From Fox News:
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Tiger Woods is to return to therapy after he speaks publicly for the first time about his infidelity, according to a letter from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem that was obtained by The Associated Press. Finchem’s letter to the PGA Tour policy board and other officials explained why Woods chose Friday to make his first public comments, which are to be televised live by the major networks. Woods’ statement comes during the Match Play Championship, sponsored by Accenture, the first company to drop Woods as a pitchman. “As we understand it, Tiger’s therapy called for a week’s break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning,” Finchem said in a letter Thursday. “Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement.” Woods is to speak at 11 a.m. EST from the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour. It will be his first time to speak publicly since his car accident Nov. 27 that sparked sordid revelations of extramarital affairs.
Read the entire article.
The sad spectacle of Tiger Woods’ saga continues today. I do not plan to watch it because Tiger is not accountable to me nor does he owe me an explanation or apology. Rather he owes God and his family an apology because he has done great damage to his relationship with both.
So what should the Christian response be to Tiger Woods? Doubtless there are many who take glee in his fall. But this can only be attributed to human pride that makes us jealous of Woods’ success. There is nothing in this spectacle about which to find glee. It is tragic because people have been badly damaged, Tiger included. Those who crow over Tiger’s demise would likely not be so eager to do so if they were in his position. And those who say that they would never do what Tiger did only delude themselves because every one of us is profoundly broken and capable of committing transgressions, sexual or otherwise. This is what Jesus was talking about when he told us to remove the log from our own eye before we attempt to remove the speck from someone else’s.
No, the proper Christian response to Tiger is one of compassion. That does not mean we excuse or condone his inexcusable behavior. Neither do we attempt to rationalize it away. Tiger made a terrible mistake and needs to take responsibility for it. Instead, we recognize that we are in the same boat as he is. If we truly profess to love all people, then we must desire the best them. In this context, I would hope and pray that Tiger finds the One who loves him and gave Himself for him. I would pray that the Holy Spirit works in Tiger to bring about true repentance as well as healing and transformation. I pray that God will provide his family with the grace to forgive Tiger if he has truly repented, and to watchfully restore him. This does not mean that they suddenly develop amnesia over his transgressions, but rather give him a chance to prove that he has repented. This means that Tiger will have to be humble enough to allow himself to be closely monitored and supervised so that his relationship can gradually be restored over time.
Again, I pray that from this sad spectacle, God will use it to bring about Tiger’s conversion to the Christian faith so that he has a fighting chance to overcome his sexual compulsions (if that is the problem). There is great hope and mercy for those who repent and turn to Christ to be healed. I hope and pray this for Tiger and his family. They need a Power that is beyond them if they are truly going to be able to overcome the damage that has been done.
In my opinion, any other response to Tiger Woods and his family is neither loving or Christian.