Last Sunday, Randy, a pastor at the church Dave and I attended in Florida, stunned the congregation when he walked onto the stage with his arm in a sling. He explained that the previous Sunday he had left the third church service early to go golfing. His admission was met with laughter when he announced, “I know what you all are thinking. Surely this couldn’t be part of God’s plan.” He continued, saying that this was the first time he ever had exited church before dismissal and that he had a lot of guilt when he did…but not enough to miss his golf outing.
I admit, my first thought was that his priorities were out of whack and God had taught him a lesson the hard, painful way. He now would share that lesson with us and explain that as one of the pastors, his first obligation was to his church and he had erred in choosing sports over spiritual matters.
Not even close.
Randy was on the second hole when he heard two youngsters screaming for help. He left his tee spot, followed the cries and was shocked to find the brothers drowning. Somehow, in the middle of the rescue, he tore his rotator cuff. Thus, the sling.
No longer were we congregants laughing or tsk-tsking his decision. Actually, we gasped. Suddenly, it became apparent that God had orchestrated Randy’s first-ever, early church departure in order to save two young boys’ lives.
Someone once said, “Nothing is easier than faultfinding: no talent, no self-denial, no brains, and no character are required to set up in the judging business.” So why is that our default button? Why do we act in an ungenerous manner and make quick interpretations of a person’s motives? Jesus himself spoke about this behavior: Do not judge, and you will not be judged. (Luke 6:37a)
Obviously, Jesus is not ruling out the legitimate place of judging others. Judges must render verdicts in courts of law, elders must decide discipline cases in the church, managers must judge their employees’ performance, teachers must assess their students, etc. A few verses later, Jesus calls his disciples to judge people by their fruit (6:43-45). There are times when judging is appropriate. What is not appropriate is when our judgment is unwarranted or improper or haughty. As commentator Darrell Bock says, “The idea is rather a judgmental and censorious perspective toward others that holds them down in guilt and never seeks to encourage them toward God. What is commanded is an attitude that is hesitant to condemn and quick to forgive. What is prohibited is an arrogance that reacts with hostility to the worldly and morally lax, viewing such people as beyond God’s reach.”
Dear Readers, we have to be careful and check our motives. When you first read my opening paragraph, did you not think—like I did—that God was teaching Randy a lesson? That he got what he deserved? Or were you happy that he had managed to find some time to relax and hang with friends? Your answer—and mine—to that question determines the merciful (or merciless) attitude of our hearts.
To me, it seems that Randy’s lesson was a profound one from which we can learn much: God can show up anywhere He is needed…even on a golf course.