My prediction is that in two months, nobody will care about the Tiger Woods scandal--it will barely be back page news. A couple of months after that he will be the well liked Tiger of old. Why? in American culture, productivity trumps character by a very large margin, every time.
In our culture, evidence overwhelmingly indicates that what you do matters much more than who you are as a person. When we meet new people, we ask "what do you do?" questions more than "who are you?" questions. In the '90s we had a married president who had adulterous sex in the Oval Office while on the telephone with a senator and lied about the affair to the nation and a grand jury, yet today he is an American icon and hero because despite his values, he is undeniably a great leader. Wilt Chamberlain admitted to tremendous sexual deviancy in the '60s, but was a top athlete and is revered. Magic Johnson admitted to a litany of affairs, but was a top athlete of the '80s and is dearly loved. Michael Jordan admitted to at least one affair, but was a top athlete of the '90s and is dearly loved. Tiger Woods admitted to an affair, but is the top athlete of the '00s and will be dearly loved.
On the other hand, see national pariah, Pete Rose--what is his unforgivable offense? He cheated in the productivity arena. What is Roger Clemens' unforgivable offense? He cheated in the productivity arena. Why is Marion Jones an unmentionable on sports television? She cheated in the productivity arena.
"Productivity over integrity" is a cultural norm in this country and thus my prediction that Tiger Woods will be back on his throne in short order. He is still the best golfer in the world, even to me, a fan of Lefty.
However, it's this very cultural norm that makes it difficult to live out a Christian worldview in America. Consider the Lord's qualifications for a pastor in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and a deacon in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Out of the credentials list of a pastor, only one is related to church productivity, "able to teach". The rest of the list are all character issues. Out of the credential list for a deacon, none are related to church productivity. In the Kingdom of God, "integrity over productivity" is a cultural norm. The Christian worldview and the culture's worldview are at odds and always will be.
We who are Christ followers are foreigners and aliens in this land just as 1 Peter says. This place is not our home, we are merely pilgrims passing through on the way to our Promised Land. Until we get there, let's hold fast to our culture's values and yet be kind to those who hold to our host country's values for, as much as possible, we want to maintain open lines of communication with them in an effort to make disciples of as many as possible. Let us not grow weary from waiting to enter the Promised Land, nor become frustrated by those that hold to the worldview of our culture. We must be longsuffering, desiring for no man to perish.
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