LEARN TO GOLF

LEARN TO GOLF? NO WAY!

By BRUCE OYEN, Pastor

FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH

20 N. STACY - MILES CITY, MONTANA

Golf is a popular sport the world over. It provides physical exercise, fresh air, and a challenge for those of a competitive nature. It also provides relaxation from life's routines.

But in spite of its many virtues, I have chosen to never learn to golf. Why? The reason is quite simple. To golf, one must learn many terms with which I am not familiar. And I don't have the time or the desire to learn these terms.

A good example of what I am talking about is a report of Tiger Woods' recent participation in the U.S. Open. Our local newspaper carried a write up on the sports page, part of which is reproduced here.

TULSA, OKLAHOMA (AP) Tiger Woods began his quest for a fifth major with his worst round in the U.S. Open since 1988. Woods finally completed the rain-delayed first round Friday, shooting a 4-over 74 that made him look completely human. On the way to three bogeys and a double bogey, he encountered trees, sand, rough and a pond.

At the par-5 13th, Irwin was the star Thursday. The Senior Tour regular thrilled the gallery at No. 10 where a laster 2-iron from 198 yards rolled to a stop less than 2 feet from the flag for a gimme birdie.

Now, since I am not a golfer nearly this whole article makes no sense to me. I don't have any idea what the golf terms found in the article mean.

I find it odd that so many individuals even take up golf, knowing how many new words and definitions they must learn. Learn golf? No way! Not until I can golf in plain English!

Such an objection to golf sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? After all, what's the big deal about learning a bunch of new words and their definitions when one considers the benefits one receives from doing so? Aren't golf's pleasures worth a little time and effort of the mind?

Well, it is ridiculous to reject a sport like golf just because one is not familiar with its terms. Learning any sport requires effort, both physical and mental.

But this is the very reason many readers object to reading the King James Version of the Bible. It uses many words unfamiliar to them, and they are too lazy to learn their pronunciations and their definitions. So, they search for a Bible translation that requires little mental effort on their part. They are not so concerned about whether or not it is a good translation. What counts is how easily they can read it.

And strangely enough, many of these same persons have not only learned the terminology of golf, but also of basketball, baseball, football, and other sports. They are sports-minded, and thus do not mind putting effort into learning new information.

Well, since this is true for millions of English speaking people all over the world, it certainly is not asking too much of them to learn the unfamiliar words of the King James Version. They put forth effort to learn numerous sports terms because of the pleasure they derive from sports. Therefore, they should be willing to learn the meaning of words in the King James Version because of the profit they will get from doing so.

The apostle Paul wrote in 2Timothy 3:16 that the Bible is both inspired and profitable. That verse says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

IS NOT THAT REASON ENOUGH TO LEARN THE TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS OF THE KING JAMES VERSION?