The Tiger issue, yeah well I’m guilty too…
Published: December 31, 2009
Today, I was at the gym and looked up to see that every TV show from O’Reilly to Joy Behar had some feature story about the most recent Tiger Woods scandal and felt the need to give “their perspective.”
As I watched the screens off and on, I felt saddened like something precious or sacred was being destroyed, that right before me eyes, a marriage was being ripped to pieces. Yes, I know from all the reports Tiger Woods is guilty of cheating on his wife. I do not excuse any of his behavior. But, I could not help but be saddened as I watched these people who seemed to care nothing at all about this man tear his marriage and his family apart.
Then I stopped and I was reminded of the times that I too had put my mouth on the issue. Hearing people say things like “men like him just shouldn’t be married, it’s the truth.”
And I thought for a moment, what if instead of joining in on the American conversation of “I can’t believe he did that,” I instead began to pray for Godly men to rise up and cover him in prayer.
What if I prayed that Christian athletes would seek him out and let him know that God can restore even our biggest mistakes?
What if I began to pray that God would send the wives of professional athletes, to pray for his wife, to cover her in prayer?
What if I prayed that they would go and encourage her to forgive him not for who he is but for the sake of an even greater redemptive purpose?
What if I believed God that he would send spiritual fathers to adopt Tiger Woods and teach him what it means to be a godly man, a godly husband, and a godly father?
These questions sound very compassionate, but the reality is they should have been my first response. Because the truth is that every man and every woman would fall into adultery, if not for the grace of God!
Proverbs is full of examples of warnings to young men to stay away from women who seduce them and lure them in because it will bring their death and destruction. While I don’t fault the mistresses, I do pray that God would give someone a burden to cry out for these women to be broken before God and see their true value not in their sex appeal but in their beauty of holiness. I do pray that God would send Christian women to love on them until the goodness of God brings them to repentance.
So today, I am making a conscious decision to respond differently to see the heart and mercy of God in every situation. Because if God formed the oceans and separated the sky, and yet still holds you and I in the palm of his hands, then surely he can redeem one man’s marriage no matter how public the sin is.
Surely Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who conquered death, burial and the grave, can cause one man to come to a place of surrender and brokenness.
Surely, if we begin to pray the prayers of redemptive grace, then God will not only redeem the marriage of Tiger Woods, but also the millions of men and women who’s marriages are on the rocks because of adultery, pornography, and so many other sexual sins.
Then what could God do with a man like Tiger Woods, if he would become totally surrendered to Christ? How many people would be saved?
Finally, what could God do with you and me if we were totally surrendered?
If we would choose to be silent on a news story, rather than hurt the heart of God. Death and life is in the power of the tongue. The question is: are we ready to give the grace that we have so freely received, if so are we truly surrendered?
Hannah Carter is a Christian who writes on various social justice issues from abortion to homelessness. She has a desire for the spirit of adoption to be returned to the Christian church and for children to be regarded as blessings and not problems. She is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe with a BA in Political Science. She and her husband currently reside in Atlanta, GA and attends the Father's House Church, led by Bishop Wellington Boone.
Copyright © 2010 you129 & Hannah Carter. All rights reserved.
loswl
December 14, 2009
Very refreshing article on this public tearing apart of a marriage, I wondered when I heard the news about Mr. Woods situation, ...why is the media so surprised? why are they treating Tiger like he is sinless and why are we tearing him down further for what he has done? I kinda stopped watching the news after I got a full dose of it the first day, I totally agree with you, we should pray for him, that God place someone in his life that can lead him to the peace of God’s grace and forgiveness all of us need that in our lives.
Phil Davis
December 14, 2009
“Let he who is without sin throw the first stone” I’ve thrown many stones so to speak. I feel really sorry for the Tiger, his wife, and everyone else involved.
Hannah Carter
December 18, 2009
Thanks for the great comments. Phill it’s funny because I didn’t think about that verse until later. But anyone who has been married for even a couple of months, knows the struggle that can exist to stay pure and devoted to your spouse.
The battle is just beginning for Tiger Woods and His family. So let us take time to truly intercede for His family now. The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much. So let’s commit to more consistency in our prayers.
Hannah Carter