Posted on 04/20/2010 6:53:46 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
What would Jesus say to Tiger Woods and Jesse James?" posed the pastor of a Texas megachurch.
Addressing the recent celebrity scandals and adulterous affairs that have been adorning tabloids and magazines for the past several months, Pastor Kerry Shook of Woodlands Church challenged the congregation not to cast any more stones than have already been thrown.
"A lot of people have been throwing rocks at Tiger Woods and Jesse James," Shook said, alluding to the New Testament account of the adulterous woman the Pharisees wanted to have stoned.
"I'm not going to pick up another stone and add to what's happening here," he said Sunday, noting the gossip and water cooler talk surrounding the scandals.
Shook, author of bestselling book One Month to Live, began a message series earlier this month titled "Sacred," teaching the thousands at his megachurch about treating what is uniquely valuable as uniquely valuable rather than common.
Sexual intimacy is one of those gifts that seems to have lost its sacredness in society today, he noted.
"Most people treat God's sacred gift of sexual intimacy as common, casual, no big deal when God says it's to be treated as an uncommon, beautiful, wonderful, valuable, sacred gift in the marriage relationship," said Shook.
While sexual intimacy within marriage is beautiful and for the couple's enjoyment, outside of marriage it is destructive, the pastor pointed out.
Answering the curious question raised at the start of his sermon, Shook said, "I think Jesus would say to Tiger Woods and Jesse James and to me and to you 'I don't condone your sin. In fact, your sin is the reason why I had to go to a cross and die an excruciatingly painful and humiliating death on a Roman cross.
"'But I don't condemn you. I offer you forgiveness.'"
Famed golfer Woods and James, who builds custom motorcycles and is married to actress Sandra Bullock, have been on the hot seat since shocking allegations of infidelity surfaced. Each celebrity has allegedly had a number of mistresses and divorce is reportedly looming for both.
Amid the ongoing reports and public interest in the stories, Shook chose to address the matter for his message on "Sacred Love and Sex."
"What better way to show God's relevance than to pick something that's on the front page of every tabloid in America," the Woodlands pastor commented in a statement.
Before being quick to judge the celebrities, Shook reminded the congregation that all sin is sin to God, whether it is physically acted out or not.
"We always judge these ... outward sins that are so salacious," he said. "Everybody gossips; ... it makes us feel better about ourselves. But the sins of the heart (i.e. lust) are just as destructive, Jesus says."
"There are different consequences for different sins. There's no doubt," he noted. "The sins that these two guys have committed are really bringing about some terrible consequences, especially for their families and for themselves.
"[But] we can't compare ourselves. It keeps us from working on issues in our own lives."
"I just hope that we understand that every one of us need to work on our own lives," he underlined.
Addressing the general crowd, Shook preached on the readiness of God to forgive.
"Whenever you commit adultery or a sin like that that hurts, destroys marriage, you come to God and ask for forgiveness. He forgives instantly and He starts restoring your life instantly," Shook preached. "But it takes time to build trust back."
"We need to come to God for forgiveness because we're all sinners."
Woodlands Church is a multi-site church with more than 16,000 weekly attendees.
Never claimed it to be an excuse; that’s something you brought to the party, not me.
What I said is that there are contributing factors. Every action has contributing factors, and part of the problem is that Tiger spent a lot of his life alone. Some men are sleazeballs that will have a mistress no matter what. Some are outstanding, that will resist temptation at every turn. Then you have the middle ground, where given a combination of being lonely and ignored by your wife, and an opportunity presents itself.
But, you have failed to address my point. Why was Elin spending months alone in their mansion, while her husband was living at a $1,000+/night resort for weeks or months every year? Why didn’t she join him?
If you had a net worth of $450 Million, and you had to spend 2+ weeks in Hawaii for an upcoming tour; would you ask your wife to join you? How about the nanny and kids? It’s not like she has a career that is taking up all of her time.
I traveled for a living much of my life. My wife stayed home with the kids.
I know human nature, I’ve been around for several decades; it goes with the territory.
The fact is that Tiger spent months every year alone, at resorts by himself.
Now, put on your thinking cap. You are alone in a $1,000/nite resort, with hundreds of millions in the bank. You are young, attractive and will be staying in the resort for the next several weeks - your spouse has no interest in joining you.
Is it beyond the grasp of reality that your celebrity status will attract young women who want to got o bed with you? Just so they can brag to their girlfriends? Any chance that after spending a couple years with this routine, that you might ‘slip’? And after a year or so of ‘slipping’, this becomes a habit.
My church has a saying.
Watch what you read, for what you read eventaully becomes what you think.
Watch what you think, because what you think may lead to actions.
Watch your actions, because your actions can become habits.
Watch your habits, because your habits form your personality; and once an aspect is part of your personality - it is now a permanent part of YOU.
“Stop robbing trains”?
