidance and forgiveness.
I will say this for Buddhism- at least they haven’t issued any death threats against Brit Hume like another certain medieval, misogynistic, moon-god-worshipping, pedophile-prophet-adoring religion would do if they were dissed.
I've never considered Hume to be any kind of a bible thumper. He is obviously comfortable in his own place in the universe. Maybe that's why I listen to him above all other newsies.
Regarding Christianity, when I turned forty, about a third of a lifetime ago, I became convinced that the Gospel according to John was written for me, personally. Luckily, there seems to be enough to go around.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC4tDVcm_7E
The fact is that Tiger cheated on his wife, betrayed her trust and love, and also that of their two children. He messed up big time, and he failed as a man towards them. However, those are the people that Tiger needs to apologize to, and to work towards saving the marriage ...and if it cannot be saved, then to ensure that his wife and his children are catered to to the best of his ability. Period. He does not need to give ME an apology, because all Tiger was to me was one of the best golfers to ever take a breath on God's good earth! End of story. I never claimed to no him, never needed to know him, and only appreciated his introducing me to that amazing game.
It actually amazes me how many people think they know their favorite athletes, actors, media personalities, politicians, etc when all they know (really know) is a carefully prepared construct that may or may not be true. Then, when their politician is taking 'mountain hikes' (that magically end up in South America), or when their 'pithy' media commentator is playing with vibrators and making sick calls (after coming across as a solid moral chap just a few weeks prior), or when so and so starts playing footsie in a public restroom ....they are all shocked and appalled. However, at least THAT shock makes sense ...after all, it is one thing for Spetznaz to be become your local representative, a potential future candidate for president, and then I am off to get some South American tail while my wife thinks I am hiking. It is another thing to be shocked when an ATHLETE (still wondering if golfers are athletes ...but that's another discussion) goes off the reservation.
As 'sir' Charles Barkley said, athletes should not be considered role models. If Barkley knows that (he even went further to show why just because someone can dunk he shouldn't be considered a 'hero' by saying how many prison inmates could probably dunk better than he could), it is amazing how many people get worked out when their athlete falls. Well, don't be surprised ...they are just physically gifted people who managed to excel in their given sport ...they did not sign any morality papers before hand.
Anyways, the belief that people know their athletes is funny. It is like those who adore Phil because he is a great golfer. That's alright. But because he is a great family man? YOU DON'T KNOW THAT! All you know is what you see in a tube! He probably is, but I cannot claim that for certain, and furthermore I do not care (he just needs to keep playing golf ...otherwise were it not for that I couldn't give a hoot for Tiger or Phil or whoever).
Furthermore, those who are glad about lost endorsement deals! Well, they will be coming back ....just as they came back for Kobe Bryant (who not only cheated on his wife, but was accused of anally raping someone). The sponsors pulled out, and once the heat died down came back ...and paid him more to get back. Once the heat dies down on Tiger, they will be back (because he is easily the most bankable golfer out there, and arguably the most bankable athlete) ...they will pay him extra for pulling out when they come back to him.
Anyways ...for me, I wish Tiger and his family well. If it works out for them, great ...if it doesn't, then I hope Tiger caters for them. Apart from that, all I require from Tiger is a competitive and entertaining game of golf. My role models and heroes tend to be real role models and heroes, not people who can whack a ball, dunk a ball, steer a wheel, pump some pedals, run fast in a straight line, or swim fast in the Olympics when they are not smoking marijuana and losing their cereals endorsements!
Very well stated and a breath of fresh air. Thanks
It is erroneous to refer to Buddhism as medieval since it predates Christianity.
Perhaps not "for you", but certainly "to you".
When, do you claim, did each originate approximately?
560 BCE - 483 BCE: Probable life of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). By the beginning of the Christian Era, Buddhism had already split into hundreds of sects.
The Bible reveals that following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, [his] disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26 (NASV). And thus or thereabouts began what, I presume, you refer to as the Christian Era.
The promise of one who would come to redeem sinners through the offer of forgiveness and redemption - the same forgiveness to which Brit Hume referred - came much earlier however. Before the birth of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), God promised in the Garden of Eden to send a Savior into the world: I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her Seed; He will crush you on the head, and you will crush Him on the heel. Genesis 3:15
Thus, the promise of forgiveness to all who believe, which was fulfilled through Jesus Christ and unique to Christianity, predates Buddhism.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
Thanks for posting this.
What's with this "BCE" business. It's BS; as in "Before Christ". That Christ was born, lived, died and was resurrected is not open to debate. It is factually settled by even non-Christian historians.
The birth Christ and his place in the history of the world is so significant and so settled that virtually the entire world measured time and history in relation to His birth. Jesus Christ is God.
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