Brit Hume, Tiger Woods, Buddhism and Christianity
Tags: Morality.
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I guess I should have been watching TV yesterday rather than out on the golf course (I went after Church). Hume calls Woods to embrace Christ, and the world goes mad. The Anchoress covers the whole issue very well. The nutshell:
Hume had to know, when he was making his remarks, that he was opening himself (and to an extent, all of Christianity) for some criticism and ridicule; perhaps he expected that his remarks would foment debate and dialogue. As we see, though, from our Buddhist friends, Ms. O’ Brien, Charles Martin, and from Americablog, first reactions to his remarks have either completely misconstrued his intent (stone-throwing?) or his meaning (unproductive-faith-alone?) or his message (“Republican” Christians don’t sin?), and so any dialogue will begin with a deficit in understanding, on both sides.
Speaking only from my own perspective as a Christian, it seems to me there are a lot of non-Christians out there who really don’t understand Christianity, or the mystery and purpose of Christ, and this is partly the fault of Christians. If we lived our creed better, preaching the gospel by the way we live our lives, and by our love, then perhaps those who currently distrust us enough to be satisfied with incuriousness and stereotypes, would not be so quick to jump to the worst conclusions when a fellow like Hume speaks -very gently, it must be said, without stoning or consignment to flames of woe- on the Christian application to the human condition.
Should Hume have said what he did, on the air? I am a little ambivilent about it.
On one hand, as a Christian, I admire it; Hume put himself out there, as “a fool for Christ,” willing to face ridicule and scorn for his faith. On the other hand, I’m not comfortable with the venue. I don’t think I would like it if, for example, Christopher Hitchens suggested to Tiger, “don’t worry about it, there is no God, anyway,” or if some Muslim used a news broadcast to suggest that Woods should turn to Islam. As the writer at Americablog suggested, minding the salvation of Tiger Woods this is not Hume’s job as a newscaster.
It is his job as a Christian, however, and Hume might have done better, in a host of ways, by contacting Woods privately, and offering to pray for him (as he is likely already doing) and perhaps introducing Woods to the Good Shepherd, in the process.
But we don’t know everything…
And, indeed, we don’t know everything – but we Christians do know this much: Tiger Woods has a burden upon his back which can only be lifted, and made good, by grace. There’s nothing Woods can do to fix the problem as he can’t un-cheat on his wife. To be sure, he can make amends – to his wife and children, as well as to the women he so badly used – but he can’t make it good. He can’t make it, that is, as if it had never been. Only God can do that – and He’ll do it, just for the asking. The real trouble is getting someone to ask.
And I mean to really ask – not just a perfunctory “God forgive me so I can get out of this jam” but more along the lines of “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.” At first glance, it doesn’t sound like all that much, but in such an act of contrition there is no escape – you are taking full responsibility, offering no mitigating circumstances and understanding that what you’ve done wrong is to betray God, who created you as an act of love. As the only person actually offended by our sins is God, only God can make them as if they had never been. And thus, Christ.
And, so, Brit Hume – having felt the redeeming power of the Lord, offers it to Tiger Woods. Some people are saying this is out of order – that it is not Hume’s place to speak, and that Christianity has no superior claim to other faiths. Well, no. At least, such is not how Christians view the matter. Hume may have spoken out of turn but that is the nature of Christian morality – to speak out of turn. In fact, to speak at the most inconvenient time possible. To ask us to refrain is pointless – to demand we refrain because we, ourselves, often fail the test is laughable. To insist that we all attempt to live up to our own ethic, that is mere kindness to us.
Thank you for visiting Blogs For Victory. If you enjoy our content, please consider making a donation to help us cover the costs of our servers.Mark Noonan is co-author (with Matt Margolis) of Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority. He also blogs at Nevada News and Views. Follow Mark on Twitter.
26 Responses to “Brit Hume, Tiger Woods, Buddhism and Christianity”
Caucus of Corruption
“When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.”
