Articles
Long Game and Short Game
Long Game and Short Game
Cory Waddell
In March of 2022 an article was published about golfer Tiger Woods’ recovery from a horrific auto accident the previous year which did significant damage to his lower body. It lauded the fact the golfing legend had finally played his first full 18 holes in his quest to return to the game. Prior to this full round he had played only his short irons for several months and had refrained from swinging his long-distance clubs. Those who play golf understand the wisdom in this tactic, because the long-distance clubs require considerably more torque on one’s lower body than the short clubs. However, it doesn’t take much to also recognize that eventually Woods was going to have to address his long game if he ever wanted to compete in the PGA again. It is simply not possible to succeed in golf if you don’t have both elements in your arsenal.
This stage in Tiger’s rehab presents us with an interesting spiritual illustration. As Christians we need to not just think about the “short game” of our ministries, but the “long game” as well. Let me explain.
The “short game” mentality is the one which seeks to enact a change very quickly. Perhaps a need is identified in the church and a new ministry is created to fill it. Maybe someone’s lapse in moral judgment leads them to make some quick changes in company or practices. The short game is a necessary part of spiritual living, but it must work with the “long game” as well.
The “long game” mentality is one which considers what effects a decision or series of decisions will have several years down the road. “If I/we do this now, where will it lead in 5, 10, or 15 years?” There are multiple values to the “long game.” For one, it is a way to identify and mitigate undesirable outcomes. You can catch a problem before it ever happens. Yet, it is also key to bringing about more lasting and impactful change for the cause of Christ. For instance: Do you want adults who are steeped in sound Bible knowledge? Then you need to think about what kinds of ministries will start the current kindergarteners on that path and not just focus on the current adults. The key is using “short term” mentalities as steps to reach the “long term” goals.
In truth, God gave us this very example in his plan of salvation. Galatians 4:4 tells us that Jesus came in the “fullness of time,” indicating that his arrival was not haphazard or spontaneous. It was the result of a well-executed “long game” plan stretching all the way back to the garden of Eden. God dealt with needs in the short term through patriarchs and Mosaic Law, but these were “short game” steps to get us to Jesus. He shaped and prepared humanity for generations until Jesus could come to save us all.
Why does this matter? Satan has been using this approach for a long time. Our news feeds are filled with all manner of confusion, immorality, indecency, and lostness, about which Christians often opine, “things didn’t used to be this way.” Yet these changes did not happen overnight. They are the culmination of Satan working for a long time, chipping away a little bit each generation. If it took generations for us to get here, then it will probably take generations to see a complete shift.
This means the church must be investing in both present needs and a future legacy. Our ministries should be made with the vision of how they will impact our great-grandchildren’s lives. The gospel is still powerful to change individuals and communities. As we share its message, God will impact as many as possible now, but with the goal of reshaping the world again in the future, until he returns. If we want to be the most fruitful we can be, let us not be solely focused on the “short game,” but make sure we are adding the “long game” as well.
