Focus On The Family Unveils Tim Tebow-Inspired John 3:16 Ad During Broncos-Patriots Game (VIDEO)

Out of the mouths of babes came Tim Tebow's favorite Biblical verse.

During the second quarter of last night's Broncos-Patriots game the Colorado Christian ministry Focus on the Family unveiled a new, 30-second spot featuring young children reciting John 3:16.

The anti-abortion group, which aired a controversial commercial during the 2010 Super Bowl starring the pious quarterback, used last night's showdown between Tebow and Tom Brady to share another message.

In last night's commercial a group of children recite, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Religion and football seem to be intermingling more these days as "Tebowing," the act of spontaneously getting down on one knee to pray, has gained a life of its own.

And though Tebow was not mentioned in last night's Focus commercial, he is the cultural phenomenon that inspired it, the group's spokesman Gary Scheenberger told the Denver Post.

The number 316 seems to repeat itself when it comes to Tebow's career. He threw 316 yards during the playoff win against the Steelers and set an NFL record with an average of 31.6 yards -- and there's the eye black with 3:16 inscribed in it that he wore during his college football days.

The Biblical verse has been held as a motto for evangelical Christians and Scheenberger told the Denver Post he expects criticism from groups opposed to mixing religion with sports.

"We will hear about shoving religion down people's throats," he said. "But if it's OK to shove Doritos down people's throats, and cars and everything else, we have the right to advertise, too."

Although Focus' 2010 ad featuring Tebow did not contain an overtly pro-life message, CBS still came under fire from many groups for airing it, and apparently changing its policy of not taking ads that advocated a political cause.

Other networks, however, are still holding on to that policy. Last January Fox Sports rejected a John 3:16-themed commercial for the Super Bowl from the Fixed Point Foundation.

Comments

[Ralph Huntington]

06:21 AM on 02/18/2013

How Interesting and ironic that Focus on the Family uses a biblical quote (John 3:16) that clearly supports the LGBT community: "Whoever believes [in Christ] shall have everlasting life".

"Whoever believes" means everyone who believes and can't reasonably be construed as being restricted to "heterosexual people who believe" it's everyone who believes. Therefore, as far as bible-quoting Christians are (or should be) concerned, LGBT believers are just as loved and saved as "straight" believers. After all, "Love one another" is the master's main message, is it not?

Just as interesting is the apparent fact that our friend from Nazareth didn't have anything to say about homosexuality or bisexuality, so it couldn't have been important else surely he would have said something and surely his words would have been preserved. At least that's what a believer would have to believe. After all, what good is being God if you can't have your words preserved?

Nice. I hope their little video gets a lot of play. A lot of LGBT people (kids and adults) need to hear the message.

[Paul Felix Schott]

07:58 PM on 01/19/2012

The Bible is something that should be at the front of our news in a Nation that Stands United In GOD We Trust and United We Will Always Stand as one Nation under our Lord GOD. True American Patriots are the ones that are not afraid to say our Lord GOD comes first, Family then Country. For with out GOD and Family we would never have had grown into this one Great Nation that most All The World look to for help in time of need.

Why let the Wicked in office in our Nation if they do not believe in GOD and the Bible vote them out of office.
United We Will Always Stand in GOD We Trust George Washington and Johann Paul Schott 1776.
In GOD We Trust
The United States of America’s Motto July 30, 1956.
King David’s Motto 3,000 years ago.
Soon all the World will Pray to Our Lord GOD and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Lord's Little Helper
Paul Felix Schott

[RadicalCaveman]

01:38 PM on 01/20/2012

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[BMM22]

04:40 PM on 04/10/2012

You do know that part about God was added in the 1950s, right? Try reading the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

[sound4c]

08:56 PM on 01/17/2012

Why is it that when the discussion of Jesus comes up, or the gospel, or Christianity, we have to discuss homosexuality? If you believe the Bible is the word of God, live it. If you don't, don't live it. If you want to "get saved" and become a Christian, you know what to do. If you don't, DON'T. What is there to argue about? Arguing is exactly the distraction we don't need. It's tearing us apart. There's no need to be right. Get saved, don't get saved. Believe, don't believe. But be comfortable in your own skin once you've made the choice.

[mounjane]

04:17 PM on 01/17/2012

Love it. What an inspiration!

[Mtnfisherman63]

03:03 PM on 01/17/2012

Tim Tebow should focus on his not sucking in the playoffs, not praying during the game. It obviously didn't help.

