Denver quarterback Tim Tebow made his first start of his NFL season yesterday, a game that ended in a heroic 18-15 overtime win over the Miami Dolphins for the former Heisman winner.
Over the last two years the quarterback with a linebacker’s body and a hitch in his throw has been one of the most talked about players in the league. Last season his Broncos jersey led the NFL in sales. His cult-like Denver fans bought a billboard in support of him as the starting quarterback for the team. The constant when-will-he-start drama has even driven him to be the most reported backup quarterback on ESPN's Sports Center.
But Tebow is seen as so much more than the darling quarterback of the NFL. For many young Americans, Tebow is becoming a leading evangelical voice and is helping inspire a new generation of young Christians.
To his devoted fans, Tebow represents all that’s good with America. Tebow, the son of Christian missionaries, is also quarterbacking an international preaching campaign to spread his faith.
Tebow always finds ways to advertise his faith. During the 2009 Southeastern Conference championship game, Tebow wore “John 3:16” on his eye black, inspiring 94 million fans to Google “John 3:16.” Weeks before, Tebow assured a reporter that he was “saving himself for marriage.” Tebow has been clear that he sees his football career as a vehicle for a divine mission.
Tebow’s success so far comes from a combination of professionalism and acting the part of the believer.
In an ad first aired during last year's Super Bowl, Tebow appeared with his pro-life mother to speak out against abortion. While pregnant with Tebow, his mother Pam suffered a life-threatening infection caused by a pathogenic amoeba. When drugs were used to rouse her from a coma caused by the illness, the fetus suffered a severe placental abruption. Her doctors recommended an abortion for her safety, but the stalwart Christian refused.
Despite the platform his on-field persona provides him, Tebow’s success in preaching is dependent on his off-field life. Modern Christianity is littered with outspoken believers in the public eye who quickly fall away. Ted Haggard, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Larry Craig, Milely Cyrus, Jimmy Swaggart … the list of outspoken Christians who have fallen from grace goes on. To some their names are tragedies or illustrations of the difficulties of maintaining Christian values. To others they remain reminders of the hypocrisy of those who tell you how to live your life.
In an age of pluralism, the ultimate test is often whether you practice what you preach. Hypocrisy ranks as one of the gravest sins in the public eye. If Tebow is serious about his mission he’d better make sure that he preaches to himself as much as any audience. How much he listens to himself will determine his future success.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Discussion
Well ...not a big deal .Don't know much about his evangelization, but and its a good thing. The only time I would have a problem with it is if he starts name calling and the going to hell thingy, a number of leading Christians are very good at that and then later they fall short on the same issues.
Sportsmen are held to a higher standard due to their celebrity and the fact that people aspire to be like them. When a random person in your neighborhood cheats, it would just be idle gossip. When Tiger Woods cheated on his wife, the controversy was substantial.
The contention is that Tebow's open displays of faith is not considered good public conduct to some. I myself care more whether a sportsman is not doing drugs, partying hard, etc.
I'm confused. What is the point of your message? Are you just arguing that a football player is a Christian? Or are you arguing for or against public displays of religion? Or is your message that Americans are more openly professing to be Christians?
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Really interesting article Nathaniel! The interplay between personal faith and public life always creates an interesting discussion! I agree that the majority of celebrities who publicly advocate for Christian values have a difficult time maintaining the image they wish to portray, especially when under constant media scrutiny.
In what other ways is Tebow using his career for a divine mission? Do you think Tebow's public stance on Christian beliefs have alienated Bronco fans who do not share his religious views?
Nathaniel: I'll give you a mic because I appreciate your analysis of Tebow and his mission - both off and on-field.
That said, I do take exception to the overall assumption of the American public that everyone who enjoys NFL football wants to be prosyletized into the Christian faith. My message to Mr. Tebow would be this: Timmy, you have every right in the world to feel and worship as you do. I admire you for living your faith sincerely and for your off-field efforts to do good in the world. Just keep your business separate from your private life and we will get along fine. I find your public evangelizing during games - John 3:16 in your eyeblack - offensive and a violation of MY personal rights. Stop doing it."
Tim "wears his faith" and he speaks about the only Person in History who is "Sinless" Jesus Christ the Son of God. Tim and I and the rest of the Global Community are human and therefore we all sin big or small.
The rest of the world is waiting for a fall.
Tebow is human and no matter what he will fail to live up to the standard of God. With that said, he has made a fantastic stance while at the same time not being flamboient about it.
The reason he has a cult like following is because he is passionate about the game. It is not all about Tebow or his religion, but about his play on the field.
Wit that said, he played pretty bad for 3 quarters and has a long way to go to be successful.
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