A Balanced Game

I have been watching the US OPEN Golf Tournament this week. I am amazed at the skills for these professional golfers. They are generally great at every aspect of their game.

The picture on the left shows three of the best that ever played the game for money. From left to right are Gary Player, Jack Nicholas and Arnold Palmer.

These guys could hit drivers, fairway woods, irons and putters. They knew how to hit off tees, long grass, fairway grass and the putting green as well as from the sand traps.

Not only that, the top players such as these guys and young men like Tiger Woods and Phil Mikelson are able to stay calm under pressure and control their emotions and bodies. All these are critical to being successful in their professions so they are constantly being coached, mentored and helped physically.

One cannot be a success in golf, baseball, business of the Christian life if we neglect mastering any dimension of our profession or craft. Yet, I read about many Christian leaders who seem to think that they can be successful by mastering just one or two elements of church life.

In my profession, education and counseling, we call it a "Nothing Buttery Philosophy". They preach, teach and promote one and only one element of the Christian life. Here are some of the "Nothing Buttery" things I see that are emphasized.

1. Nothing but "Kindness Evangelism".
2. Nothing but an "Outward Focus".
3. Nothing but "Contemporary Music".
4. Nothing but "Contemporary Topics in Sermons".
5. Nothing but "Drama and Video Clips on Sunday Morning".
6. Nothing but "Starbucks for the Attendees".
7. Nothing but "Removing all Bible References from our Talks".
8. Nothing but "Fun and Games for the Kids".
9. Nothing but "Dancing, Flags and Joy" on Sunday.
10. Nothing but "Small Groups".
11. Nothing but "Missional".
12. Nothing but "The Social Gospel".

This is like a pro golfer saying "I need Nothing but Putting and I will be a champion golfer". Just imagine that Tiger doesn't need to drive or use irons. To mix my metaphors we can imagine that a Cincinnati Red only needs to be a great hitter but can't catch a ball or play defense.

It is baffling that Christian leaders can be so out of touch with the balance and multi tasking that is required to be a success. All one need do is talk with any educator, counselor, business person, scientist or parent to discover that success is multi faceted.

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