Golf basics for your theology

“Winning isn’t everything. It is the only thing,” said Vince Lombardi. But in striving to win, the joy of the game gets lost. Play includes merriment and pleasure and connotes fun interaction with others. Churches can help people play theologically.

“But it’s not a game.” We have all heard this. I still remember a pastor who went after me during my ordination examination, because I said that one of my goals was to make the reading of Scripture fun. Some, often those influenced by the Westminster Confession, have taken the joy out of enjoying God.

God’s pleasure

My mother was a music teacher. She played music regularly in our home. Music is the main way the word “play” appears in Scripture. This playing has wonderful aspects of joy, beauty and praise. I play sports. I love how sports develops the amazing ways we use our bodies. One of my team prayers when I was a college tennis coach was that we would play in such a way that God would enjoy watching.

I do not, however, like sports culture. It is a religion with rituals and unwavering devotion. It demands our time and loyalty. It pits our team against others. It is about winning at all costs. This attitude has invaded our politics and our religion. It feels like we are playing in a minefield.

Golfing basics

Non-golfers find this sport ridiculous, a good walk ruined. Golfers often find it frustrating. “Golf is how men learned to swear,” said a birthday card from my sister. Certain vulgarities are acceptable on the golf course, I contend.

I like golf because it reflects how I approach life and how I do theology. A person learns the basics of the game, usually coached by someone older. Then they continue to learn by doing. Every shot is different. It might be a different course, a different hole, a different position or lie, a different wind, a different distance . . . The golfer needs to calculate all these factors. Then focus on one swing, deal with the results and start again.

While I can play golf alone, it is more challenging and interesting to play with others. It keeps you honest. You get and give advice, carefully. You encourage, joke and push each other to do better. Let’s play theology similarly.

St. Paul was not a golfer, but I think he would have understood the analogy.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12-14 NIV)

Watch out for those who form a country club to limit who can play. Duck around those who hit into others, frequently yelling, “fore!” Then we can joyfully, theologically play.