Tiger Woods, Sex, and the Rest of Us

on Dec 02 in Art and Media, Everyday Life, TMI

The news broke today about Tiger’s affair.

As I was driving home from work, I turned the radio to the AM dial, and listened to some sports talk radio.¬† They were discussing Tiger’s situation.

And they were killing him.

Verbal murder.  Sexually explicit comments. Terrible imitations of his wife in a Swedish accent.  It was horrible.

I think that’s the only way some people know how to process something like this.¬† They stand at a distance and throw stones.¬† These guys were throwing boulders made of humor and ridicule.

There will be another stone that’s thrown here – the stone of shock and disbelief.¬† They’ll openly question why in the world Tiger would cheat on his wife?¬† She’s a runway model for goodness sake!¬† People will write words like “stupid”, or “idiot”, or worse on their stones, then hurl them at Tiger.

When Jesus stood in front of a group of Nobody’s, he talked about lust.¬† I wonder what He would have said if Tiger Woods was in the crowd.¬† I think He would have said something like, “You have heard that Tiger Woods cheated on his wife.¬† But I tell you that any man who looks at a woman with lust in his heart has already cheated on his wife.”

It would be a poignant moment for me, if I was in the crowd.

The problem with Christianity is this:  I am in the crowd.

I think I’d be reminded of the times I’d allowed lust to go unchecked in my own life.¬† I’d be drawn to many embarrassing moments when I’d chosen the false beauty of pornography over the authentic beauty of Christ. I’d be assured that lusting after a woman is only one kind of lust – that whenever a desire becomes a demand, lust is lurking.

I think I’d be reminded that the only stone I can throw is the one I intentionally aim at my own heart.

And I think I’d be drawn to pray for this poor family.¬† For a wife who will always feel the overwhelming pain of betrayal.¬† For two little children who will hear something about this on the news in a few years.

And for this man, Tiger.¬† I’d pray that he spends more time on his knees than on the links.¬† I’d pray that a counsel of Godly men would surround him, and that he would allow it.¬† And I’d pray that he could earn back the trust of his wife.

And finally, I’d pray that God would protect my own heart from anything that would blast it apart.

Because if we ever think we’re above these life-altering decisions, we really need to think again.