I’m
not talking about football games, mind you. Tebow had a great winning career at
the University of Florida. Against the cynics who said he couldn’t make the
grade as a pro, he led the Denver Broncos to some highly improbable wins this
year – including that remarkable game-winning pass that beat the Steelers in
overtime in a playoff game. Quickest OT win in NFL history. Only 11 seconds.
It’s
in his polarizing public image that Tebow can’t seem to get a break. On the one
hand, does anybody really think God cares who wins a football game? On the
other, would there be protests against a person of a faith group other than
conservative Christians showing a public sign of his religious faith?
From
within Christian ranks, some point to Jesus’ words about letting people “see
your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”; again, though, who
thinks he was talking about a touchdown pass? Others point to Jesus’ words
later in the same sermon that his followers should “beware of practicing your
piety before others to be seen by them”; there, in fact, he was specifically
talking about making donations and saying public prayers.
Then
there’s Bill Maher’s now-notorious crudity about Jesus and Tebow in celebration
of the Broncos being beaten. Others make fun of his virginity. Maybe the story
will be told in a Chariots of Fire-type
movie a quarter century hence and Tebow will be as heroic as Harold Abrahams
(Jew) and Eric Liddell (Christian) are in their cinematic personas. Or perhaps
they were as vilified in their own time for their Jewishness and Christianity
is Tebow is being scoffed at now.
So
what’s a religious athlete to do? Why can’t Tim Tebow seem to win here? Will he
eventually get the same respect Sandy Koufax did for not pitching on the
Sabbath or Reggie White for intimidating other teams’ offensive lines on
Sunday? Koufax was an observant Jew, and White was an ordained Christian minister.
Let
Tim Tebow play football. While some athletes play the strutting-peacock role,
notch their beds with willing partners whose names they won’t remember in 30
days (or minutes), and make headlines for violating league policies on banned
substances, let him live the conservative values his missionary parents taught
him as a home-schooled Baptist child.
Please
don’t encourage Tebow to prove he is a peer to his pro colleagues by taunting
him to violate his convictions or act more like a thug. If his religiosity
seems a bit over the top and immature at times, make the same excuse for him as
for the defensive back lined up against him who has fathered three children by
three different women. He’s trying to find his way in a confusing environment.
This
season is over for Tebow after being dominated by Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Did God decide the outcome of that game? I suspect a seasoned pro quarterback
with a superior supporting cast dictated the score. Not divine whim.
Time
will tell if Tebow is a franchise player and a godly man. I don’t have a clue
about the former, but I am optimistic about (and praying for) the latter.
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