Tebowing

There's an interesting discussion going on over on a very good friend's Facebook page. It concerns Tim Tebow. It came up here during the playoff game between Tebow's Broncos and New England. Right now, 3rd quarter, 2 minutes left, the Patriots are ahead 42-10. Tebow right now is 5 for 16 for 61 yards. If you're not a big football fan, suffice it to say that those numbers are not very good. The Broncos are simply out-classed. But that's not what the conversation's about.

This is what the conversation's centered on.

The question is who does the above action promote? 

I don't think anyone doubts that Tim Tebow is a fine person. Every game, he brings a family that is going through some difficult times to Denver, sets them up in a hotel, takes them to the game, and generally tries to do something special for them. He seems to have a genuine enthusiasm for the game and how fortunate he is to be able to play in the NFL. 

All reports that I've ever read say that he is sincere in his faith. I believe that it takes a certain amount of intestinal fortitude to continue as he does with all the negative talk. I think that he is a role model for others who may not be so sure that it is OK to profess your faith so. But, again, the question: Who does it promote?

Is it really necessary for Tebow to pray out in the middle of the endzone for everyone to see? This is copied and pasted from an image search:

Google 

Search tebowing
About 1,520,000,000 results (0.24 seconds)

A billion and a half pictures. Most of them are of Tim Tebow.
I think that your opinion of this is based on about 1.5 billion different influences. People either like it or they don't. It doesn't mean that they have more or less faith than anyone else. It's all a matter of comfort levels, and an individual's sense of propriety. I for one am glad to see someone so strong in their faith. I think that he may encourage others who need it. To me, a lot of his public displays are a bit over the top, and getting a little old and worn out.

The real problem is the media.

And that may be a good argument that he may need to back down a little. Last week, Tebow threw for 316 yards. Immediately, many in the media started talking about a (divine?) connection between that yardage and John 3:16, a verse that Tebow promoted in his college days by writing it in his eye black. THAT is over the top. Stop it. That's enough.

From the aforementioned Facebook discussion:

Carson W**** OMG!! One of the judges on the Miss America pageant just asked a question centered around Tebow. For Pete's sake! (I actually said something else, but cleaned it up for Facebook, lol)

I wrote this to remind everyone that people's opinions are their opinions, and they have a right to them. Good, open, honest discussion is healthy. Getting too intense and personal is not (which didn't happen in that conversation, by the way.) Let's remain civil, people.

John 3:16
New International Version (NIV)

 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.