PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT?

I enjoyed watching the last round of the Masters Golf Tournament last Sunday afternoon. With eight players jostling for the lead over the last nine holes, it made for an exciting finish. Charl Swartzel, the winner, told how he focused for a few weeks of special practice before the tournament.

I am reminded of the old saying, “practice makes perfect.” Some years ago I heard someone correct the fallacy of that statement. The commenter stated, “only right practice makes perfect.” If you keep practicing the same mistakes you will get the same result.

In the movie, “Stroke of Genius,” Bobby Jones’ caddy at the St. Andrews golf course watched Bobby make the same error repeatedly as he tried to get out of a sand trap. The caddy offered a definition of insanity: “doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.”

People can fall into the same trap in regard to their spirituality. I call them “Avis” Christians in remembrance of that car rental company’s old slogan, “we try harder.” The Bible informs us that no matter how hard we try, we can never win God’s approval by our efforts. “`Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

For that reason I believe religion is one of the greatest foes to true spirituality. Somehow people think that if they are “religious” it will win points with God. Donald Trump’s responses in an interview this week reflect that attitude. In reply to a question concerning his views about God, the Donald replied:

“I'm a Protestant, I'm a Presbyterian. And you know I've had a good relationship with the church over the years. I think religion is a wonderful thing. I think my religion is a wonderful religion … I go to church as much as I can. Always on Christmas. Always on Easter. Always when there's a major occasion. And during the Sundays, I'm a Sunday church person. I'll go when I can.”

Am I against religion, you might ask. I draw a great distinction between religion and Christianity. Religion is the efforts of humans to reach God. Christianity is a relationship offered by God by reaching to humanity through Jesus Christ.

The video and graphics in the right column illustrate the point that I am trying to make that it is God’s reach, not the efforts of humans, that will bring us to perfection.