Here in Colorado , we are known for several things:
1. Mountains
2. Hippies
3. Snow
4. Skiing
5. Having a large
KKK community in the 1920's
6. Rabid Bronco
fans
(Okay, so some of
these things we might not be known for,
but they are all true nonetheless.)
So, there's this
guy, this football player and maybe you've heard of him. He does this
particular thing whenever he scores. It's commonly called Tebowing. We Catholics call it praying and we typically
don't do it in front of thousands of people in person and God knows how many on
TV.
Quintessential Colorado. Only this guy is not a hippy. That I know of. |
The secular world
tends to dislike Tebow. I attribute this precisely to the
praying-in-the-endzone thing, the constant talk about being blessed and
Christianity in general, and I'm sure the pro-life ad featuring him and his
mother didn't really help his cause. The average everyday Joe just wants to sit
back, relax, have a beer, watch the game and not have to think about Church and
those pesky God and Jesus fellows.
But a lot of
Catholics really, really like Tebow. A quick search on the Catholic Answers Forums brings up posts about how he is living his faith, and helping to
evangelize. He could be bringing people to God, we want to live next door to
him and he “seems like a really humble and great guy.” (I don’t like giving him
so much attention as a Catholic considering that he was raised Baptist, his
father is a pastor and both of his parents are missionaries. He was born in the
Philippines . Now, why would a Baptist missionary
family be in the Philippines , when 90% of the population is Christian?
Maybe because 80% of them are Catholic.) There’s also a double-standard that is
exercised with Tebow. Catholics paising him on the forums for being a good
Christian example are the same ones in other threads who attack the Duggars for
having a TV show because it’s “materialistic.” I guess being a football star
really does have its perks. No one seems to be talking about how awesome Philip
Rivers is, though, and he’s a Catholic football star who is a chastity speaker.
I have no doubt
that God loves Tim Tebow. I have no doubt that God loves anyone. I just have
beef with something that looks to me like showboating. We are supposed to be a
good example to others in the life that we live. We are not supposed to fall on our knees in prayer in front of millions of
people (Matthew 6:5). I honestly believe that Tebow is coming from a sincere
place and that he really wants to glorify God in his way and bring attention to
Him. But I feel like people are starting to glorify Tebow instead. I feel like
attention is being paid to the fact that Tebow is a Christian without much
conversation going on about Christ. I cringe every single Sunday morning when I
see the families go up to receive Communion in their Tebow jerseys. They have
made Church just a stop before watching Tebow run the ball. Idol worship is
idol worship, even if that idol is Christian. This brings to mind what happened
last spring with Father John Corapi. So many people really looked to him and
followed him and when he fell, people were upset and their faith was shaken.
They had put their faith in the man and not what he was preaching. Tebow is
young, he is in the national spotlight, he is making a lot of money. He is also
human. He will likely fall and then the media wolves will be all over it.
People who were once inspired by him may be disappointed and turn away. Even if
he doesn’t fall, what happens when the Broncos don’t go to the Super Bowl? Or if
they do and they don’t win? If God’s favor is evidenced by the wins, is it lost
when His team loses? I know God sees and is involved in everything, but being
involved in who wins which football championship reduces Him to a level that
almost makes my stomach turn.
I want the world
to stop talking about Tim Tebow. When we do talk about him, I want it to be
about football. If he plays well, then he plays well. If he doesn’t, then I
want them to say so. I don’t want to hear any more talk about anything other
than his playing skills. If he’s a nice kid, great. I’m glad. I’m just as tired
hearing about sports stars shooting or stabbing people, robbing people or
raping people. But let’s focus on his actions in football, and hope his life off the field is a good witness.
Besides, I have a
pretty good feeling that God is a Saints fan, anyway.
St. Jeanne d'Arc in New Orleans, hoisting a Saints banner |
Did you mean the pro-life ad featuring Tebow and his mother?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'm from Jacksonville where there is lots of Tebow love, and you managed to articulate exactly why he gets on my nerves.
Great post! I do cringe when people attribute the Bronco's season to divine intervention. Does that mean God hates the Chicago Bears and every other team Tebow beat? All that adulation would get annoying to me too if I lived in Colorado. I do feel for him though, when people mock him just because he's religious.
ReplyDeleteNow Drew Brees, there's a classy guy. Geaux Saints!
Rebecca, thanks for catching that! I did certainly mean the pro-life ad.
ReplyDeleteSarah, agreed. GEAUX SAINTS! (For the record, I don't closely follow any football teams, but my family is originally from Louisiana and I like cheering for underdogs.) :)
Fantastic post Paige! If the Bronco's season is indicative of God's love then He must really hate the Chiefs.
ReplyDeleteI'm over Tebow, Tebowing, and BTEA.