10 June 2011

RUMINATIONS: Raymond Billy

In last week's edition of its “The List” feature, The Washington Times highlighted some of America's most notable television news anchors, past and present. I was pleased to see that Brit Hume, one of my favorite anchormen, was included on the paper's tally. Considering that names such as NBC News anchor Brian Williams and CNN's Anderson Cooper were left off the list, Hume's presence was all the more noteworthy. But, one of the moments chronicled as one of the most memorable of Hume's career would more aptly be described as dubious, rather than noteworthy. That event came just last year, when Hume admonished Tiger Woods to seek redemption by abandoning Buddhism in favor of Christianity after the golfer admitted having multiple extramarital affairs.

Hume made the comments during an appearance on the political forum “Fox News Sunday.” His statement instantly became a polarizing issue, prompting outrage from the mainstream media intelligentsia and full-throated support among Christian public figures. These reactions were disappointingly predictable. People were merely taking sides in a culture war, rather than engaging in a critical analysis of the substantive merits of the veteran newsman's evangelism. It is on the substance that I take issue with Hume's comments. He seemed to be leading Woods to expediency rather than faith.

“The extent to which he can recover seems to me depends on his faith,” Hume said. “He is said to be a Buddhist. I don’t think that faith offers the kind of redemption and forgiveness offered by the Christian faith.”

Was Hume suggesting people should base their faith on circumstantial considerations? In essence, it's as if Hume was saying “Buddhism may have worked for Tiger in the past, but now he needs to turn to Christianity because he needs forgiveness.” Jesus didn't cast himself as a mere solution to a problem, nor did his apostles. In fact, the Apostle Paul went as far as to say that “all things were created by him and for him.”

By merely emphasizing the benefits Christianity offers that Buddhism does not — rather than focusing on the Gospel's assertion of absolute truth — Hume seemed to be inviting Woods to adopt an opportunistic “faith.” This is separate from the kind of belief the Bible prescribes — an acknowledgment that only by surrendering one's life to Christ is there remedy to one's enmity with God. This is the forgiveness that the Bible offers, which can only be acquired through a conscious decision to reconcile with God — not by simply altering one's religious preference.

If Woods’ aim is quick redemption, he might be persuaded to believe he can find that through many different sources — a view held by many Christians.

A 2008 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 52 percent of self-professed Christians believe that Christ is not the only avenue to forgiveness — i.e., eternal reconciliation with God. Most in the survey said that practicing other religions could lead to heaven.

With this data in mind, Hume needed to make a much clearer appeal to Woods if he truly wanted to turn the sports star into a disciple of Jesus. He needed to say “Tiger, give your heart and life to Jesus Christ and you will be forgiven.” Instead, Hume said “My message to Tiger is: Tiger, turn to the Christian faith …” Given that so many people are ambivalent about the biblical teaching that putting one’s life in Christ’s hands affords the forgiveness of sins, it was important for Hume to state this fact explicitly.  

Having said that, I respect Hume for having the courage to bring a semblance of a Gospel message to a mainstream, secular audience. I'm sured he considered the consequences of what he planned to say and realized there would be harsh backlash. But, having considered what he was going to do, he should have chosen his words more carefully. Instead, his message was somewhat superficial. Hume should have stressed that Christ is not simply a way — he is the one and only way to receive forgiveness of sins, according to Jesus. And, spiritual Christianity isn’t about religious preference. It’s about turning one’s life over to Christ and letting him control one’s thoughts, attitudes and actions.

Of course, in criticizing Hume's appeal to Woods, I'm assuming he agrees with the previous sentence.


Raymond Billy is the assistant editor of Resonate News. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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