Opinion : Pastor's Blog - Hacking at Golf

My children and grandchildren dragged me out to a local golf course a couple of weeks ago. You know – one of those fantastic summer days in the middle of March. I had a great time with the family, but my golf game hurt. I used to love to play the game, but I haven’t really played for over two years. I don’t think I had my clubs out all of last year. Needless to say, I have not been practicing or playing, and my game showed the lack of practice. I could hit a drive once in awhile, but those delicate shots – those ¾ wedges were not going where I felt they should. It would be so nice to carry a low handicap (be good) and not have to practice. But, the game of golf doesn’t seem to work that way.

I was reading in Romans, Chapter 12, and verses 9 – 21. The Apostle Paul is sharing with the church at Rome about ways to become more Christ-like. I believe that when we receive Christ into our hearts, we are fully justified before God. (All of our sins, past, present, and future have been forgiven through the blood of Jesus.) And I also believe that we are invited to start a journey to become more like Jesus in our attitudes and actions. Some will call this sanctification. I see this becoming as a process or a journey. Our goal is established – to become more Christ-like. How do we progress along this journey? What things should we practice? Are there things that assist us on our journey? Are there things (attitudes or actions) that might detour us or hinder us in our progress? To approach our goal, it might be advisable to practice those things that assist and refrain from those that hinder our progress.

First, I suggest we look at our goal – Jesus. How did He act? What did He say and do? What suggestions do the authors of the Bible have for us? This is where Rom. 12: 9 – 21comes in. Paul is listing for them and (I believe) for us ways to become more like Jesus in our attitudes and actions – to act like Christians. I will only mention a couple, but the reference is Rom. 12: 9 – 21 in the Holy Bible. If you don’t have a Bible, please contact me or any pastor and seek it as a reference for your life.

Paul tells us to ‘bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse’ (vs. 14). You know – that person who stabs you in the back whenever possible. Shouldn’t we stab them right back, or maybe, set them up to fail? Our society would tell us to respond with vengeance. Paul says that to progress along the journey to becoming more like Christ, we need to bless them and not curse them. This advice certainly flies in the face of what society tells us. Just consider the negative advertizing used in our political campaigning. When is the last time you heard a candidate bless his or her opponent? Now let’s bring it home. When is the last time you smiled and were friendly to that person who last criticized you, stole your significant other, ruined your day? Becoming like Christ is something we each need to practice. We can become more like Him, but it will take decision and practice.

Just one more - ‘Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.’(vs. 9) We all know where we should not be or what we should not be doing. Paul suggests that we stay away from those activities and places. Temptations exist for each of us. We must choose to refrain and it may not be easy. We need to ‘cling’ or move toward those activities and places where we feel safe – where we can feel good about ourselves and others.

Many of us have started along this journey to becoming more like Christ and gotten stalled. Maybe we hit a ‘road bump’. We know we should be moving along, but life along the side of the road is easier. And the longer we stay in one place, the easier it is to stay there or fall further back. To get better at golf, I need to decide that I want to get better and then be determined to practice those things that will assist me in approaching my goal. I need to get a bucket of shag balls and work through my mistakes with practicing the correct strokes.

The same is true with becoming more like Christ. First, we need to decide that He is our goal. Then, we need to determine to practice those things that will assist us in our journey. No one is perfect. We are all on the same journey with the same goal. Some of us need to practice one thing, while others need practice in another area. Check out Rom. 12: 9 – 21, if you are looking for attitudes and actions to practice to becoming more like Jesus Christ today and in this world. May Christ bless you as you progress along your journey to becoming more like Him.