[mounjane]

04:19 PM on 01/17/2012

It's amazing what kind of people respond negatively to something that is so positive! It's apparent you have some issues. Maybe a little therapy?

[DaniFoxy]

10:29 AM on 01/17/2012

I thought it was a sweet commercial full of cute kids. It makes me sad to see so many people get so argumentative over something so simple. For an audience that calls itself liberals, so many of us are so bitterly opinionated that it causes grief and anguish over things that will never be agreed on or resolved. There is no more wrong with the 3:16 ad than there would be with an ad that embraces same sex marriage. Maybe it's time to loosen up folks... life can be really great if we just let it.

[cynical one]

11:23 AM on 01/17/2012

You obviously don't understand the idea that FotF wants to run your life. Life would be better if we don't let others stipulate how we live it.

[DaniFoxy]

11:28 AM on 01/17/2012

Take your own advice.

[mounjane]

04:29 PM on 01/17/2012

Listen, CYN, boy that corresponds well don't ya think. No one is telling you how to live your life. That's up to you. AND, Tebow tells no one how to live their life. He is an inspiration that has a positive message to it. It's there for the taking, if you decide to act on it, your decision only. People are loving it so much that they want to vote him athelete of the year. All across the country kids are tebowing. Do they all believe in God, no, but the message is better viewing of an football player and his belief, that other atheletes who promoted dog fighting, got arrested for drunk driving, or domestic abuse. I rather see kids getting a positive than negative CYN.

[atomic]

11:58 AM on 01/17/2012

WRONG ... the difference is that same sex couples do not take out ads that promote their way as the only valid type of family and insinuate that all others are sick and dysfunctional. This ad and in fact the entire platform of Focus On The Family is to degrade homosexuals while raking in big bucks from frightened heterosexuals. We are all part of the human family but this disgusting organization has built an empire opposing homosexuals and condeming them to the outskirts of society.

[DaniFoxy]

12:21 PM on 01/17/2012

As soon as I read "WRONG" in all caps, I stopped reading.

[sound4c]

08:47 PM on 01/17/2012

Please tell me how this ad degrades homosexuals. Please tell me how FOTF rakes in "big bucks from frightened heterosexuals". If you are truly gay pride, then quit playing the victim and be truly proud. Nice to see you're so tolerant.

[Manny Motomal]

03:17 AM on 01/17/2012

John 3:16 is only part of the Message, but this is why Tim Tebow matters...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48524947@N04/6713264393/in/photostream

(copy and paste)

[Manny Motomal]

03:32 AM on 01/17/2012

Ooops...bad link. Try this one: http://flic.kr/p/beeeBP

[cynical one]

09:34 AM on 01/17/2012

nothing like a good fiction tale to start the day. thanks,

[atomic]

12:02 PM on 01/17/2012

oooo .. icky.

[IHateTheGOP]

12:13 AM on 01/17/2012

Dear God,
If you're not too busy with the tens of thousands of people who starve to death all over the world every day, could you please help me beat New England in a football game?
Thanks, your buddy Tim

[My Profile]

08:23 AM on 01/17/2012

That's what I find hilarious about secularists. They're always trying to convince us that God is as inept as humans and can only perform a single task at an given time. Genesis 1-11 dispels that myth. It's the first pages of the Bible for crying out loud! LOL!

Maybe you evolutionists should learn before you preach.

[cynical one]

09:46 AM on 01/17/2012

You know what's even funnier? Religious people that try to convince us that God is as inept as humans and actually cares about sports.

The other funny thing is quoting a mythical book to dispel a myth.

Seriously. Learn the history of your religion.

[atomic]

12:04 PM on 01/17/2012

NO .. we are not trying to convice you of anything .. we know you are completely locked into your fantasy .. we just want you to do your thing and leave us out of it.

[mounjane]

06:26 PM on 01/17/2012

So childish!

[Palerider1]

12:01 AM on 01/17/2012

Any of the Christian denominations that teach the gospel message, the virgin birth, that Jesus died for our sins, that on the third day he beat death, hell and the grave, ascended into heave and now sits at the right hand of God the Father, waiting to intercede for all who have professed him as their savior, is represented by Tim Tebow.

All other FALSE religions are not feared by todays society because it poses no threat to them. Simply speaking the name of Jesus makes the demons tremble.
His very name contains power.
The people that are calling the Focus on the Family a hate group in reality just hate what the Bible says about their deviant life style. Just look up the definition of deviant and tell me it does not describe homosexuality.

