What Should Tiger Say?

I have been quiet for the most part on the Tiger Woods issue since it came out several weeks ago about his adultery and it's resultant disaster upon his family and his credibility. I, like most people, formed an opinion quickly. However, I have learned from the past that most of the time when a story like this comes out, whether a celebrity or average Joe, that we don't hear all the story up front and the longer we go, the more info that comes out. I tried to reserve my public opinion until more info came out. I despise organizations like TMZ that tend to sensationalize events and create publicity for themselves at others expenses. The early media frenzy regarding Tiger was disgusting, in my opinion.

Tiger Woods is a human being, created in the image of God. God loves Tiger very much and desires that he would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God has given Tiger an incredible talent and desires that Tiger would use his talent as a platform for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). Tiger is not guilty of any sin that any other man is not capable of. Tiger has lived a life that has placed him at the center and has reaped the results of that. I heartily agree with Brit Hume and his brave comments about what Tiger must do in order to find peace with God. (previous post)

Tiger has now announced that he is going to have a "press conference" tomorrow to talk for the first time. This has created a lot of buzz about what Tiger will say and what he should say. This morning I heard Mike Greenberg on Mike and Mike in the Morning ask this question, "What does Tiger Woods need to apologize for?" Greenberg's point was that he agreed that what Tiger did was wrong, but does he really need to publicly apologize. In Greenberg's opinion, what Tiger did was between him and his family and doesn't affect the rest of us. Interesting opinion and one that I don't totally agree with. I don't think that as a 42-year old guy from rural Alabama that Tiger owes me an apology for anything. His sin, while disgusting and egregious, was not personally against me or my family. I have not been adversely affected at all by Tiger's transgressions. I actually have a forum because of his sin to talk to my sons about the humanity of all public figures, no matter how talented, and the impact of sin.

However, the question still remains, "Should Tiger apologize?" Some say that he is a role model and that he has destroyed his credibility. I think any sports figure, whether they like it or not, serves as somewhat of a "hero figure" to the younger generation. Talent and success carry the price of responsibility and those who are blessed with them must have a sense of accountability and stewardship. This is something that those who cheated at baseball with performance enhancing drugs forgot or neglected. However, I don't think Tiger should apologize just because he is a role model.

I think Tiger should apologize because that is the first step towards true confession and repentance. Tiger's actions have destroyed his credibility. He is, at the present time, not an acceptable role model for my three boys. He is a liar and and adulterer. He lied to his wife about his wedding vows and gave his heart and body to other women to feed his sinful flesh. He has violated the most basic God-ordained unit - the family. He doesn't have to answer to me or you for that. He must answer to his family and the Lord Jesus. However, Tiger is not the first or most prominent figure historically to commit adultery. The King of Israel, David, not only committed the same sin, he also had her husband killed making him an accessory to murder. David's sin was just as disgusting as Tiger's. However, David was known as a "man after God's own heart." The difference? When David's sin was found out, he publicly confessed and repented. He wrote of his agony over his sin and issued a public statement in Psalm 51.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Psalm 51:1-12

While I do not think this will be what Tiger says, ultimately, this is what I hope happens to him. This is what I hope happens to all of us that are guilty of the filth and disgust of sin. I hope and pray that the story of Tiger turns out to be one of redemption and forgiveness and not just one of admission and eventual forgetting, like the Kobe Bryant incident. Make no mistake. I believe that Tiger will recover in the "public eye" eventually. He will return to golf. He will win tournaments. He will get his endorsement offers because businesses want to make money and will attach themselves to success over character. The story of Kobe reminds me of these facts. I am more concerned that Tiger can recover in the sight of God than in public opinion. That is why what Tiger has to say tomorrow is of interest to me. King David or Kobe Bryant? Which fate will Tiger choose?