The Tiger Debacle

The Tiger Woods scandal is obviously an international saga. It’s on everyone’s lips – and has made for spicy water cooler talk over the last few weeks.  Tiger is losing some of his large corporate sponsorship, Accenture being the first of what many feel won’t be the last.

How should Christians use the Tiger fiasco to point people to Jesus and the gospel?

1. Ask people why they care? Statistics tell us that infidelity is not uncommon, in fact more husbands cheat on their wives than don’t. Why is Tiger Woods unfaithfulness then cause for alarm? Is it because he’s a sports icon or is it because we really do believe there is a standard morality that each person should be subject to. And if there is a standard morality it demands there is Someone who established that law and holds humanity accountable to it.

2. Ask people why marital infidelity is wrong. Our culture preaches a subjective morality with the motto, “whatever feels good do it.” How then can we criticize Tiger for doing what feels good? Who decides that infidelity is wrong? You might say it’s wrong, but I feel differently and it really is all about how I feel. This can open up a discussion about common grace, and the fact that God has imprinted His standard upon our hearts. Which will hopefully give you an opportunity to lay out the gospel for them.

3. Tell people about God’s created goodness – He created marriage to be between one man and one woman. He intended marriage to be life long and monogamous. He instituted the covenant of marriage so that both the man and the woman could be fulfilled by one another. It’s only our rebellion toward Him and His created goodness that Has brought about the relational repercussions that so many (like Tiger and his family) have and are experiencing. Then tell them about Jesus and the gospel and His plan to restore His creation back to its intended created goodness.

4. Don’t elevate yourself above Tiger. Make it clear to your co-workers, friends, and family that it is only by God’s grace that you aren’t in the exact same boat (with far less publicity of course) and that it is only God’s grace that can restore such a terrible situation.

Here is a great article on this subject  by Dr. Albert Mohler