Choose a club: A golfers answer to no specific question
I am not a golfer. My dad golfs. My brothers golf. Many of my friends golf. And I have hit the ball around before, but I am no golfer. So most things about golf I am unqualified to write about, but this one thing I know, if you are going to golf you must have clubs. The first few times I golfed, I used only 3 clubs, a seven iron, wedge and putter. The more I golfed, the more I realized how helpful it was to have more clubs in the bag, clubs that were better suited to certain situations. One of the challenges of golf for me is determining which club to use at any given time. Some tee shots I use the driver, some an iron. In the fairway it's usually an iron (but not always) but I must choose between the 5 and 7...I have better luck with the 7 but if I hit the 5, it will go further. And around the green is another story.
The point is that when golfing I lug around an entire set of clubs for a reason, and I am learning how to select the right club at the right time. I can't imagine returning to the golf course now with just 3 clubs. The thing I've noticed, is when we are asked questions often hard questions, we answer as if we have just one club in the bag...the same club, same swing, same everything regardless of the situation.
I am often asked my position on what could be considered "in the sand trap" or "out of bounds" issues (challenging things)...things like pre-marital sex and homosexuality, issues of faith, evil and theology, things globally such as the war, poverty and environmentalism and what any of us can do about it and many many more.
I guess I could enter into every conversation with only my driver, and swing away hoping to send the ball as far as I could...but then, maybe that is why so many seem to be driven so far from church. I guess I have a question. Could it be that when we talk with others, that we would do well to consider what clubs are in the bag, and learn to play the right club in the right situation? As I type, I can hear you thinking...but the Bible sets a standard and pre-marital sex and homosexuality are sin....If we don't take a strong position on the Bible/heaven/hell/baptism/Trinity etc. we are sure to join the countless others on the slippery slope.
I am not suggesting that we don't have convictions or beliefs, what I am hoping for is that we learn to choose the right club for the right time and swing accordingly (more often in the way of swinging our arms around one another in embrace, not serving a knockout blow). Sometimes we need to be confronted. Often we need to be accepted, shown love and be given patience. We need to extend grace to each other, even if we completely disagree about the dogleg up ahead. Rarely do we need to be told that what we're doing is wrong. This seldom helps do anything except build walls and turn people away. And helping each other experience the love of Christ and turn people towards Jesus is probably the best move we can make.
Every club has a use, and we must learn to use the right approach at the right time...and we must choose a club so choose well, please.
embracing life
Another perspective on life, worldviews, and God - and how they all fit together in everyday experience. Simple stuff.
3 Comments
4:34 PM
"Rarely do we need to be told that what we're doing is wrong."
Wow, this is one of the more "edgy," if you will, things I think I've ever seen you write (at least publicly). :) I'm glad you're becoming more comfortable with saying you really want to - it's inspiring. Not often do I disclose my truest thoughts on some issues because, well, when I do, there are often consequences*.
Now, to consider more deeply this idea of golfers swinging their arms around each other in an embrace.
(*consequences=letters/comments/responses expressing great disappointment at my wicked ways, in true bullhorn fashion)
3:08 PM
... maybe i missed something but ya! that sounds great! we should swing our clubs at each other. we could go to the batting cages and practice there too!
3:22 PM
But really kinda in response to matthew's comment, I do think your right. Rarely do we need to be told what we're doing is wrong... BECAUSE we already know. We want acceptance, and thats why these things come into question to begin with. Most people accept or even 'idolize' or 'worship' other people that have lots of "free spirited" "un-committed" pre-marrital sex. Telling other people about it gains them acceptance, validity.
But on the other hand, the very same people, generally realize there is value in 'one day' settling down; in commitment. Which suggests, we know our current path in life is not the best, and thereby probably is in fact wrong.
If someone is doing wrong to gain acceptance in the first place, we ought to accept them in the first place, and the second place. Love them before and after. Allow them to experience the love of Christ, not building walls saying they are wrong and are condemned unless they change their ways.
We already know certain things about us need to change, it hurts to be told about it before even being accepted.
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