Today’s edition of USA Today poses the important question of whether or not Tiger Woods was sincere when he made his confessional apology last Friday. To be precise, the newspaper’s wording is “Did Tiger Woods sound sincere or not on Friday?”
Never mind the weighty questions that could be raised regarding a corporate mortgage crisis similar to the one that hit home-buyers earlier, the vicissitudes of our brave military personnel in Afghanistan trying to avoid death at the hands of extremists prostituting religion by claiming it as a motivation, and the next steps in our national health care debate. And, so much for suggesting questions about how we could offer support for Mr. Woods or what we should ask ourselves about the parts of our lives for which we should say, “I’m sorry.” The question on the table is about the sincerity of the world’s most famous golfer.
Who knows the correct answer? And, how do you know it’s correct? What does sincerity in a confession sound like?
When I was growing up, sincerity required tears. No tears, no sincerity. In ancient times, sincerity seemed to require pounding your fists against your chest. What about sincerity in people who can’t cry and who don’t want to flagellate themselves? Is it determined by a tone of voice or whether you read from a prepared statement? What if the confessor’s humiliation and fright cause stiffness in body language and formality in verbal language? Who has the formula for measuring sincerity?
I remember the morning that I sat in the East Room of the White House about two tables away from President Clinton as he confessed his wrongdoing, read from David’s psalm of repentance, asked for forgiveness, and shared his plan for healing. I sat there thinking Here I am at the very center of political power in the Free World and the leader of the Free World is confessing weakness and asking for forgiveness. The moment was overwhelming.
Once outside the White House, media representatives swarmed around with their notepads, cameras, and microphones. All of them were asking the same question, “Was he sincere?” “Do you think the president meant it?”
The reason we ask that question is because we are not equipped to make that judgment. That is precisely one reason that the Bible tells us to leave such judgments for God alone to make.
Repentance means taking a U-turn, changing directions. No one knows when another person makes that turn until the other person starts walking a different direction. Frankly, even then, no observer can judge the motivation behind the steps, what has happened in the heart.
We know what Jesus would do about this matter of judgment. Standing beside a woman about to be stoned to death because of her behavior, Jesus said, “Let those without sin cast the first stone.” Now, honestly, on that day, people responded with integrity and Jesus sent the woman on her way. Today, I fear the response to Jesus’ words would not be so clean cut and safe for the sinner. There are a lot of arrogant people intent on running the world and punishing anyone who does not see things exactly the way they do.
It’s easy to see why the season of Lent is so important. It calls us to an honesty about ourselves that leaves us no time for making judgment about others.
When Jesus speaks today to voters on sincerity and other self-appointed judges challenging them to punish another person only if without sins in their own lives—“Let only one without sin throw the first golf ball at Tiger—I am not sure the golfer would be safe. In fact, you may hear someone hollering “Duck!” Don’t be surprised if it’s Jesus.
Prayer
O God, please don’t forgive us as we forgive others. We will be in such a mess if you do. O God, please forgive us as you forgive others—all others.
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