Snellville Church of Christ: Online Resources: Houston Bynum

Role Models
by Houston Bynum

Erik Tryggestad recently penned an article for The Christian Chronicle (9-21-03) about golfer Kenny Perry. He has earned millions on the PGA Tour, winning two of the most prestigious stops on the Tour: the Memorial and the Colonial. He is anything but your typical celebrity professional athlete--as he impresses others as the same, simple, ordinary guy he was before all his winnings.

Kenny Perry is a deacon in the Franklin, Ky., church of Christ. His friends say that he doesn't have the ego to match his winnings. Perry's winnings have meant substantial contributions to Lipscomb University. In July, he was ranked No. 19 in all-time PGA Tour earnings with more than $13 million, wrote David Climer, sports columnist for the (Nashville) Tennessean. Perry has also used some of his winnings to build the Country Creek golf course in Franklin. Before he became successful, he said that he would give back to the Lord. He gives 5% of his earnings to Lipscomb's golf team and has set up a trust fund for scholarships for young people from Simpson County (Ky.). As a deacon, he also serves as a missions coordinator for the Franklin church, and his wife teaches children's classes there.

Byron Nelson, another member of the church of Christ, won 54 PGA tour events during his career and five major championships, including the Masters in 1937 and 1942. He, too, served as a role model for many young people.

In a day when some "celebrities" are notorious for their immoral behavior and bad examples, it is refreshing to see such people as Kenny Perry, and previously, Byron Nelson. We should appreciate anyone (celebrity and noncelebrity) who takes his faith seriously and sets a good example for others.

The scriptures teach of the power of example and of being a good role model. The greatest example and role model of all is, of course, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus left us His example to follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21). Jesus used the metaphors of "light" and "salt" to describe the example He desires for His disciples as they influence the world (Mt. 5:13-16). The apostle Paul said, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1, NASB). Paul wrote to young Timothy and said, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe" (1 Tim. 4:12).

Someone once echoed the message of the Old Testament prophets: "Religion without morality is mere ceremony substituting for conscience, ritual for righteousness, sacrament for saintliness." In other words, some folks simply "go through the motions" of religion while living a bad example. Such behavior is hypocrisy.

Thomas Morell said, "The first great gift we can bestow on others is a good example." "Is your life a channel of blessing?" Does your life give the gift of a good example?

Back