A few nights ago I got in this letter about Tim Tebow:
This year, many Christians I know have been thrilled by Tim Tebow and his well-publicized Christianity. I don’t have any problem with that. However, some of them have taken it a step further, and implied or stated that God is looking favorably upon the Broncos because of this.
This, I must admit, makes me a crazy woman. I find it hard to believe that God would interfere in the outcome of a football game, regardless of the religion of the participants—and if it were true that he did, it makes hard to fathom the success of many people who are downright nasty. But I know many people who seem to feel that every win for the Broncos was proof positive that Christianity (and in particular, a very fundamentalist Christianity) is the One True Way. Because of this attitude, I actually find myself cheering against people who are blatantly Christian in public, which I don’t want to do. Any thoughts?
So my first thought is that Tim Tebow sounds like the name of the Santa’s elf in charge of drumming monkey dolls. But that’s … stupid. Sorry.
My second thought is that no one who is downright nasty is ever successful. If you’re nasty (as in Scrooge-nasty, not “Oh, my! My boob!” Janet Jackson-nasty ), you lose. That’s the rule. (Though of course I know what the reader meant: When Dickheads Are Victorious is always a disconcerting show to watch.
My third thought is that if Tim Tebow were all that devout, wouldn’t he, ala Eric Liddell, refuse to play on Sunday—the Lord’s Day, the Christian Sabbath? I mean, pious-wise, I’m somewhere between Andy Griffith and … well, Otis the wino, and even I never published anything on Sundays before I started posting Pastor Bob’s sermons.
But whatever, I know. An NFL player who won’t play on Sundays is like a vampire who sunbathes. Total fail.
My fourth thought is the terribly obvious: “What kind of loser God would give a [bleepeth] which team wins a football game?”
The idea that Tim Tebow compels God to arrange for the Denver Broncos to win football games is so amazingly stupid that having to take it seriously for as long as it took me to type that has given my eyes a heart attack. Now I hate my life.
Curse you, moronic Tim Tebow fans! A pox upon your … oh, forget it. You wouldn’t know a pox from Biggie Smalls.
But is saying that in response to prayer God doesn’t throw football games the same as saying that God doesn’t hear, or care about, prayers offered to him?
Of course not. God does help Tim Tebow win football games. How? Because whenever any of us open ourselves up to the presence of God, we become a better version of ourselves. We become calmer, more centered, more compassionate: we gain the comprehension and apprehension of an ultimate context that is both pacifying and edifying.
We become (for, alas, however long) wiser.
Sometimes doing that is called prayer. Sometimes it’s called meditation. Sometimes its called worshiping. Sometimes it’s called centering oneself.
Sometimes it’s even called Tebowing.
Cultivating one’s relationship with God (or the Cosmic Divine, or … whatever/however anyone thinks of The Really Big Picture)? Thumbs up.
Being obnoxiously ostentatious about doing that, and failing to realize how obviously that communicates nothing but ego and show? Thumbs down.
Attributing the Broncos’ rise to the playoffs as God’s response to Tim Tebow’s displays of faith—and then having the Broncos get dropped like a bowling ball in a pool? And having the news come out today that during his team’s AFC divisional loss on Sunday, Tim Tebow was badly hurt—but that he continued to play through his pain?
Two thumbs up from this reviewer for that episode of the ultimate reality show.
![John Shore on The Huffington Post](http://johnshore.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/huffpost.jpg?w=120 "John Shore on The Huffington Post\")
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Where I stand on this issue (as I commented on Huffpost):
I’ve not been keeping up with the whole “Tim Tebow” thing. I know that he has been getting a lot of flack for being a Christian who is vocal in his faith. I feel two ways about this. 1) I think it’s wrong to make fun of other people–regardless of the reason. There’s a difference between teasing and ridicule–and when it’s not funny to the person who’s being “teased”, it’s ridicule.
2) But we who are Christians were told to expect this–that the world might turn against us based on our faith alone. We were also told to be sure that we didn’t give the world reason to turn against us by behaving in ways that are hurtful/hateful to others. The fundamentalist angle of Christianity has, recently and in the past, behaved hatefully toward others–and done so in the name of Jesus. This makes Christianity ugly/hateful to a lot of people, who respond by lashing out at anyone who is Christian. Is it right? No. Is it to be expected? Yes. Until we who are Christians clean up our own house, we have no right to expect the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” from others. Even then Jesus told us, in so many words, not to hold our breaths waiting for accolades from the world as they would be a long time in coming. Afterall, they crucified Jesus; why should we expect anything better for ourselves?–December 29, 2011.
Sometimes though people do showboat through praying in public. I’m not saying that Tim Tebow does so, but I’ve seen others who are very clearly “praying” in a manner that’s designed to show themselves off as religious people.–December 29, 2011.
I was kind of hoping that your take on Tim Tebow would be published on Huffpost. Maybe it has been and I’ve missed it. I admit that I’ve been very busy this week, which is why I’m playing catch-up on all my comments.
My humble opinion: Tim Tibow is far from “failing to fulfill the Father’s will”. Why are you so judgmental Sue? In context, Jesus was talking of Pharisees and the bunch, not disciples of Jesus. The following verse applies to Tim: Matthew 5:15-16 (NIV) “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Tebow is an example to us all. COURAGE!
Exactly Rene
Rene, why does Matthew 5:15-16 apply to Tebow but not Matthew 6:5 ?
Matthew 5:15-16 “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NIV)
Matthew 6:5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”
(New Living Translation)
I was just thinking of Matthew 6:5 when I read about Tim Tebow! It’s not just letting people know he’s a Christian; a few sentences would let us know that. He’s praying publicly on the street corner where everyone can see him, as Jesus was talking about.
And Mathew 5:15-16 talks about “good deeds,” not just “Hey guys, guess what? I’m a CHRISTIAN! I shall now pray to prove this. See me? I’m praying!”
Tebow has a lot of good deeds under his belt. He lets his light shine through those. Writing “John 3:16″on his eye black? That’s praying on the street corner.
Yes, a lot of good thinking in the comments here, John. However, since we can’t read his heart, why don’t we lay off Tebow? Are not Jesus’ words on the issue more about motives (getting noticed vs. actual thanks to God)? and he is being dishonest, what ill is he doing anyone but himself? He will have received his reward, and done no real harm. This is about the opposite of the Pharisees Jesus was addressing.
Does the underwear Tebow is modeling come with Scripture? A few verses from Song of Songs maybe?
I’ve only watched the man a couple times, and from the comments he might well be a very nice person who does a lot of good, but still I can’t help think that he has a genius for an agent, and is going to cash in big if he doesn’ t crash and burn. More power to him. He’s kind of cuddly.
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