Fox News analyst Brit Hume received backlash this week over his suggestion that Tiger Woods should turn to Christianity.
"Tiger Woods will recover as a golfer. Whether he can recover as a person, I think is a very open question," Hume said on the show Fox News Sunday. "The Tiger Woods that emerges, once the news value dies out of this scandal, the extent to which he can recover, seems to me, depends on his faith. He's said to be a Buddhist. I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. So my message to Tiger would be, Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."
The former news anchor says he became serious about his Christian faith about 11 years ago, when his son Sandy committed suicide at age 28. Hume spoke toChristianity Today about his faith and the criticism in response to his suggestion to Woods.
How would you respond to people to people who are criticizing you?
I certainly expected this. I'm nowhere near the first Christian to be mocked for his faith. It is simply a fact of life that the two most explosive words in the English language appear to be Jesus Christ. You don't even need to say them if you speak openly of Christianity. Faith engenders a tremendous reaction, a lot of it positive and a lot of it negative.
It seems like you've moved from anchoring news to more opinion, is that right?
I'm a senior political analyst. I do more analysis and commentary now. I do almost no anchoring anymore. I'm semi-retired. I only work 100 days a year.
Would you say you've moved out of objective journalism?
In a way, yeah. This was a panel segment where journalists give their analytical observations. We were doing predictions. We were discussing a whole range of issues including sports and entertainment. The first show of the year, we do that onFox News Sunday. That's how the subject of Tiger Woods came up.
Were you surprised by the reaction?
I was surprised at the extent of it, but not the tone of it. I expected there to be some very strong criticism and some very strong, favorable response.
In this discussion about Tiger Woods, it seems as though some are offended that you would say something about Christianity specifically.
Instead of urging that Tiger Woods turn to Christianity, if I had said what he needed to do was to strengthen his Buddhist commitment or turn to Hinduism, I don't think anybody would have said a word. It's Christ and Christianity that get people stirred up.
What about raising the topic of Buddhism?
I didn't say much about Buddhism. Look, I don't think there's any question, this is a matter of fact. I don't think Buddhism is hostile to forgiveness or redemption, but Christianity, like no other religion we've ever known, is principally, and fundamentally, and especially about forgiveness and redemption. That is what Christianity is based on. That is why Christ was here. That is what he came here to achieve. On that issue, Christianity is unique.
Some have questioned whether Christianity can help you be more faithful to your spouse.
I don't think you draw a straight line that way. My sense is that if you turn to Christ and seek his forgiveness and mean it, you'll get it. You will be impelled and inspired to live the Christian life. Christianity is a religion for sinners. It doesn't encourage you to sin, it encourages you not to, but it provides a way of forgiveness and redemption. That's what Tiger Woods, like many sinners, needs. That's something we all need. He, in his particularly desperate moment here where he appears to be losing his family, is in special need of it. And I hope he finds it.
Do you think saying something publicly on TV would interfere with private evangelism efforts?
No. I can't imagine that any Christian with whom Tiger might consult, and I have no reason to believe that he is or isn't, would say something substantially different from what I'm saying.
Do you think your experience becoming a Christian after your son's death has led you to be emboldened to talk about your faith publicly?
I ought to be willing to do that. I don't want to practice a faith that I'm afraid to proclaim. I don't want to be a closet Christian. I'm not going to stand on the street with a megaphone. My principal responsibility at Fox News isn't to proselytize. But occasionally a mention of faith seems to me to be appropriate. When those occasions come, I'll do it.
Is Christianity welcome in the media?
No. Christianity is scorned by many in the media.
Did you see that before you made this statement?
Sure. Think of how many times we've seen an athlete interviewed on the sidelines of a football game who says he owes it all to God or owes it all to Christ, and the weird silence that greets those statements. People are uncomfortable with it. People don't want to talk about it. Politicians who proclaim their faith, the next question is about something else.
Was your statement about Tiger Woods something you had been thinking about before and had decided to make?
