Lessons From a Bishop's Golf Game
In describing the spiritual state of the people's leaders as God was bringing judgment on the Kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah 8:9 says, "THE WISE MEN ARE ASHAMED, THEY ARE DISMAYED AND TAKEN; LO, THEY HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND WHAT WISDOM IS IN THEM?"
This is a good question, and do we have any examples today of, "WHAT WISDOM IS IN THEM?"
We need not look any further than the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, Thomas Tobin. His article, "Without a Doubt," in the May 25 issue of the 'Catholic Exponent' is such an example.
Instead of using the word of God to teach his flock, 'His Excellency' uses what he's learned from his golf game! Such a spiritual meal might be filling, but it is hardly nourishing.
Discussing how golf can be a great equalizer of people he says, "I've yet to see a crozier and miter on a golf course." Yes, and we've yet to see a crozier and miter teach the truth! I don't deny a man a day on the golf course, but it's incredible what people will look to for spiritual teaching when, "THEY HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD."
Some highlights from the article:
"Golf teaches us to live in hope and look to the future with confidence," and, "Golf is an excellent teacher of patience." This is so bad, all I can say is that it's not the word of God. Bishop Tobin also writes, "Golf teaches how beneficial it is to stay on the straight and narrow...Isn't life like that, too? Live in a way that is morally straight and upright, keep the commandments, (and) follow God's law."
But how does the bible tell us to live? Galatians 3:11-12 says, "BUT THAT NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, IT IS EVIDENT; FOR, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. AND THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH: BUT, THE MAN THAT DOETH THEM SHALL LIVE IN THEM." Chapter 5:3 says, "FOR I TESTIFY AGAIN TO EVERY MAN THAT IS CIRCUMCISED, THAT HE IS A DEBTOR TO DO THE WHOLE LAW."
The bible says a man has, 'TO DO THE WHOLE LAW," if he is going to, "keep the commandments."
Bishop Tobin deceives the people when he tells them they can live under a law they have no hope of keeping. The devil has a two-fold purpose in such Roman teaching:
1. Those who try to live under the law and realize they can't, end up working harder and feeling more guilty, thus making them more pliable in the hands of the Roman clergy, especially in the confessional.
2. The other group of Catholics think they are keeping the whole law, and therefore they must be really looking good in God's eyes. This was the attitude of the religious leaders that murdered Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:18 says, "BUT IF YE BE LED OF THE SPIRIT, YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW." We are to live by faith, in the power of the Spirit, and to, "DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY." 1 Peter 2:2.
I have a choice - to live by the golf course wisdom of Bishop Tobin, or live as the bible says, by the wisdom of, "THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD." I'll take the bible.
May Catholics who are tired of trying to keep a law they cannot keep forsake Rome. May the Lord's Spirit show them that a person cannot live by faith until they have received Christ by faith ALONE.
This is a good question, and do we have any examples today of, "WHAT WISDOM IS IN THEM?"
We need not look any further than the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, Thomas Tobin. His article, "Without a Doubt," in the May 25 issue of the 'Catholic Exponent' is such an example.
Instead of using the word of God to teach his flock, 'His Excellency' uses what he's learned from his golf game! Such a spiritual meal might be filling, but it is hardly nourishing.
Discussing how golf can be a great equalizer of people he says, "I've yet to see a crozier and miter on a golf course." Yes, and we've yet to see a crozier and miter teach the truth! I don't deny a man a day on the golf course, but it's incredible what people will look to for spiritual teaching when, "THEY HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD."
Some highlights from the article:
"Golf teaches us to live in hope and look to the future with confidence," and, "Golf is an excellent teacher of patience." This is so bad, all I can say is that it's not the word of God. Bishop Tobin also writes, "Golf teaches how beneficial it is to stay on the straight and narrow...Isn't life like that, too? Live in a way that is morally straight and upright, keep the commandments, (and) follow God's law."
But how does the bible tell us to live? Galatians 3:11-12 says, "BUT THAT NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, IT IS EVIDENT; FOR, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. AND THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH: BUT, THE MAN THAT DOETH THEM SHALL LIVE IN THEM." Chapter 5:3 says, "FOR I TESTIFY AGAIN TO EVERY MAN THAT IS CIRCUMCISED, THAT HE IS A DEBTOR TO DO THE WHOLE LAW."
The bible says a man has, 'TO DO THE WHOLE LAW," if he is going to, "keep the commandments."
Bishop Tobin deceives the people when he tells them they can live under a law they have no hope of keeping. The devil has a two-fold purpose in such Roman teaching:
1. Those who try to live under the law and realize they can't, end up working harder and feeling more guilty, thus making them more pliable in the hands of the Roman clergy, especially in the confessional.
2. The other group of Catholics think they are keeping the whole law, and therefore they must be really looking good in God's eyes. This was the attitude of the religious leaders that murdered Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:18 says, "BUT IF YE BE LED OF THE SPIRIT, YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW." We are to live by faith, in the power of the Spirit, and to, "DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY." 1 Peter 2:2.
I have a choice - to live by the golf course wisdom of Bishop Tobin, or live as the bible says, by the wisdom of, "THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD." I'll take the bible.
May Catholics who are tired of trying to keep a law they cannot keep forsake Rome. May the Lord's Spirit show them that a person cannot live by faith until they have received Christ by faith ALONE.
posted by Robt. B. at 6:16 AM
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