At this point in time, there may not be a more polarizing athlete than Tim Tebow. You either love him or hate him. I would like to think the issue revolves around his talent. His critics will say he simply is not a good quarterback, and I would agree with them. It is painful to watch him for three and a half quarters. But you can't take away the fact that Tebow is a fierce competitor when the moment arrives (if you saw last night's game you witnessed it). I am willing to look past his deficiencies in talent simply because he knows how and competes to win. It's also hard to doubt his leardership on and off the field. With all that said, I am also not naive enough to understand that the larger dividing issue is Tebow's faith.
I am a skeptic when it comes to athletes who claim Christ. It seems like after every homerun, touchdown, slam dunk, or goal someone is pointing to the sky, dropping to a knee, or giving verbal "props" to Jesus. At the same time these athletes are seen "living it up" at strip clubs, holding out for boat-loads of money, getting arrested for all sorts of crimes, or walking around like they are God's gift to the world. For all their talk of Jesus, it appears as though a mention is all He is worthy of to them. And I say this knowing full well that I am prone to the same attitude. These men and women are fallen just like me. I am equally guilty of proclaiming Christ, but doing little more than that.
For me there is no skepticism when it comes to Tim Tebow. Is he perfect? No, I think he would be the first to admit that. However, he unlike most of the other athletes (Christian and non-Christian) we encounter. I watched the post-game interviews after his impressive 95-yard, game winning drive. If any man had reason to boast last night, it was Tebow. Instead, he lavished praise on Christ for salvation (from sin and death) not just his physical abilities. Then he preceded to give thanks to every person: coaches, teammates, bosses, fans, family alike. The former players interviewing him were trying to get him to talk about himself, but it wasn't happening.
But there were two things which really stood out. First, Tebow is purposefully living his life the way he is. He bluntly told the men that he wanted to be a role model kids could look up to for how to do things the right way. And it wasn't because it made him feel good or brought the praise of men. In his words, he is doing it because of the blessings he has received and the platform which God has given him. Second, he confessed that football is not his life or greatest passion. Instead it is bringing hope and life change to the people he encounters. He described the opportunity football has given him to build a hospital in the Philippines (where his parents were missionaries) for children to the point of tears. You just don't hear many athletes like this.
As I contemplated all of this, I couldn't help but feel the need to pray for Tebow and others like him. Often Christians can be jealous of Christian athletes because of their money, talent, or whatever. But as Tebow views it, God has placed him there for a reason. Just as Paul prayed for boldness in the churches he wrote too, why shouldn't Christians be praying for the same for one another, athletes included. There is no doubt Tebow has women throwing themselves at him, millions of dollars waiting to pull him away, and other temptations the evil one is hoping will destroy him. As a witness to Christ, someone such as Tebow needs the prayers of his brothers and sisters to ensure he is faithful to the very end.
I also felt ashamed of how I view where God has placed me. Everywhere I go is a potential platform for the gospel. As a teacher, I had the opportunity to live out and speak the gospel in that setting. Today, I have the same opportunity as a seminary student and swimming coach. But how often do I take advantage? In the West faith has become a private issue. Sadly enough the church has adopted this as their mode of operating too. We don't talk about faith and life because it's personal and no one else's business. The reality is the gospel, while personal, is cooperate and everyone else's business. Tebow isn't shying away from this fact. He doesn't care if it makes people uncomfortable or if people hate him for it. God has blessed him so that he can bless others. And this is the case for all Christians. The question is what are we doing?
I am a skeptic when it comes to athletes who claim Christ. It seems like after every homerun, touchdown, slam dunk, or goal someone is pointing to the sky, dropping to a knee, or giving verbal "props" to Jesus. At the same time these athletes are seen "living it up" at strip clubs, holding out for boat-loads of money, getting arrested for all sorts of crimes, or walking around like they are God's gift to the world. For all their talk of Jesus, it appears as though a mention is all He is worthy of to them. And I say this knowing full well that I am prone to the same attitude. These men and women are fallen just like me. I am equally guilty of proclaiming Christ, but doing little more than that.
For me there is no skepticism when it comes to Tim Tebow. Is he perfect? No, I think he would be the first to admit that. However, he unlike most of the other athletes (Christian and non-Christian) we encounter. I watched the post-game interviews after his impressive 95-yard, game winning drive. If any man had reason to boast last night, it was Tebow. Instead, he lavished praise on Christ for salvation (from sin and death) not just his physical abilities. Then he preceded to give thanks to every person: coaches, teammates, bosses, fans, family alike. The former players interviewing him were trying to get him to talk about himself, but it wasn't happening.
But there were two things which really stood out. First, Tebow is purposefully living his life the way he is. He bluntly told the men that he wanted to be a role model kids could look up to for how to do things the right way. And it wasn't because it made him feel good or brought the praise of men. In his words, he is doing it because of the blessings he has received and the platform which God has given him. Second, he confessed that football is not his life or greatest passion. Instead it is bringing hope and life change to the people he encounters. He described the opportunity football has given him to build a hospital in the Philippines (where his parents were missionaries) for children to the point of tears. You just don't hear many athletes like this.
As I contemplated all of this, I couldn't help but feel the need to pray for Tebow and others like him. Often Christians can be jealous of Christian athletes because of their money, talent, or whatever. But as Tebow views it, God has placed him there for a reason. Just as Paul prayed for boldness in the churches he wrote too, why shouldn't Christians be praying for the same for one another, athletes included. There is no doubt Tebow has women throwing themselves at him, millions of dollars waiting to pull him away, and other temptations the evil one is hoping will destroy him. As a witness to Christ, someone such as Tebow needs the prayers of his brothers and sisters to ensure he is faithful to the very end.
I also felt ashamed of how I view where God has placed me. Everywhere I go is a potential platform for the gospel. As a teacher, I had the opportunity to live out and speak the gospel in that setting. Today, I have the same opportunity as a seminary student and swimming coach. But how often do I take advantage? In the West faith has become a private issue. Sadly enough the church has adopted this as their mode of operating too. We don't talk about faith and life because it's personal and no one else's business. The reality is the gospel, while personal, is cooperate and everyone else's business. Tebow isn't shying away from this fact. He doesn't care if it makes people uncomfortable or if people hate him for it. God has blessed him so that he can bless others. And this is the case for all Christians. The question is what are we doing?
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