Did you stay at expensive resorts, with millions in the bank? Did you ejoy the celebrity status that Tiger enjoys? Did attractive women show up at your hotel room?
Did a young attractive waitress slip you her phone number? Perhaps show up late at night at your hotel room? Tiger has no need to go looking for sex; it’s freely offered. Had a roommate who played lead guitar in what became a popular band. Talk to a rock’n roll star; they’ll tell you all about that - it’s an eye opener.
You really want to compare yourself with Tiger Woods in this category?
“Glue your danged zippers shut!”
You beat me too it! (Though I said trains.)
A little emotional, aren’t we?
Comparing a murder with a cheating husband? Take a deep breath, and when you can post an intelligent arguement, let me know.
Again, as you seem to be overlooking this .... Yes, Tiger is at fault. Tiger was a naughty boy.
But, there are some tell-tales that may have contributed to this situation. This was 100% predictable, and perhaps 10% preventable.
Tiger is a cad. End of story. My thinking cap stays on. Thank you very much. You can try to make excuses for him all day long, but he was married, he cheated and not a few times. Doesn’t matter if he was a celeb. He didn’t honor his vows. I am glad my husband doesn’t think like you do. :)
Marginalizing another poster by telling them to take a deep breath or to post something intelligent because you don’t have an answer doesn’t make you look logical.
What would Jesus say? The answer to that question is easy and it is NOT what this so-called "pastor" told his congregation:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
“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.
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)
". . . you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He (the Messiah, their savior), you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
Even putting aside the fact that you have no idea whatever what the reason was for Tiger’s wife staying home, your argument seems to be that a rich wife is to blame for her husband’s philandering. Tiger Woods committed serial adultery; the blame is his, not his wife’s.
If you read my posts, I say over and over again.
Yup, Tiger is wrong. Yup, he’s a naughty boy. He blew it.
But, I also said that this was 100% predictable, and perhaps 10% preventable. How many celebrities travel with their families? Take a look at your Country Western singers, they tend to travel in a big RV with their wife and kids as they tour. Why do you suppose they do that? Is it convenient? (nope) Is it easy? (nope). Does it help bond the family together (yup).
Comparing my statements about Tiger Woods, and implying that I'm somehow justifying the cold-blooded murder of a woman is pretty contemptable.
You brought that ugly matter up, and threw it at me. I responded logically.
I don’t know Tiger or his wife, and honestly haven’t followed the story much. He’s a good golfer ... but I’ve always been more of a Mickelson fan.
I agree that men and women see these issues differently — and most seem to want to blame the other party. Women who were cheated on say he’s lying scum. Men who cheat say she is cold and unavailable and drove him to it. They bitch back and forth forever ... she holds a grudge, he stands his ground ... they both become miserable and intolerable ... and then they divorce — both still blaming the other party.
When there are problems, its always a good idea to look at your own part in that problem. A man who cheats is either weak or a narcissistic tool ... and maybe a combination of the two. A woman whose husband cheats is either too detached and not paying him enough attention, or lousy at picking suitable honorable husbands.
In either case, there is something BOTH parties can fix about themselves to help the situation, or make sure that you don’t end up in the same spot in the future.
Women should understand that men need affection, and that if you continually brush your husband off ... he very well may go to someone who is more inviting. If your husband is just a jerk, leave him. If he’s weak and you played a part in driving him away ... don’t play that part anymore.
Men should understand that your family and your integrity come before your libido. If you’re a jerk who was not driven away — sack up and be a man, or let her find someone who will (and don’t subject any other women to your pathetic self). If you were driven away and were too weak to resist ... sack up and be a man. Talk to your wife about your inability to control yourself ... if she can’t (or won’t) help you be stronger, do the honorable thing and let her go find someone who doesn’t need a crutch to resist temptation.
SnakeDoc
Hold me in contempt then. *yawn*
I’m fairly old, and I’ve been married for over 30 years (yeah, I was pretty young when I got married). I’m extra ordinarily lucky to be married to a fabulous man. But, I’ve seen a lot of marriages fall apart thru the years and I have never seen one in which both parties did do things that contributed. A marriage is a contract tho. If a guy feels he’s not getting what he needs from a marriage (or a woman for that matter) then get out of it first. That’s all. But people, men and women, don’t seem to think they need to live up to their end of bargains these days. Their wants and needs come first.
Sometimes life sucks.
I read once that most marriages hit rough spots, but most couples who motor thru them come out within a few years glad they saw it thru and are happier that they stuck it out.
Not easy to travel with 2 small children. Not easy at all.
And a Divorce is easier?
Like I said, 100% predictable, and maybe 15% preventable.
I think there is an echo in here. Isn't that what I've been saying all day long - and then getting accused of justifying the murder of an innocent woman? I thought Tiger was at fault 100%,at least that's the case you put forth.
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