The Only Thing Wrong With Christianity? Christians — And That’s The Whole Point of the Church

We cite hypocrisy, sin to reject religion, but we forget faith is like golf: few hit a hole in one

Mention ties to Myrtle Beach, and people ask, “Do you golf? Are you a golfer?”

With 100 courses, Myrtle Beach is America’s Seaside Golf Capital. Another 50 elaborate putt-putt courses make the Grand Strand the “Miniature Golf Capital of the World.”

Golf is almost a religion to many. In 1975, The New York Times described the Church of Perfect Liberty as a “Golf Religion” because of its interest in building golf courses and comparing life to golf.

The one big thing golf and faith share

The biggest thing golf and religion have in common? It’s nearly impossible to do either perfectly. A tiny few — the best of the best — demonstrate the best ways to reach goals.

The rest do the best they can, each gifted in some ways and a mess in others. There is one thing wrong with Christianity: Christians. We’re sinners, yet children of God capable of greatness — with God’s help.

We’ve visited many of Myrtle Beach’s golf courses (and churches). Our family loves a game of miniature golf at places like Jungle Safari Golf, Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf, and Lost Mine.

In North Myrtle Beach, Hawaiian Rumble hosts the annual U.S. Pro Mini Golf Masters Tournament and features a volcano rumbling every 20 minutes.

At Mayday Miniature Golf, players imagine crashing on a tropical island. Named “Best Survival Themed Course,’’ Mayday was featured on the Travel Channel.

But still, we aren’t golfers. We don’t even own clubs. We are total amateurs.

The top 10 ways Christianity is like golf (and many other sports/hobbies)

10. Most are “horrible at it” but still drawn

Comparing himself to “a typical American,” Bishop Robert Barron says he loves golf, “but I am horrible at it.” He keeps practicing because he enjoys it.

9. The right swing gets the ball in the hole — the wrong way misses

Learning to perfect your swing is the key to getting better at golf. Golfers spend years learning to get their swing “just right.” Christians similarly struggle for years with many of the same sins.

8. Following the rules means you’re more likely to achieve your goals

Whether it’s golf, bowling, or playing the violin, Barron notes there are rules and ways to follow to “do it right.”

“The law is not the enemy of freedom,” Barron said. “The law is the condition for the possibility of freedom. What I am seeking is the freedom to play the game. I want to be free. The law is going to set me free.”

7. Doing “whatever you feel” means you’re more likely to lose

Want to make your own rules? Anarchy? For about $12, anyone with little to no experience can play any of Myrtle Beach’s miniature golf courses.

Many have no idea what they’re doing and try some crazy moves.

Barron remembers taking an 8 iron without any experience and just swinging. To get through a course, players eventually learn at least some of the game's art.

In golf and Christianity, there’s a way to “play well.” The original Christians were called people who followed The Way, as in, The Way of Christ and a better way to live their lives.

6. Good players learn from role models

Great golfers, like great Christians, have good teachers, role models, and guides who show them the way to get better at playing the game of golf — and the game of life.

The best golfers are called pros. The best Christians are called saints.

5. A few are naturals, but the best players have a lot of practice

Tiger Woods appeared on “The Mike Douglas Show” at age 2. He was and is “a natural.” He also had encouragement from his father. Christianity works the same way: an encouraging Heavenly Father shows us the way.

4. Both have a lot of rules and traditions

Both have rules building on traditions developed by the very best over centuries. Golf goes back to the 15th century. Christianity and its rules start with Jesus.

3. The faithful spend too much time critiquing others

It’s human nature to judge others (holding others to a higher standard), to want what we don’t have. We learn about that in the Bible and every sport.

2. Non-believers say it’s all stupid, citing the worst participants

An atheist reader once wrote, saying, “people do a dreadful job of putting religion into practice.’’ She said she had faith, “But I definitely do not have faith in the way that people have shaped religion for the masses.’’

Christians get much wrong, but our founder, Jesus, showed us the best way. We try to follow Him.

The atheist reader said religion “subverts every principle that has been outlined by the very books that they worship. It is divisive and not inclusive.”

We don’t worship books (but the God who inspired the authors). Christians are imperfect. God is perfect.

1. Perfect is nearly impossible, but we participate because it improves our health, helps us get better — and because we love…

Perfection is nearly impossible (try hitting a hole in one in golf or going a day without sinning):

• Norman Manley hit a record 59 holes-in-one: It took him 15 years.
• The best-known score ever achieved in a professional game is 55. Perfection would be 18 holes-in-one while playing 18 holes of golf.
• Sin was originally an archery term meaning “miss the mark,” the perfect target you aim for. The very best of us misses targets.

Christianity (and golf) played well improves our health (mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional). We mainly pursue faith (and golf) for love (God happens to be love and truth itself). As Pope Francis once said:

“The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars!

“You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds, heal the wounds. … And you have to start from the ground up.”

Please don’t judge religion, Christianity, or golf by bad players. We’re all trying. The church tries to teach us how to love.

All are welcome. We know life is a journey. It can take a lifetime to find The Way. When the best “do it well,” it’s a beautiful sight to see.