God’s Mulligan
September 2026 - Bruce Fairbairn
Crestview’s golf league is winding down its 24th season. We still have several rounds to play in the fall, but I’m already looking forward to our Silver Anniversary season in 2027! Like other Crestview groups, the Golf League is a wonderful time for fun, fellowship and camaraderie. We enjoy the company, sprinkle in some good (and not so good) golf shots and take time afterwards for drinks and conversation.
I especially like our one mulligan per 9 holes rule. (Don’t tell anybody, but some of us have been known to take more than one!) A mulligan is a do-over, a chance to redo without penalty an especially atrocious shot out of bounds or in the water. The do-over shot is hopefully better than the first, but not always the case unfortunately. I personally think mulligans are one of Mankind’s greatest inventions, next to the fork!
I hope it doesn’t seem frivolous or irreverent to suggest that the grace given us at the Cross, the forgiveness of our sins through our belief in Christ, can be thought of as God’s Mulligan. God’s mulligan, however, is eternal, infinitely more precious and never-ending, compared to a simple and transient golf rule that may or may not help our score in the current round.
Most thankfully, God grants us continuing multitudes of mulligans. Jewish rabbis taught that people should forgive those who offend them three times before severing that relationship and having nothing more to do with the offending party. Peter–maybe trying to seem especially generous—asked Jesus if he should forgive someone up to seven times. Jesus answered: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” [Matthew 18:21-22] Jesus meant forgiving without limit, not keeping count of offenses, but continually forgiving those who are repentant.
God’s Mulligan—eternal and unending–is His gracious act of releasing people from sin through Christ [Ephesians 1:7] and a command for believers to forgive others as God has forgiven them [Matthew 6:14–15]. Monthly communion is the blessed Sacrament reminding us of Christ’s work on earth and the New Covenant offered through His supreme sacrifice for us. We are brought into a right and continuous relationship with God as if we had never sinned. Glorious mulligans, indeed.
Bruce Fairbairn
