While I've always been an avid NFL fan, I never thought that the sport would call for two different blog posts about one particular player and his faith. One discussion after another, Tim Tebow and his miraculous feats on the football field have stirred up another week's worth of water cooler discussion, sending the media into a frenzy over Tebow, his football skills, and his faith.
This week, many "pundits" noted that Tebow is not the first sports figure to represent his faith publicly through some kind of prayer, hand gesture, in-zone celebration, or quiet reflection with bibles all around in the locker room. Pittsburgh Steelers star safety Troy Polamalu is known around the league as someone who prays during plays. (Is that considered an audible?) Even Tebow's own teammate Brian Dawkins is recognized for his outspokenness about his faith. Everyone seems to "thank God" for his or her accomplishments -- it's seemingly the "thing" to do. Even if your works don't glorify Him, (I read that a porn star thanked God at an award ceremony) people have been giving God the credit for all kinds of things (good and bad) for a very long time.
We can all agree that Tim Tebow is NOT the first athlete or person to give God glory for His wonderful exploits. Right? Right.
So that leads me to this question: Why Tebow and why now?
Why, after so many other players before him who have openly professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, not gotten the same attention for their expressions of faith?
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
Throughout history, there has always been one person out of many that rose up to do great things in our society. Even if there was someone in close proximity doing the same thing, there was seemingly only room for one person during a particular "season" to have a greater impact than the rest. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one among many men and women who were fighting the good fight and standing up for justice for all people. The names of the Civil Rights greats are long and plenty, but it was Martin who was called out, set apart from his peers to change the course of history.
Consider Paul from the bible that was formerly known as Saul, the Christian killer. In his day, there were MANY people killing and persecuting Christians -- he wasn't the only one! But God called for Saul to encounter Jesus on the road to Damascus to change his life for the good. He was one out of many who were all doing the same thing, but was chosen to do more than the rest. Because of Paul's calling, he revolutionized what it mean to be a Christian and established some of the early churches that took the gospel around the world.
For many are called, but few are chosen. -- Matthew 22:14
Now, in no way will we ever try to compare Tebow's skills with a pigskin to that of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the apostle Paul, but we can see that there are some similarities to those people who were picked out, chosen, set apart to be the one to bring glory to what God is doing in the earth.
Why Tebow, why now? Because God is calling for believers, the ones bold enough to stand when the world tells you to sit down and shut up. Everyone's purpose isn't the same -- we aren't all called to be main attraction super heroes for Christ. Some of us will play our positions behind the curtain. Some of us will have small roles on stage. And some of us, like Tebow, will have to swing from the rafters about how great our God is. It is not for our own glorious gain, but to win souls to Christ. Those who live for Christ are charged with the mission to bring others into the fold. Whether we do that in the quiet spaces of our home or on the world stage, our mission is all the same.
For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). -- 1 Corinthians 12:12
We can discuss for hours whether Tebow is skilled enough on his own merit to take the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl (without some divine intervention, of course). However, what we can take away from his successes now is that God has elevated him to be a light in a dark, sinister world. Why Tebow, why now? Because people are desperate for hope in a time where hopelessness runs rampant. Why Tebow, why now? Because, whether you believe it or not, his public expressions of faith is a public expression of God's love for us - His blessings towards us are never kept quiet, are they? Why should our expressions for God be toned down? It's through a passion for God and compassion for others that people are won to Christ. This tried and true method works.
Finally, we should never, ever put Tebow, the man, on a pedestal -- one slip up can bring all of the world's glory and adoration for him down faster than a Kardashian marriage. What we can elevate, however, is God's desire for His love, works, and compassion for people to be exemplified through this Southern boy's love for good old fashion football.
Follow Alisha L. Gordon, M.Ed. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AlishaLGordon
As I disagree with Tebow's religious supprters who blasphemally claim God helps Tebow on the football field, I'm equally as disturbed when people joke about God taking the day off. As a critic of Tebow's football skills, it would be easy to make such a ridiculous quip. Every player in the NFL and people in life in general are blessed by God with certain abilities and skills, its up to that person to utilize those abilities as best they can. Denver's wins are due to all 53 players on the team utilizing their skills to the best of their ability to make the team successful.
Here's why, Dawkins and Polamalu are excellent at their positions. They aren't coddled by the media and demand special treatment. Denver had to completely throw out a playbook in order to get this one player on the field. Cam Newton has a few special plays thrown into the game plan to suit his talents, but essentially he's expected to play the position of QB.
