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Golf in the Kingdom: Out Of Bounds
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Out Of Bounds
Sometimes, in a round of golf, one side of the fairway or the other may be considered “out of bounds.” If
you hit your ball there, you have to go retrieve your ball and go back to the place you hit it, take a penalty
stroke (add a stroke to your score – a bad thing) and hit it again.
I’ve found that when I play if there is an out-of-bounds on a course, it is inevitable that I will find it.
During a regular round – when I’m out with a friend or just by myself and not really keeping score
competitively, it doesn’t make that much of a difference if I hit a ball out-of-bounds.
However, if I’m playing in a tournament or league game – anytime when the game actually means
something – then I am forced to observe the rules of the game, including the out-of-bounds rules.
This rule is important as it sets boundaries to the game. It is just one more way of making the game as
fair as possible for all those who play. Everyone has to abide by the same rules. No one is exempt. Tiger
Woods has to follow the same rules as I do. That levels the playing field – at least in theory. I think that
Tiger still has an edge over me, but that’s because he’s been gifted by God to do things with a golf club
that I can’t even dream of.
Another reason that golf courses have “out-of-bounds” markers is for the safety of the golfers. I
remember one time I was playing a round and I hit a ball “out of bounds.” The ball went into another
fairway. As I started to approach the ball, I heard someone bellow “FOUR!!!!” and I ducked just in time to
avoid a ball hitting me right in the forehead. Playing my ball from there would have disrupted another player’
s game and it would have been hazardous to my health!
God has created an out-of-bounds in our daily life. They are called the 10 Commandments. They are
boundaries within which we live our lives. Boundaries are good things, really. Sometimes we think of
boundaries as constricting and confining – like walls that keep us fenced in. But God put up the 10
Commandments to give us safety in our freedom of living within His will. We do not have to worry about
whether something we do displeases Him or will hurt us if we stay within the boundaries of His 10
Commandments.
I know it’s hard to think of God’s Law in this way, but it really is the truth. God’s Law is intended to keep
the playing field on an even keel for all of us and it is designed to keep us safe.
It doesn’t always work out that way – through no fault in God’s law, however. Sometimes, in our Christian
walk, we go out-of-bounds. We give in to our sinful human nature and transgress God’s Law. We want to
feel good. We want to do something for ourselves. Our egos take over and we find ourselves out-of-
bounds.
It is a this point that it is vital for us to go back to the point where we started – God’s Word and
Sacrament – so that we can get back on the right path of walking with Christ. We make mistakes, but
thankfully God is full of mercy! We have to suffer the consequences of our mistakes – taking that penalty
stroke and hitting again – but we do get a second, third, fourth – however many chances we need because
God is the God of second chances!
Out-of-bounds seems like a harsh thing to endure. But it is for our good and safety. Life is much more
fuller and richer when we play within bounds and in the blessings of God.
© 2005 True Men Ministries, Inc.
Sometimes, in a round of golf, one side of the fairway or the other may be considered “out of bounds.” If
you hit your ball there, you have to go retrieve your ball and go back to the place you hit it, take a penalty
stroke (add a stroke to your score – a bad thing) and hit it again.
I’ve found that when I play if there is an out-of-bounds on a course, it is inevitable that I will find it.
During a regular round – when I’m out with a friend or just by myself and not really keeping score
competitively, it doesn’t make that much of a difference if I hit a ball out-of-bounds.
However, if I’m playing in a tournament or league game – anytime when the game actually means
something – then I am forced to observe the rules of the game, including the out-of-bounds rules.
This rule is important as it sets boundaries to the game. It is just one more way of making the game as
fair as possible for all those who play. Everyone has to abide by the same rules. No one is exempt. Tiger
Woods has to follow the same rules as I do. That levels the playing field – at least in theory. I think that
Tiger still has an edge over me, but that’s because he’s been gifted by God to do things with a golf club
that I can’t even dream of.
Another reason that golf courses have “out-of-bounds” markers is for the safety of the golfers. I
remember one time I was playing a round and I hit a ball “out of bounds.” The ball went into another
fairway. As I started to approach the ball, I heard someone bellow “FOUR!!!!” and I ducked just in time to
avoid a ball hitting me right in the forehead. Playing my ball from there would have disrupted another player’
s game and it would have been hazardous to my health!
God has created an out-of-bounds in our daily life. They are called the 10 Commandments. They are
boundaries within which we live our lives. Boundaries are good things, really. Sometimes we think of
boundaries as constricting and confining – like walls that keep us fenced in. But God put up the 10
Commandments to give us safety in our freedom of living within His will. We do not have to worry about
whether something we do displeases Him or will hurt us if we stay within the boundaries of His 10
Commandments.
I know it’s hard to think of God’s Law in this way, but it really is the truth. God’s Law is intended to keep
the playing field on an even keel for all of us and it is designed to keep us safe.
It doesn’t always work out that way – through no fault in God’s law, however. Sometimes, in our Christian
walk, we go out-of-bounds. We give in to our sinful human nature and transgress God’s Law. We want to
feel good. We want to do something for ourselves. Our egos take over and we find ourselves out-of-
bounds.
It is a this point that it is vital for us to go back to the point where we started – God’s Word and
Sacrament – so that we can get back on the right path of walking with Christ. We make mistakes, but
thankfully God is full of mercy! We have to suffer the consequences of our mistakes – taking that penalty
stroke and hitting again – but we do get a second, third, fourth – however many chances we need because
God is the God of second chances!
Out-of-bounds seems like a harsh thing to endure. But it is for our good and safety. Life is much more
fuller and richer when we play within bounds and in the blessings of God.
© 2005 True Men Ministries, Inc.
