Last Friday, you couldn’t turn on a television without seeing major coverage of Tiger Woods’ now famous apology. (I had my opportunity to chime in on CBN’s Newswatch that day as well.) I was fascinated by how this story captivated not only media, but everyday people going about their business. Everyone had an opinion. You didn’t have to be a golf enthusiast to follow the story.
Tiger Woods represents the American dream, a hard working guy who made it big. Imaged as a wholesome family man, surrounded by adorable children and a beautiful wife, you just couldn’t help liking him. He didn’t make obnoxious statements of how great he was, endearing himself to many as a talented, cool guy who was a role model for kids. And Tiger got those of us who didn’t care about golf to actually watch the game! When it all came crashing down, and Tiger became one of us, we were so disappointed.
Once again we learned the lesson: Tiger is just a man, broken, human, and struggling like the rest of humanity. Like all of us, Tiger was born into sin; and without the redemption of Christ, he will continue to struggle with temptation. That is a lesson media will not report because they don’t want to step on toes. I get that. From a secular point of view, any spirituality is viewed as helpful.
In Buddhism, there is no transcendent creator who created the world. There is no Garden of Eden or fall of humanity in need of a personal Savior who can save and atone for sin. The world simply exists with no beginning and no ending. Life as we know it is full of an endless cycle of suffering, which is caused by attachments to and cravings for worldly pleasure. The self is nothing more than a delusion and is the cause of unhappiness. Suffering ends when cravings cease and all delusions are eliminated. When this is experienced, enlightenment is reached. Buddha, the enlightened one, shows the path to this awakening.
Buddhism provides a way for people to engage in spirituality without having to contend with a personal God. Fate is believed to be in one’s control and growth comes through self-effort. At its core, Buddhism commits the original sin: to go one’s own way apart from God.
So my continued prayer for Tiger Woods is that he will be transformed by the One who can truly change his life, mend his relationships, and heal his broken heart. We are all sinners in need of redemption whether we recognize this or not. What I saw in Tiger’s statement was a man who lost control of his life and is desperately trying to bring it back on course through self-effort. Like Brit Hume, I pray that he will one day encounter Christ and know what true surrender can bring to his life.
Are you praying for Tiger? How did you respond to his apology?
~ Dr. Linda