Are you Called to Play Golf?

Jude 17-25

 

Do you live in a bubble? Are you out of touch with the real world? Normally, we speak like this when we refer to a corporate office, or maybe those who are in an ivory tower; not ourselves. Recently though, I had a wakeup call.

 

About once a year, I have the opportunity to play in a golf outing through work that is sponsored by a vendor. It’s great to get out of the office for the day and to get paid to do it. In addition, the day we played was absolutely beautiful. The down side is my game, if you can call it that. I’m terrible.

 

Fortunately, I was put on a foursome with two brothers that apparently spend most of their work week on the course rather than behind a desk. However, as good as they were at golf, it was uncomfortable to play with them at times.

 

Throughout the day, one of them liberally sprinkled his comments with curse words and the other drank himself silly. Together, they made crude comments about women. They were a couple of “real sinners”. It was an eye opening experience.

 

The longer we are a Christian, the more likely it is that most of our friends, and as a result who we socialize with, are Christians. Therefore, it is important for us to be intentional about connecting with non-Christians.

 

Jesus was judged for spending time with sinners. He had dinner with tax collectors,

healed those who were unclean, hung out with prostitutes and common fishermen. I wonder if Peter cursed or if Matthew told dirty jokes? I wonder if it was uncomfortable for Jesus to hang out with them at times? I wonder if they were as crude and as lost as the brothers that I golfed with?

 

Jude, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “^20-21 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! ^22-23 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.”

 

It has been suggested that maybe we need to replace some of our “religious” activities with secular activities. Based on this, I’m thinking that maybe Jesus is calling me to play golf on a regular basis, but I don’t think my wife will buy it.

 

What could you do to be intentional to connect with sinners? It may be uncomfortable, and you might even be judged for it. But if not you, then who?