-Emo Philips
and now 4 something other than a woman’s or grandpa view.
forget oprah, not his audience anyway.
do a rome interview after the divorce & signing new sponsors…
…like maxim, jamison, hooters, etc which would pull a younger, hipper crowd into golf.
plus his entourage of go-daddy girls walking around the course would be oh so tv friendly.
the leaner, meaner tiger!
Chef
soooooooo typical that is the reason we have 80% illegitimacy rates in da hood and mothers with 6 kids from six doners.
only dogs think with their d***s,got it “DOG”?
we used to call them the F&F boys, F = fight & F**K, thats all they talked about and or did, not much has changed in the last 30 some years….Pathetic!
Mark, I believe Brit did right who cares what some hindu or muzzi says. They certainly do not mind using Christianity as a doormat.
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing
Edmund Burke
neocon1 says: January 5th, 2010 at 9:14 am
ur grandpa crowd’s view was already known w the predictable racist twist.
thx anyway.
coming to a city near you………..soon
The man who allegedly shot and killed a security officer and wounded a U.S. Marshal today in an early morning shootout at the federal courthouse in Las Vegas had sued the Social Security Administration for “race discrimination,” claiming his benefits were unfairly reduced.
Chef
ur grandpa crowd’s view was already known w the predictable racist twist.
not “racism” just a cultural truth.
statistics speak for them selves, dont blame the messenger, blame the perpetrator….. OH WAIT we cant, that would be “RAAAAACCCIIIST!”
the answer for everything to stop the conversation and hide the truth.
careful neocon, ur fmrmarine is showing.
and we all know he was banned for linking to a known racist site.
so fmrmarine was judged a racist.
Chef
referring to one as someone who was “banned” and accusing them of racism fits the template well.
When you have no answer, or defense go right to the racism moniker.
better yet accuse them of being a banned poster, and a racist…TYPICAL and PATHETIC!
stick with your “buddies” from the fork that is level where you belong.
back on point…
…hume’s view is the old white grandpa view.
I hope the brother takes it a diff direction as I wrote above.
Chef
hume’s view is the old white grandpa view.
nothing racist there eh?
pot meet kettle.
When you have no answer, or defense go right to the racism moniker.
So what’s new about this, neocon1? ohiomoron never has an answer; his tactic is to get under your skin.
He’s a lib; he has no morals.
Ignore the girly-boy…
Tiger Woods, like Bill Clinton is a perfect example of how sin corrupts and destroys. Disease and sickness, emotional and physical hurt and pain are results of sin, with the end result being death, and death brings the inability to gain salvation.
So, where do we start? In the heart. In the heart is where sin is born, so in it is where we must begin.
The Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus that had been caught in adultery, they said “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. ow in the Low Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test Him, that they might have some charge to bring against Him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask Him, He stood up and said to them, “Let Him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. And once more He bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the olde ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before Him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]
Sin no more, sin no more. Repeat it with me, sin no more, sin no more.
Jesus was not giving the woman a license to continue on in sin as the Pharisees had tried to claim and pin on Him. But He willingly forgives, and He wants us to recognize that sin starts in the heart and that when it is full blown it gives birth death and eternal separation from God.
Anyone who says that Tiger has no reason to feel guilty is a liar, and are of their father the Devil the Father of all lies, he was a murderer from the beginning. Only through true repentance and turning to the Lord for his help can Tiger be set from his bondage to sin. Jesus said, ‘Truly, truly I say unto thee, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The salve does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will b e free indeed.”
Do you wish to be set free, friend? Ask the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life, today. Don’t delay!
Jer
Tiger Woods, like Bill Clinton is a perfect example of how sin corrupts and destroys.
wasnt bill clinton dubbed the first “black potus” ?
seems he and tiger both rejected the word of God.
OO,
I fail to see what being more of a cretin will do to improve Woods’ life. Its like saying that if your problem is booze, better start in with the cocaine, too.