Anyone who criticizes Tebow as a QB is now anti-Christian? His supporters made religion an issue. I criticize Tebow as I have other players, he's no different than those players. When we aren't allowed to judge this guy as we do all players in the league, it's time to rename the National Football League the National Tebow League, because this one man will have become bigger than the game. Tebow's religion isn't an issue in football and shouldn't be, but to blame his critics is wrong, his supporters are the ones who pushed this marginal player onto the playing field, not based on QB talent, but on his religion. Who's fault is that?
Come on, with all due respect to your religion, it wasn't God who fashioned a run-oriented offense to suit Tebow's average skills as a football player. It was Mike McCoy, the offensive coordinator. He is responsible for putting Tebow in the best possible position for success - limiting Tebow's throws & accentuating his prowess as an open field runner. And it isn't God coordinating the defense that has kept Denver in contention in so many games. It is Dennis Allen running the defense. And then there are the players on both sides of the ball; they deserve credit, too. Sure, Tebow is leader of the team & he deserves credit for his ability to get the job done & for inspiring his team mates & fans. But in the end it's a team game. Novelty wears off quickly in football; other teams adapt to your style & you have to keep getting better to stay in the hunt. Yesterday Tebow & Denver found that out. Belichik provided the blueprint for stopping Denver & Tebow. You can bet other teams will try to copy New England's plan. Now we're going to find out what Denver & Tebow are really made of. It should be fun.
The way to beat Tebow is to do as the Patriots and put points on the board, or don't go into a prevent defense. It's no accident Tebow's supporters rave about his 4th qtr play and tell us to ignore the first 3 1/2 qtrs. It's been shown time and time again, Tebow can't play against regular, pressure defenses. As is the case with most QB's, if you rush 3, play a soft coverage, and give up the short underneath throws, the QB can be effective, no matter who's at QB. To beat Denver and Tebow, you simply need to close out your defensive game plan the way you played the entire game. I'd bet you $100 if Lovie Smith of the Bears had it to do over, he wouldn't have gone to that prevent defense, better known as the playing not to lose defense.
In the name of the Pasta, the Marinara, and the Holy Parmesan.
Amen.
...although to be objectively fair, the evidence strongly suggests that the 49ers are GOD'S team. 5-0 PERFECT SuperBowl record and we all know God is perfect (I have to include that last disclaimer so folks aren't deceived by the predictable false-prophets from SteelerLand who as prophesied will spewing their blasphemy!)
Because he is WHITE.
Why now?
Because we are three years into a BLACK Presidency.
...and Paul did more to vitiate, "un-Jew", and destroy the simple beauty of meaning of the words of Jesus than any man to walk the earth. He was the first "corporate Christian", despised by the ACTUAL apostles, and his crude & contradictory "letters" replacing the Books of Enoch, Book of Timothy, etc. is one of the worst editing jobs to boot.
If you have any more questions about the specifics of this Bronze Age tribal slave religion I'll be around all day.
On a side note, not to you personally, but just putting it out there...I do not believe God decides football games or whether or not someone fumbles a ball or completes a pass (He'd be pretty negligent if so...would be necessary to gather whatever Angels are left and start an 'occupy Heaven' movement...and yes I say that tongue in cheek, my God has a sense of humor). The majority of NFL players are Christians. Should we really believe he's going to snub them all just to gift one? Silly. I do wish Tebow the best, I think he can learn to be a better passer, hence QB. Time will tell. But don't mind me if I sit all this hyperbole about him out, just like the phony 'War on Christmas'.
Merry Christmas to you all.
You are right in noting religion and faith has always been a part of different players, through celebratioÂn, after game prayer, after game commentaryÂ..etc. So why now? See above. (ControverÂsy sells)
The OWS are being told to sit down and shut up, should we now support them because God is telling us to do so? (Which actually, judging by the teachings of Christ, he would be). Otherwise I don't really see the 'world' telling others to 'sit down and shut up'.
Can some of us not be Tebow fans for the fact alone he is not a great QB? Ever hear of Aaron Rodgers? Joe Montana? You'd take Tebow over them? (I could list hundreds). Or that we might not be Florida fans, or Broncos's fans, or extreme media created hyperbole fans?
No offense taken, and I don't believe Tebow is a great QB..I'll take Brady over him any day. But I'd take others over Brady (He is a top one), it's all good. I'm glad the pats won though..I would hate to hear the noise in the media if not.