Is it just me or is anyone else a bit flabbergasted at the "graceful" return of Tiger Woods? Almost reminiscent of the Clinton debacle... where my innocent little girls learned what "oral sex" was. Gheesh!
I'm all for restoring a repentant sinner. I'm certainly not perfect and have made my share of mistakes. But it's a little disheartening to consider our society has reached the point where we are willing to "overlook" pretty blatant indiscretions and just get back to business as usual.
Consider these recent headlines: "
Tiger Woods gets best wishes from his jilted porn star Joselyn James"
"Tiger Woods lost his moral compass - not his swing!"
"Tiger Woods wife Elin not to attend Masters"
There was a time when a person's moral character would make or break them. That's the mantra I repeated to my daughters over and over as they were growing up. Especially when Bill and Monica were taking over the headlines.
I'm a little scared for our society.
6 comments:
Hmm... I don't know about this one. What comes to mind is when the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus and everyone stood around her with rocks in their hot little hands waiting to kill her. Jesus said, basically, "Only the perfect people can throw first." When they all walked away, He forgave the woman and told her to go and sin no more.
As I see it, Tiger is sorry, he's getting counseling and help and he's wanting to make changes. I see that as a positive thing. It's not like he's telling the world he did nothing wrong and will continue to live as he has.
I don't think Jesus would want us to have a 'three strikes and you're out forever' attitude. He told Peter to forgive 70 times 7--and that's a whole lot of times to extend forgiveness, indeed.
The Bible says that God *loves* to show mercy. I used to have a problem with that verse because I liked to make people pay for what they did. But right there is a major reason that God sent Jesus--to pay for our sins, Himself. And who am I to go around and be unmerciful, leading others to see God that way since I (am supposed to) represent Him? It's not up to me to play Holy Ghost Jr., making-up new standards and rules and hoops for people to jump through, though I sure used to love to try. :)
Just a few thoughts... some which I've learned the hard way over the years. But this merciful way of living brings me ever so much more joy--and humility. Blessings, Debra
Debra~ I totally agree with all you've said! I guess my beef is with our society and how quickly they sweep everything under the rug. It's the headlines that have bugged me....all making little jokes about his infidelities as if no one was hurt...as if "boys will be boys..." I'm bugged that people don't care about adultery anymore. That somehow it's okay as long as you don't get caught...and now it seems it's okay even of you do. And I'm bugged that society would have us believe there are no consequences to our sin. Yes Tiger may have repented (I certainly hope he did...to Jesus and not Buddah) but now it's back to business as usual as if nothing has happened. I fear what that might be saying to the next generation.
I'm not sure what more you want from him. He has paid a very high price for his bad behavior. He has lost his family, his good name, and the respect of those who thought they knew what he stood for. He has publicly apologized and is trying to move forward. I guess there are stones near the golf courses, but it won't be me picking one of them up.
Back to business as usual but with one difference. he knows he's been 'outed' I can't imagine how humiliating that would be.
On the other hand I'm not so impressed with all the famous and wealthy people who seem to be able to do whatever they like morally and the world continues to idolize and make money out of them and for them. I think it's more about a portion of our society that has lost it's collective mind.
Was talking about this with Mum today. The division between those who have healthy moral values and those who are accepting of almost everything is growing. It would be scary if I didn't believe God remains sovereign.
Blessings
Hi again Laurie. I'm glad you agreed. :) I think we've read different headlines, though. heh. Man oh man, the headlines I've seen have been extremely unmerciful, as if those journalists are as pure as the driven snow. :) I've read and watched terrible, unforgiving articles/news reports where reporters complained that Tiger wasn't answering enough questions (questions, which personally, I didn't think were any of their business). I watched his first news conference and thought he said enough, because really, some things are none of our business. (Frankly, you'd never catch me giving a news conference if I committed adultery!). But immediately afterward, flipping from channel to channel, all I heard were bloodthirsty remarks about how Tiger didn't say enough, didn't sound sorry enough,didn't wimper enough, hadn't paid enough.
And frankly? It all made Tom and me sick. Sicker than Tiger's sins, even. The whole 'pack of wolves' mentality upset me and I almost wrote about it in my blog, but my emotions were too high and God would rather (I think) have me wait until they stopped boiling and bubbling so I could sound, well, rational. :)
Maybe you watched different tv channels....heh... But really, I heard from plenty of people in all forms of news that Tiger should just pack up his golf clubs for forever or until *they felt* he'd sufficiently paid for his sins according to their time table.
Me? I've been praying that this will bring to Tiger a very real sense of his need of Jesus, the forgiver of our sins and the one who can make us strong enough to say no to them--and the very lover of our souls. And I'm now waiting in faith, watching in anticipation to see if those prayers will come true.
Alas. Thanks for letting me get this out in your comment box. As I said, God wouldn't let me write about it in my own blog. heh... :) Hugs, Debra
I think I'm most horrified by how much of this is playing out in the news. Why is it news? Okay, maybe I see the *why* of reporting it, but I don't see the need to report the details. Maybe I'm missing something. :)
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