[three2thehead]

03:23 PM on 01/17/2012

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mk. 4.24

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

-- Matthew 7.

[Palerider1]

06:29 PM on 01/17/2012

Sorry but your attempt to silence Christians with scripture taken out of context and having nothing to do with the subject matter will not work with me.

Judging someone and having an opinion based on Bible knowledge are two completely separate things.

You could scream out the above scriptures to people that were objecting to you having sex with a goat, in public, while you were preforming the wicked deed. They would have the same effect.

[ilovecondiments]

08:44 AM on 01/18/2012

I am so thankful I go to a Christian church that does not spew the kind of mindless, thoughtless and, yes, possibly hateful statements that Palerider1 believes according to his (most likely) last two sentences above. ALL are welcome, sincerely. Not "you're welcome to come in and then we'll change you." My - or anyone else's - sexuality or identification is between me - or them - and God. So judgmental, so arrogant, so holier-than-thou. No one is attracted to your interpretation of God. God wants us to love Him, He craves us and is pleased when we do his work. LOVE comes first. MLK Jr. was right in his aim for brotherly love, not hate.

[Palerider1]

09:34 AM on 01/18/2012

All are welcome in my Church. All Christians are but sinners saved by grace. The problem with many of todays churches are that they do not preach the word of God, but instead preach ear tickling, warm and fuzzy messages that do Satans work for him.

Yes, love is important, and my Church loves you enough to preach the truth to you about the sin of homosexuality so that when you stand in front of God you will not be able to say, "NO ONE TOLD ME IT WAS A SIN" .

I have seen the healing power of Jesus, there is hope for you.

[iamaconservative]

11:58 PM on 01/16/2012

Very inspiring. CBS is starting to embrace Christianity.

[cynical one]

09:38 AM on 01/17/2012

starting to embrace?? I love when Christians act like they are so abused.

[gdatomic]

09:53 AM on 01/17/2012

Agreed. Its funny to see how intense that oppressed feeling is. But it comes from churches. Nothing motivates a flock more than the perception of fighting back against oppression.

[beautifulsmile]

10:07 AM on 01/17/2012

We are all the same, no need for labels. We are all wanting someone to pay attention to us and our beliefs....

[mollymac]

10:24 PM on 01/16/2012

I don't think we need to have TT tell us about John 3:16. I grew up with that verse and know it well. However, he appears to be attention seeking by using God as his way to get his needs met.

[girlpatriot]

11:01 PM on 01/16/2012

You may not need to have Tebow tell us about John 3:16, but in the 2009 national championship game when Tebow had the verse written on his eye tape 92 million people Googled the verse.

That's quite a lot of people who were curious about John 3:16 and its meaning.

[IHateTheGOP]

12:08 AM on 01/17/2012

There's a church on every street corner in America. What are they teaching their flock. Just to vote repuglican?

[cynical one]

09:39 AM on 01/17/2012

So what you are saying is that 92 million of people would never have cared about Tebow except for the Gospel verse on his face, right?

[flilguy]

09:09 PM on 01/16/2012

I honestly can't believe FOF asked for donations at the end of this ad. What I find even more unbelievable people actually do give them money.

[JacksonJones]

08:39 PM on 01/16/2012

I heard that Witchita, Kansas (area code 316) will be raptured in its entirety during the Superbowl halftime celebration.

[cynical one]

08:38 PM on 01/16/2012

I think Focus on your Family forgets that Jesus was a Jew.

[IHateTheGOP]

12:08 AM on 01/17/2012

And that christianity stole their religion from jews.

[My Profile]

08:25 AM on 01/17/2012

What? ROFL!

[cynical one]

09:47 AM on 01/17/2012

And that the Pagans.

[juzcuz]

12:40 PM on 01/17/2012

... I might add that Jesus was a compassionate, gay socialist Jew and was crucified because of ignorance and fear and the anti-christ conservatives would crucify him all over again today out of fear and ignorance.

[Atsaguy]

06:47 PM on 01/16/2012

Oh just a side note...1 black kid and 1 asian kid and 11 white kids...go figure...they all looked sweet however...I kind of wished FOF would have went out in the streest and found kids who didn't have all the basics of life instead of being well fed, well schooled, well dressed kids...

Something is wrong here ..with the many people who have children who are homeless and starving..I think Jesus would have rather liked the ones who do not have everything on a silver platter...just my take on it...