"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." That's what Tim Tebow used as eyeliner prior to the Florida-Oklahoma BCS Championship game in 2008, won by Florida, 24-14.
So, am I to believe that Florida beat Oklahoma because Tim Tebow had John 3:16 painted beneath his eyes? Of course, one can practice one's faith as one wishes, but I've always had a difficult time understanding why some people abuse Scripture by using it in a rather pedestrian way.
It certainly seems more than a bit egocentric to think that a football player, even a Heisman Trophy winner, has some kind of personal relationship with God that would privilege him and his team to the detriment of all other football players who believe in God? Why should God think more kindly about Tim Tebow than Sam Bradford? Why should God privilege Florida over Oklahoma? Why would God care?
It seems a bit sacrilegious that any player would tend to privilege his relationship to God over any other player's relationship yet that's what's heard time and seen time again in sports. Players are always thanking God for this or that after they win as if God handicaps the games in Vegas.
Peyton Manning even admitted that he prayed on the sidelines that the Patriots would miss a field goal so the Colts could go to the Super Bowl. Is that why people believe in God? Is that what God is about? To take sides in Bowl games or to privilege a hitter or a field goal kicker because he makes the sign of the cross? Doesn't that tend to diminish the intrinsic value of what God stands for? Doesn't that tend to reduce faith from something spiritual and transcendental to something pedestrian and mundane?
God, the Father of the Universe, Creator of all things living, reduced to an idol of totem worship that decides who wins games and who loses them, who gets a base hit and who doesn't, who makes a field goal and who misses. Is that the God we're supposed to worship?
I don't know, but, apparently, Tebow always wears scripture as eyeliner. I haven't seen all the games he's played in, but the ones I have seen him in he's done that. He must have felt that wearing Scripture worked so well in the game against Oklahoma last year, he did it again this year against Florida State, but with Hebrews 12:12: "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13:Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."
It must have worked again since Florida crushed Florida State 37-10 so, if one is on a roll, roll with it and that's what Tebow did against Alabama. This time Tebow used John 16:33:"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." But what happened? The Gators were blown out 32-12. Did Tebow do something that God didn't like? Did he prefer Mark Ingram? Or Julio Jones? Or Greg McElroy? Or was he just fed with Urban Meyer and thought Nick Saban needed a break? I
'm certain that Tim Tebow is a well-grounded person with high ideals, moral certitude and deep religious faith. What I find rather disturbing is that he has to bring that religious faith onto the playing field as a way of testifying to it, as a way of letting people know just how deeply religious he is. The irony of making faith a kind of religious highlight reel is that belief in God isn't a spectator sport nor is a football field a venue for religious politicking.
That is, unless one believes in "Touchdown Jesus" and we all know how that's worked out.
I wonder where Mr. Axelrod has been for the last 25 years. The scripture John 3:16, among others, has been on signs displayed within stadiums at sporting events for quite some time.
Did it occur to the author that Tebow's use of more than one scripture was just a professing of his own faith and not, by extension, a belief that God would intervene in the outcome of the game?
Pretty lame stuff for someone of letters. Perhaps it was a slow news day.
It's obvious that you know absolutely nothing about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how much He, and His Father God, care about everything in our daily lives.
There is nothing wrong with praying for a touchdown, a missed field goal, healing from a brain tumor, or anything else in our lives - whether "big" or "little" in your eyes, or anyone else's.
IMHO, God ALWAYS answers my prayers. Sometimes the answer is "YES", sometimes it's "NO", and sometimes it might be "LATER". If it's "NO", then I trust that His ultimate wisdom is far better than mine and move on from there.
The Bible verses have nothing to do with winning football games. Why would you assume that Tebow is so stupid and shallow not to know that, whereas everyone here considers that an obvious fact?
I would have no problem with some athlete putting verse numbers from the Koran on the patches under his eyes. Most likely, I would never look them up, but if I did, perhaps I would find something inspirational there.
Next time write something that reflects your academic standing, and actually do a little research before you vent. This piece is pure bluster, and reflects poorly on you and your university.
He is an example for us all to be MORE public and vocal with our FAITH and to not cower down to those who diss on our Christianity and our Faith.
He makes me proud to stand with him and to stand UP on my college campus!!!
I'm sure we'll find out in spectacular "Tiger Woods" fashion.