Wake Up, Look Up

Hello everyone, and thanks for listening to Wake Up, Look Up, a podcast where we connect events happening in real time to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Zach Weihrauch, and, today's episode, we're asking the question, is my golf swing destroying the world? Now, when I say this, I don't mean mine personally because I know some of the guys I play golf with are gonna send me that email. But this is a pretty interesting story. Golf balls that are lost worldwide each year is a, massive ecological environmental problem. So believe it or not, over 3 to 5 billion golf balls are lost worldwide each year, with 1.5 billion of those lost in the United States alone. And I do, represent a large portion of those here in Northeast Ohio. Golf balls in take up to 1,000 years to decompose, leaching toxic chemicals into the environment. So think about that. A thousand years to decompose, 3 to 5 billion being lost annually globally presents a pretty significant environmental problem. Like at pebble beach, famous golf course in California, right on the ocean, 186,000 golf balls, are lost a year. That's 9.442 tons of non decomposable waste into the ocean every year. Scientists are raising the alarm that in generations to come, people are gonna be cursing my slice or your hook for the problems it causes to our, planet. Now, this podcast episode is not about golf swings and it's not even about the environment, because I think this is a pretty interesting metaphor. And here's what I mean. Our culture seems to have this idea that something is only morally wrong if it hurts someone else. That's the argument that goes against biblical sexuality or biblical understanding of gender. Hey, if two men want to have consensual relationships with each other, who are they hurting? If a woman wants to live life as a man, who is she hurting? What we're saying when we say that is that we can't see an immediate damaging effect on another person from that moral action. And therefore, who are we to say that it's wrong? But of course, do you think the guy hitting a slice at pebble beach into the ocean really thinks he's causing a problem? Do you think he really thinks that his singular golf ball, his singular bad golf swing is really hurting anyone? And yet it's posing one of the most significant challenges to the environment of our generation. Look, the writer of Proverbs in chapter 14, verse 12 says it this way. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. The point being that we think we know what's right, we think we know what is hurting someone or what isn't hurting someone. But we're wrong. Golfers hitting the ball into the ocean don't see themselves as doing anything damaging. And I'm not suggesting they're doing anything, quote unquote, morally wrong. I'm just saying their effect, the effect of their activity, goes beyond what they can see. A thousand years from now, someone might look back and say, wow, I really wish that guy hadn't hit a golf ball into the ocean. But just because the golfer can't see that doesn't mean it isn't going to happen. The truth is that the only way to know whether an action is ultimately, causing damage to anyone else. When would be to play out all the permutations. If I do this, then this will happen, then this will happen, then this will happen all the way out to the tenth, to the hundredth, to the thousandth degree. And, what would you call a being who could do that? Well, you would call that being God. You see, when God tells us that something is wrong or right, loving or unloving, it is because he sees the consequences, both intended and unintended, of any moral action. When God shows up and says, this is wrong, this isn't good for you, this is going to damage the world, it's because he sees further down the horizon of time than we do. Golfers and their bad swings might just be destroying the planet. And the fact that they don't see it doesn't mean it isn't true. Well, I wonder where else this is true in my life. Where I think what I'm doing is relatively benign, relatively harmless. But God knows it's having a generational impact on my family, my community and the world around me. I have to say, I didn't need one more negative thought in my head when I stand over the golf ball. But I could use a little more self awareness when I decide whether or not to trust God with my morality. Hey, thanks for watching this episode of Wake Up, Look Up. If you enjoyed it, please help us get the word out by sharing it with someone you think might benefit from it. And while you're here, make sure to, subscribe to our YouTube channel to get further content or even download the CCC app, where you'll find even more resources to help you grow in your faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

Have an article you’d like Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!