RE: wasnt bill clinton dubbed the first “black potus” ?
Lol. The only thing I know about him is he made a poor leader.
seems he and tiger both rejected the word of God.
Yes, but in today’s society, it’s nothing new. The Word of God is ignored and trampled on by our very own leaders, and for that, we are headed for destruction.
I told Dad once, “You know, Dad, it’d be nice if America turned out a happy ending like It’s a Wonderful Life” and he just shook his head and said “no, it won’t.” So, it seemed kind of foolish for me to even suggest such.
America’s on its way out, and Christ is about to return soon.
Jeremiah,
In re OO’s comment, I’m reminded of something I read in Matthew the other night:
Our friend OO doesn’t realize that Woods would have more happiness, in a day, if he tried to do the right thing then he’d have in a lifetime of womanizing. He’s been invited and has refused to come. He might be gathered up, but if he doesn’t do the simple thing required, he’ll be cast out. Perhaps, in a very real way, Hume’s words were meant for OO…and we pray that he’ll pay heed.
RE: Hume’s words were meant for OO…and we pray that he’ll pay heed.
Indeed, Mark. It would be a shame for OO to find himself lost at Jesus’ return.
Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”
But for the unrepentant, He says, “It would be better that he had a mill stone tied around his neck and drowned in the sea.”
“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
And so, in spreading the message, we are stewards of God’s good grace.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus!
Jeremiah,
Lewis said it best – life is about choosing to say to God, “thy will be done” or, eventually, God saying to you, “thy will be done”. Its all in the choosing…
RE: Its all in the choosing…
Amen, Mark. And OO has this choice before him. If today is OO’s crossroads, then he still has the opportunity to turn down the straight and narrow, and through faith, believing that Jesus died for his sins on the Cross. And Jesus will help him to overcome sin in his life. Too, he needs someone as an accountability partner, someone grounded in the truth. Alone he cannot stand…and that’s why the Scripture says, Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” It’s those he interacts with that have the greatest influence on his character. Also, he must feast on God’s Word daily to gain wisdom and understanding, and God will work wonders in his life for inspiration to others.
If he has chosen to go the broad way which leads to destruction? Well, he will go on being miserable, as hell is never satisfied.
jeremiah06 says: January 5th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
the good book says no man knows the future…
…not even jeremiah.
so stop the pretentious prosthelytizing which doesn’t rise to avg entertainment.
mark –
my point, which eluded you, was that tiger’s image was incorrect all along.
time for an image remake.
and hume is an ol fuddy duddy.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Living God: Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8
There is a penalty for sin: Romans 6:23, John 3:18
You cannot save yourself Titus 3:5, James 2:10
Salvation has been provided: Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, John 14:6
The conditions are simple:
Repent: Luke 13:3
Confess: 1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9
Believe: Acts 16:31
Now is the time for decision: Joshua 24:15, II Corinthians 6:2
Share you new faith:
Confess Christ before men: Matthew 10:32-33.
Join a church which follows the New Testament: Acts 2:47
Tell others the Story: Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus died for you, Ohioorrin. Accept him today for your only hope of salvation through His awesome plan.
hey truth, wanna hold hands & sing kumbayah?
try sticking to the subject for pete’s sake…jeesch.
RE: the good book says no man knows the future
You’ve taken it out of context, Ohioorrin.
No man knows when the Father will come, but those who live according to God will be prepared each day as if He would return any minute.
Just like a thief, you know not when he comes, but you are prepared, right?
Same way with God, you know not when He comes because He will come like a thief in the night. So, you should live each day expecting His return.
That you can be sure, that Christ will come again. Are you ready?
And no, I won’t stop witnessing to you. As long as Mark allows you to come here, I will continue to witness to you. Like Mark said, you need Christ as much or more than Tiger Woods needs Him.
Take care, and have a good day.
Ohioorrin, Tiger needs not the image that you think he should have, but the image that he will attain through accepting Christ.
That is the entire point here. Try to grasp it.