Yes. I've been thinking about it for some time.
Some people might say, "What about Christians like Ted Haggard or Mark Sanford?"
I don't think I would blame Christianity for the failings of people like that. Christianity is the right religion for people like that. Christianity is a religion for sinners. Christianity is not about the salvation of perfect people. Christianity is a way for people who are not perfect to be saved. What Mark Sanford needs is not less Christianity. He needs more of it.
What were you hoping people would take away from what you said?
Well, I was kind of hoping that in some way word of it might reach Tiger. I was hoping that people who were of faith might receive some encouragement from the message. You never know. I also thought it was interesting. I didn't really sit down and make some kind of calculations on a sheet of lined paper about what were going to be the consequences. We were expressing our views and those were my views on that point.
Do you attend a church in D.C.?
A lot of the worship I do is in home church and Bible study. There's a regular journalists' group that meets. There's also a group we're meeting this weekend at our place in Virginia, a group of families that meet for home church. There's a minister and his wife who lead it, and we like it.
Do you have a pastor or mentor?
I do. Jerry Leachman. He leads men's Bible study groups all over the Washington area.
I understand that when you moved into part-time work last year, you took time off to focus more on your faith.
That's true. I said I had the three G's I wanted to devote myself to: God, granddaughters, and golf. I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm able to see my granddaughters more, I'm spending more time focused on my faith, and when I can, I'm playing golf. All three of those things are still part of the scheme here.
I AM REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HIS COOL AND INTELLIGENT RESPONSE. IT IS GOOD TO HAVE HIM STEP INTO THE ARENA. REFRESHING.
ONE LAST NOTE. PASTOR JOHNNY HUNT OF WOODSTOCK HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND WILL UNDERGO SURGERY SOON. I THINK NEXT WEEK. THOUGH I HAVE ONLY MET HIM ONCE AND SPOKEN TO HIM FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 5 MINUTES, GOD HAS USED HIM TO BLESS MY LIFE, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY DAYS AFTER OUR WADE DIED. LET'S PRAY FOR HIM AS WELL. AS PRESIDENT OF THE SBC, HE GAVE THIS STATEMENT, AND I SHARE IT WITH YOU:
"I wanted to drop you a note and let you know that I appreciate your prayers for me as I have attempted to lead you over the past year and a half. I have been having my issues in recent days with my PSA as doctors have monitored carefully my prostate. With that being said, I received word this past Thursday, Nov. 19th, of the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Let me say that I am very encouraged in my heart to believe that they were able to locate this cancer early and Janet and I are now praying for wisdom from Heaven to know exactly what procedure to choose to deal with this cancer, probably around the second week in January. We would appreciate your prayers on this journey.
"As a Pastor, one thing that comes to mind is that there are far more trials and illnesses in God's family than we are aware of. My heart goes out to all who are challenged with cancer, or whatever the illness may be. My Mother suffered with cancer and went home to be with the Lord 25 years ago next February. My Mom taught me in her challenges that the Lord had moved her from 'Why me?' to 'Why not me?' I must confess that she really did pass that along to me; therefore, my attitude today is not 'Why me?' but 'Why not me?' If anyone has been blessed by God, it is this Pastor. The Lord has been so good to me. I believe that the Lord oftentimes allows things to come into our lives, and this, in particular, has been a great reminder of my mortality, and also of a genuine faith that has brought me through everything that I have ever faced; so, the Lord has been speaking encouraging words into my heart. I have the privilege to be the Pastor of such a precious, precious fellowship. First Baptist Church Woodstock has embraced Janet and me, along with our children and grandchildren, in such an encouraging way.
"I just wanted to make this known to you, as our Convention family, that I love you, it is a joy leading you, and I look forward to serving the Lord together in the days to come. We will try to keep you abreast of my surgery because we so desire to have your prayers and intercessions on our behalf. Know that each of you are loved."
THANKS FOR CHECKING IN. TALK TO YOU TOMORROW.
LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.
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